Message from Assistant Director of Sports Information Trevor Wenners: Interested in reliving some standout moments from LaGrange College athletics? Starting on Aug. 5, we will be unveiling our Moments-From-The-Past series. Our dedicated and loyal fans will be able to get an up-close look at the long and deep history of Panther sports.
It only took the LaGrange College softball team three years to be on top of the USA South.
The Panthers joined the ultra-competitive conference in 2013, and then during 2015 season, LaGrange earned its first-ever USA South crown. The special group was the fourth team in program history to qualify for the NCAA Division III Tournament under head coach Jennifer Claybrook.
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The 2015 team was loaded with talent, but the desire to play at a championship level in every moment took the group to another level. From an offensive perspective, LaGrange saw eight of its main rotational players end the season with battering averages of .300 or higher.
Alison Jiles was named to the USA South All-Conference First Team, while Danielle Newbern and Emily Barrs took home Second Team honors. Dani Gravett was recognized by the conference office, garnering Honorable Mention laurels.
Lindsey Hogan was a source of consistency and productivity, maintaining a .356 batting average, alongside 26 hits and 19 runs. She also finished the year with a .397 on-base percentage and a .411 slugging percentage.
"The chemistry of the 2015 softball team was something that I had never experienced," said Hogan. "We played off each other's strengths and we made up for each other's weaknesses. We were friends on and off the field, which helped make us a strong unit. We laughed, cried and celebrated together. That team holds a special place in my heart always and forever."
Runs were difficult to come by against the Panthers in 2015. The squad's pitching staff was exceptional, headlined by a superb 1-2 punch in Olivia Wolfe and Gravett. Wolfe went 12-11, threw 141 innings, struck out 110 batters, recorded 15 complete games, averaged 5.46 strikeouts per seven innings, tallied four shutouts and maintained a 2.73 ERA. Gravett went 9-1, worked 81 innings, struck out 45 batters, posted seven complete games, averaged 3.89 strikeouts per seven innings and maintained a 3.46 ERA.
The Panthers (25-16, 14-10 USA South), who were picked to finish fifth in the USA South Coaches' Preseason poll, came out with a purpose from Day 1, beginning the season with five-straight victories and winning eight of their first 10 games. LaGrange earned the fourth seed in the double-elimination USA South Tournament and had no problem playing the role of underdog.
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The Panthers opened their playoff journey with a 7-1 triumph over fifth-seeded Huntingdon on April 17, 2015, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Wolfe earned the complete-game win in the circle, while Kalin Oglesby, Brooke Turner, Gravett, Newbern and Barrs finished with multi-hit performances.
Later in the day on April 17, LaGrange officially announced its arrival to the conference tournament, gaining a great deal of respect by defeating top-seeded Averett, 3-2, in 11 innings. The Cougars went 22-1 in conference action during the regular season. Wolfe once again went the distance, as she pitched 18 pressure-packed innings and won two games in a single day. Christy Flick belted the game-winning hit, with a two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the 11th. Wolfe raced across home with the winning run.
The Panthers improved to 3-0 in the playoffs on April 18, defeating sixth-seeded Greensboro, 8-1. Gravett was a force in the batter's box, going 3-for-3 and reaching base five times, with three hits, three RBIs, three runs, two walks and a double. Wolfe registered her third complete-game victory of the tournament, allowing only one earned run in seven innings.
The Panthers faced a great deal of adversity on April 19. LaGrange suffered a 10-4 loss at the hands of second-seeded William Peace. The resilient group refused to wilt under pressure and secured its first-ever USA South title against the Pacers in Game 2 of the doubleheader.
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In the decisive game, LaGrange cruised to an 11-1 triumph in five innings. Gravett earned the complete-game win and Newbern went 3-for-4, with two runs. The Panthers came out with a chip on their shoulder, putting up seven runs in the first inning. Wolfe gave the team all the momentum in the opening frame, blasting a three-run shot.
"Our team that year was such a fun group of girls," said Wolfe. "We all had one goal in mind, which was winning the conference tournament. We knew what we needed to do to get there because we were close the year before. We worked diligently each day, but made sure to enjoy the game. One thing that we did to relax and have fun was quote the movie 'A League of Their Own' throughout our postseason games."
The 2015 Panthers returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2009 season, which ended a string of three-consecutive appearances on the national stage.
LaGrange was assigned to a regional tournament in Atlanta, hosted by Emory. The Panthers battled to the end in a 2-0 setback to Emory in Game 1 on May 8. Wolfe did everything in her power to keep LaGrange within striking distance, as she only gave up one earned run in six innings. LaGrange was eliminated from the tournament on May 9, falling, 10-2, to Berry. Oglesby was impressive in the leadoff role, going 2-for-3, with a run and a walk.
The 2015 Panthers will always be remembered for their grit and passion. The team ranks first in program history with 14 USA South wins in a single season.
Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
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