Club softball takes a big swing

Being a student-run organization has not stopped the OHIO club softball team from making history on the field. The team qualified for the National Club Softball Association (NCSA) World Series last year for the first time in team history. This year, they hope to make it there again. 

Club softball president Ellen Edwards has been on the team for four years. As a veteran player, she has gone from a freshman wanting to continue playing the sport she loves to a confident leader of a nationally ranked team. Prior to the 2024-25 season, the team had only qualified for regionals once. But after a successful regular season, the team not only qualified for regionals, they also made it to the World Series, NCSA’s national competition. 

This year, the team is coming into the end of the regular season ranked first in the Great American East conference with an overall record of 12-2 and conference record of 8-1. 

“I love this team,” says Edwards. “It's been so special, being able to be a part of this program and bring it to a nationally ranked program.”

The journey to the World Series starts during the regular season, with two paths available. Teams automatically advance to the regional competition by finishing first in their conference, but the NCSA also offers at-large bids to teams who have a notable season without finishing first in their conference. In the 2024-25 season, OHIO received one of these bids, advancing them to the regional competition.

Even after she received the phone call from NCSA, Edwards knew the work wasn’t over. The team still had to figure out the logistics of attending the tournament while training to compete. She says it was thanks to Alex Gebers, assistant director of competitive sports and Walter Fieldhouse, that the team was able to develop a game plan for the post-season.

“At the drop of a hat he's responding to texts, and doing anything he can to make sure we succeed,” says Edwards. “We couldn’t have done without him.”

At the regional competition the team placed second, securing their place at the World Series in Georgia. 

“It was such a surreal moment,” Edwards recalled. “I'm getting emotional thinking about it. It was just so amazing how far our team had come.”

Despite being fully student-run, the team maintains discipline and drive throughout the year. Practices occur twice a week in the evening, and competitions consist of triple headers on select weekends. While the schedule can be grueling, Edwards says the team is motivated by their shared goal of making it back to the national tournament this year. 

Club softball does not have a coach. The executive board, made up of students, works as a unit to ensure the team stays competitive on the field and that things run smoothly behind the scenes. Everything from planning practices, selecting lineups for games, fundraising and public relations is handled by the executive board. Logistical efforts are supplemented by OHIO staff members like Gebers, who play an important role in ensuring team’ success. 

“I'm so grateful for club sports,” Edwards says. “I'm so grateful for Alex Gebers and his entire team that does all that behind-the-scenes to make it possible for us to do great things.”

Even while putting in extreme efforts on the field, the team remembers to have fun. From holiday gift exchanges to making memories in hotel rooms, bonding is critical to the success of the team. One of Edwards’ favorite memories is when fans selected surprise walk-up songs for each player based on their personalities. 

“It was really funny because you were going up to bat and you had no idea what you're going to hear. But my song was Chattahoochee by Alan Jackson.”

Being a part of the club softball team has given Edwards more than just athletic accolades. It has given her leadership experience, friendships, and memories that will last well beyond her last season. Edwards encourages students to reach outside their comfort zone and trust the process. 

“Don't be afraid of being uncomfortable and putting yourself out there…It's just been really great for me to keep playing the sport that I love and develop new friendships.”