Third Time Not a Charm for Chapman

Chapman’s third trip in four years to the NCAA Division III softball finals was bittersweet.

Chapman lost to Wisconsin Stevens Point, 3-1, Monday in the championship game at Salem, Va.

The Panthers had a young team with a pitching staff dominated by freshmen, so Coach Janet Lloyd was naturally upbeat that her squad came within one victory of a national title.

Chapman also finished as runner-up in ’96 after winning the national title in 1995.

“There were 327 other teams that would have loved to be where we were,” Lloyd said. “With a young team, maybe you don’t expect a whole lot, although you always hope you can get that far.

“But when you get that close . . .” Lloyd said what made the final loss frustrating was that the Panthers hit well, but not at the key times.

Chapman hit .272 in the finals, averaging more than four runs per game. But the Panthers stranded 11 runners in the championship game.

“Through the whole tournament, everyone was coming up with key hits,” Lloyd said, “from the one through nine slots in the lineup. We faced some All-American pitchers and it didn’t seem to bother our hitters.

“We just couldn’t come up with the big hit in the final.”

And the Panthers’ margin for error was smaller because they didn’t have a dominant pitcher. Although Lloyd said the Panthers’ depth at pitching served them well.

“Any time you have a dominant player, sure it can help,” Lloyd said. “But we had three good pitchers throw in the finals for us. And when we’re facing elimination and we throw Jessamine Maiben out there, the other teams were saying, ‘Now who is this?’ ”

Maiben defeated defending national champion, Simpson College, 2-1, to get Chapman to the final two games against Stevens Point.

Lloyd also started Maiben, a senior, in the championship game, although Catie Lacy (16-2, 0.85 earned-run average) had been the Panthers’ No. 1 starter throughout the season.

“Jess pitched her heart out against Simpson,” Lloyd said. “She just said, ‘Give me the ball and let’s go.’ Catie was a little tired and since Jess hadn’t pitched in the regional, she was fresh.

“Yes she did give up a home run in the final, but that was one bad pitch. And that was two of their three runs.”

Maiben played in the NCAA finals in three of her four seasons, and won’t return to lead the team next year. But Lloyd said the NCAA experience this season will be invaluable for the Panthers next season.

“They know what it takes to get back there,” Lloyd said. “Now if we can just get there, they know what needs to be done now.”

The key losses for the Panthers will be Maiben, in center field, and Lacee Rashi, the starting third baseman.

“We have a great team coming back,” Lloyd said. “I’m looking forward to it.”