Wisconsin softball has a senior class worth celebrating after an ending nobody deserved

Although it did not end like anybody thought it would, the class of 2020 had careers that should be remembered for a long time in Madison

[lawrence-newsletter]There are many devastating stories from around the sporting world over the last couple of months. The endings that seniors in spring sports were expecting, the goodbyes and senior day celebrations, the curtain closing on memorable Badger careers; none of it could happen because of circumstances that were out of the athletes control. We know that at UW, the decision has been made surrounding granting an extra year of eligibility to spring seniors. That answer is that there will not be an extra year granted to any senior athletes. As I wrap up my senior year online at the University of Wisconsin, one spring team will stick with me in a different way than any other did at UW, and that team is Wisconsin softball. Here is why.

I had the pleasure of calling numerous Badger softball games over the past couple of seasons and there was nothing I enjoyed more while at UW. Goodman Softball Complex, the home of Badger softball, is tucked away behind the busy areas of campus. Nestled behind the UW hospital and just beyond the soccer fields, the environment can best be described in one three-letter word: fun. Wisconsin softball feels what college sports should feel like. Athletes are playing the game for the love of their team and their school, and it’s just pure fun to watch. The tremendous senior class of 2020 deserves recognition for having a huge part in not only what made my Wisconsin experience, but what made so many experiences and memories possible for Badger fans young and old.

The 2020 softball class of Kayla Konwent, Kaitlyn Menz, Stephanie Lombardo, Jordan Little, Caroline Hedgcock and Heather Rudnicki were part of an inspiring run last season by Head Coach Yvette Healy’s group. 2019 was arguably the greatest year in Wisconsin softball history. The Badgers went 43-14 overall, and pulled off one of the most shocking wins in program history to end Oklahoma’s 41-game winning streak. Konwent was especially remarkable to watch last season, and Badger fans were waiting to see what the senior would do in the rest of 2020. The 5-10 first baseman started all 57 games and was named a unanimous First Team All-American while taking home Big Ten Player of the Year honors. The list of accolades goes on and on. The powerful hitter set the UW record for batting average by hitting an incredible .459.

After a fantastic junior season in the circle that earned her second-team All-Big Ten honors, pitcher Kaitlyn Menz, was ready for an encore. She already had ten wins in 2020 before the season was cut short. Heather Rudnicki, a senior speedster, was an important part of UW’s historic 2019 team, and went 5-for-5 on stolen bases. Jordan Little was Wisconsin’s do-it-all utility knife, and she started 51 games in 2019 while playing six different positions.

Although she didn’t know it at the time, Stephanie Lombardo had the perfect finale in the batters box. In 2019, after an incredible regular season, UW had to beat Notre Dame twice in order to advance in the NCAA tournament and face number one overall seed Oklahoma. Facing elimination, Wisconsin was down 4-0 heading into the seventh inning. They were three outs away from their season being over. After the Badgers cut the deficit in half, runners were at the corners with two outs. Enter “Slambardo” as she is known around Madtown:

Wisconsin was not done there in 2019, because this class of 2020 refused to let things end without a fight. Facing Oklahoma, the best team in America who had won 41-straight games, UW lost their first contest in the best of three. Then, the Badgers found a way to end the Sooner winning streak. Caroline Hedgcock, who had been extremely reliable for Coach Healy all season, came up clutch in the biggest moments by laying down a perfect bun that scored Taylor Johnson and tied the game in the sixth inning. After yet another sacrifice squeeze by Jolie Fish to give UW the lead, Menz did the rest in the circle and Wisconsin pulled off one of the biggest wins in program history.

Although, UW ultimately came up short in their third and final game against the Sooners, the class of 2020 had delivered postseason memories in 2019 that no Badger fan would soon forget. There was plenty to be proud of at the end of that season.

The class of 2020 will go down in Wisconsin softball history first and foremost for their greatness on the field. Even without an ending to their senior season, they gave us memories that no Badger fan who witnessed them will soon forget. I am sure I speak for many Badger fans in saying I cannot wait to be back at Goodman watching Wisconsin softball.