UMass Minutewomen
UniversityUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
Head coachDanielle Henderson (3rd season)
ConferenceAtlantic 10
LocationAmherst, MA
Home stadiumSortino Field
NicknameMinutewomen
ColorsMaroon and white[1]
   
NCAA WCWS appearances
1992, 1997, 1998
NCAA Super Regional appearances
2006
NCAA Tournament appearances
1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012
Conference Tournament championships
1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012
Regular Season Conference championships
1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018

The UMass Minutewomen softball team represents the University of Massachusetts Amherst in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). The Minutewomen are currently led by head coach Danielle Henderson. The team plays its home games at Sortino Field located on the university's campus.[2]

History

Since joining the Atlantic 10 Conference in 1983, the Minutewomen have had a significant amount of success. UMass has won the Atlantic 10's regular season championship 24 times, the conference tournament 23 times, and qualified for the NCAA Division I softball tournament 21 times, all conference records.[3][4]

The program rose to prominence after the hiring of Elaine Sortino in 1980. Under Sortino, the Minutewomen had one losing season in 34 years and advanced to the Women's College World Series three times, doing so in 1992, 1997, and 1998.[5] In the 1992 NCAA Division I softball tournament, UMass qualified for the Women's College World Series after defeating and eliminating Connecticut and Utah State. After being defeated by eventual National Champions UCLA, the Minutewomen were sent to the loser's bracket. The team went on to defeat Florida State and Long Beach State, advancing to the final four of the tournament. They were again defeated and eliminated by UCLA.[6][7]

In the 1997 tournament, UMass hosted their own regional for the first time in program history. The team defeated Boston College twice and Colorado State three times to advance to the Women's College World Series. The Minutewomen were eliminated from the tournament after losing to eventual National Champions Arizona and Fresno State.[8][9][10] In the 1998 tournament, UMass again hosted their own regional and advanced to the Women's College World Series after defeating Boston College once and Oklahoma twice. The team was eliminated from the tournament after losing to Washington and Oklahoma State.[11][12]

Sortino was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year 11 times, winning the award each year from 1991 to 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2007 to 2009, and 2012.[3][13] Kristi Stefanoni, who replaced Sortino after she passed away in 2013, was named A-10 Coach of the Year in 2018.[14][15][16] UMass has won A-10 Player of the Year 15 times in its history, doing so each year from 1990 to 1993, 1996, 1999, 2001 to 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2018. The program has won A-10 Pitcher of the Year 17 times, winning in 1994, 1995, 1997 to 1999, 2001 to 2003, 2006 to 2012, and 2018.[17]

Current head coach and former pitcher Danielle Henderson was named to the 2000 Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal with Team USA.[18][19]

Coaching history

Years Coach Record %
1975–1976 Jean Follansbee 4–15 .211
1977–1978 Diane Thompson 36–10 .783
1979 Chet Gladchuck 26–2–1 .914
1980–2013 Elaine Sortino 1,185–508–6 .699
2014–2021 Kristi Stefanoni 167–158–1 .514
2022–present Danielle Henderson 36–66 .353

Roster

2024 UMass Minutewomen roster
 

Pitchers

  • 6 – Julianne Bolton – Junior
  • 24 – Jenna Bradley – Senior
  • 22 – Natalee Horton – Sophomore
  • 51 – Hannah Streicher – Freshman

Catchers

  • 8 – Lydia Castro – Junior
  • 31 – Olivia Packard – Sophomore
  

Infielders

  • 21 – Grace Cadden – Junior
  • 10 – Riain Keefe – Sophomore
  • 13 – Bella Pantoja – Senior
  • 25 – Angie Rama – Sophomore
  • 23 – Taylor Richardson – Junior
  • 7 – Taylor Spexarth – Senior
  • 88 – Odyssey Torres – Freshman

Outfielders

  • 67 – Grace Colucci – Freshman
  • 15 – Jordyn Graime – Senior
  • 5 – Riley Kairer – Freshman
  • 17 – Payge Suggs – Senior
  • 2 – Giana Wameling – Junior
  • 12 – Chloe Whittier – Senior

Utility

  • 19 – Sarah Keagy – Senior
  • 3 – Abby Packard – Senior
  
Reference:[20]

Season by season results

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
UMass Minutewomen (AIAW) (1975–1982)
1975 Jean Follansbee 1–7
1976 Jean Follansbee 3–8
1977 Diane Thompson 16–2
1978 Diane Thompson 20–8
1979 Chet Gladchuck 26–2–1
1980 Elaine Sortino 23–3
1981 Elaine Sortino 16–8
1982 Elaine Sortino 18–7
UMass Minutewomen (Atlantic 10 Conference) (1983–present)
1983 Elaine Sortino 28–10
1984 Elaine Sortino 29–12
1985 Elaine Sortino 25–23–1 4–5 4th
1986 Elaine Sortino 36–9 8–2 1st NCAA Regionals
1987 Elaine Sortino 35–12 6–4 T–2nd NCAA Regionals
1988 Elaine Sortino 36–16 11–1 1st
1989 Elaine Sortino 35–19 9–3 T–2nd NCAA Regionals
1990 Elaine Sortino 27–20 9–3 2nd
1991 Elaine Sortino 35–11 12–0 1st NCAA Regionals
1992 Elaine Sortino 39–16 10–0 1st Women's College World Series
1993 Elaine Sortino 33–20 9–1 1st
1994 Elaine Sortino 31–19 8–2 1st
1995 Elaine Sortino 40–22 9–1 1st NCAA Regionals
1996 Elaine Sortino 38–15–1 14–0 1st NCAA Regionals
1997 Elaine Sortino 37–23 12–3 1st Women's College World Series
1998 Elaine Sortino 45–14 15–1 1st Women's College World Series
1999 Elaine Sortino 43–10 13–1 1st NCAA Regionals
2000 Elaine Sortino 35–23 13–3 1st NCAA Regionals
2001 Elaine Sortino 44–13 21–0 1st NCAA Regionals
2002 Elaine Sortino 53–13 21–0 1st NCAA Regionals
2003 Elaine Sortino 38–15 11–1 1st NCAA Regionals
2004 Elaine Sortino 34–17 11–1 6th NCAA Regionals
2005 Elaine Sortino 37–16–1 13–3 2nd NCAA Regionals
2006 Elaine Sortino 41–16 17–3 T–1st NCAA Super Regional
2007 Elaine Sortino 39–14–1 18–0 1st NCAA Regionals
2008 Elaine Sortino 42–13 20–0 1st NCAA Regionals
2009 Elaine Sortino 41–10 16–2 1st NCAA Regionals
2010 Elaine Sortino 42–10–1 17–0–1 1st NCAA Regionals
2011 Elaine Sortino 29–19 14–5 2nd
2012 Elaine Sortino 38–13 19–0 1st NCAA Regionals
2013 Elaine Sortino 18–25 12–10 8th
2014 Kristi Stefanoni 16–22–1 9–6–1 4th
2015 Kristi Stefanoni 15–28 8–14 8th
2016 Kristi Stefanoni 26–24 16–6 3rd
2017 Kristi Stefanoni 29–24 13–6 2nd
2018 Kristi Stefanoni 35–14 21–0 1st
2019 Kristi Stefanoni 26–22 12–5 2nd
2020 Kristi Stefanoni 4–7 0–0 N/A

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 Kristi Stefanoni 16–17 12–12 5th
2022 Danielle Henderson 19–32 12–12 T–6th
2023 Danielle Henderson 17–34 8–18 8th
2024 Danielle Henderson 0–0 0–0
Total: 1,454–759–8 (.656)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[3][17][21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "University of Massachusetts Amherst Athletics Official Style Guide" (PDF). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Sortino Field - Facilities". University of Massachusetts Athletics.
  3. ^ a b c "SOFTBALL RECORD BOOK THROUGH 2016-17 SEASON (PDF) - Atlantic 10" (PDF). static.atlantic10.com.
  4. ^ "UMass Walks Off with the 2012 A-10 Softball Championship". atlantic10.com. May 12, 2012.
  5. ^ Canelas, Nick. "Legendary UMass softball coach Elaine Sortino dies after battle with cancer".
  6. ^ "Memories From the Women's College World Series: Rachel Lawson - Extra Inning Softball".
  7. ^ "1992 NCAA Women's College World Series". Softball History USA. December 1, 2020.
  8. ^ "1997 NCAA Women's College World Series". Softball History USA. December 3, 2020.
  9. ^ "1997 Softball Schedule". University of Arizona Athletics.
  10. ^ "1990 National Collegiate Division I Women's Softball Championship" (PDF). fs.ncaa.org.
  11. ^ "The Automated ScoreBook Game Results for NCAA (as of May 10, 2015) (All games)" (PDF). fs.ncaa.org.
  12. ^ "Division I Softball Championship Results" (PDF). fs.ncaa.org.
  13. ^ "Elaine Sortino - Softball Coach". University of Massachusetts Athletics.
  14. ^ "Cozza, Oliver, Rauch and Stefanoni Win Major A-10 Softball Awards". atlantic10.com. May 8, 2018.
  15. ^ MassLive, Daniel Malone | Special to (June 29, 2014). "Interim no more: Kristi Stefanoni named UMass softball head coach". masslive.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Softball: Northern legend Stefanoni takes over at UMass". Burlington County Times.
  17. ^ a b "2020 softball record book" (PDF). University of Massachusetts Athletics.
  18. ^ "Danielle HENDERSON". olympics.com.
  19. ^ "Olympics: UMass softball coach Danielle Henderson reflects on Sydney games, softball's return". gazettenet.com.
  20. ^ "2024 Softball Roster". University of Massachusetts Athletics.
  21. ^ "2023 Softball Standings". atlantic10.com.

External links

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Atlantic 10 Conference softball
Category