Canisius Golden Griffins softball explained

Canisius Golden Griffins
University:Canisius University
Conference:Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Conference Short:MAAC
City:Buffalo
Stateabb:NY
State:New York (state)
Coach:Kim Griffin
Tenure:10th
Stadium:Demske Sports Complex
Capacity:1,200
Nickname:Golden Griffins
Ncaa Tourneys:1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2022
Conference Tournament:1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2022
Conference Champion:1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2022, 2023

The Canisius Golden Griffins softball team represents Canisius University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Golden Griffins are currently led by head coach Kim Griffin. The team plays its home games at the Demske Sports Complex located on the college's campus.[1]

History

Since joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 1990, the Golden Griffins have won 15 regular season titles to go along with 13 conference tournament championships in 19 championship game appearances, making them the most successful program in MAAC softball history.[2] Under former head coach Mike Rappl, the team won the MAAC tournament championship, the regular season championship, or both in 17 of 18 seasons from 1993 to 2010, making the team one of the most dominant in the history of Western New York college sports.[3] [4] The team had only seven losing seasons in 34 years with Rappl as coach.[5] Rappl was named MAAC Coach of the Year seven times, winning the award outright each year from 1993 to 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2008, and sharing the award with Linda Glum of the Iona Gaels in 1992.[6]

Canisius has qualified for the NCAA Division I softball tournament a MAAC record 12 times, doing so each year from 1994 to 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, each year from 2007 to 2009, and most recently in 2022.[7] Overall, the program has a record of 5–25 in 30 appearances in the NCAA tournament, the most wins among any MAAC program. The only other program to win a game in the NCAA tournament were the 1998 Niagara Purple Eagles, who won two play-in games.[8]

In the Golden Griffins first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 1994, Canisius faced off against UNC Greensboro in the qualifying round, winning the best-of-three playoff in three games. In doing so, they became the first MAAC team to win a game in the NCAA tournament.[9] After defeating the Spartans, Canisius faced off against eventual NCAA champion Arizona and were defeated 7-0.[10] [11] In the losers bracket, they faced Rutgers, who they defeated 4-3 and advanced in the losers bracket.[12] The Golden Griffins were eliminated from the tournament by Texas A&M, losing 9-0.[13] While the program qualified for the play-in round of the tournament in 1995, 1996, and 1997, they failed to win a game and were eliminated, twice by UMass in 1995 and 1997, and Princeton in 1996.[14] After the expansion of the NCAA tournament in 1999,[15] the Golden Griffins automatically qualified for the 2000 as a result of winning the MAAC tournament. The team went on to face UCLA in their first game, losing 8-0 in five innings via mercy rule.[16] In their first game in the losers bracket, Canisius defeated Bethune–Cookman by a score of 3-2 in extra innings.[17] They were eliminated from the tournament after losing to Iowa by a score of 2-1 in a game that went to extra innings.[18] Despite making the NCAA tournament in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007, Canisius failed to win a single game over the course of the tournaments and were eliminated.[8] After losing to Arizona in the 2008 NCAA Division I softball tournament, the Golden Griffins snapped their tournament winless streak by defeating LIU Brooklyn by a score of 3-2.[19] However, they were eliminated from the tournament in their next game, losing 5-1 to Hofstra.[20] In the 2009 NCAA Division I softball tournament, the program's final NCAA appearance under Mike Rappl, the team was eliminated after losing games to Ohio State and Kentucky.[21] [22]

The Golden Griffins returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 13 years in 2022, the program's first appearance under coach Kim Griffin. The team was defeated in their first game against Florida, losing 10-1 in five innings.[23] [24] Canisius was eliminated from the tournament after losing 3-0 to Wisconsin.[25]

Coaching history

1980–2014 831–526–2
2015–present Kim Griffin 192–206–1

Roster

2024 Canisius Golden Griffins roster
 Pitchers
  • 17 – Megan Giese – Senior
  • 23 – Liv Herrington – Freshman
  • 11 – Toria Kover – Junior
  • 28 – Olivia Manchester – Freshman
  • 2 – Carrie Sidare – Freshman
  • 8 – Kate Wiggins – Junior

Catchers

  • 21 – Gianna Fazzolari – Senior
  • 26 – Hanna Hagerman – Junior
  • 9 – Natalie Quonce – Sophomore
 Infielders
  • 7 – Bailey Alatorre – Sophomore
  • 12 – Morgan Cook – Sophomore
  • 4 – Sydney Costan – Senior
  • 32 – Sofia Escoto – Sophomore
  • 42 – Rosie Gomez – Junior
  • 25 – Rebecca Hai – Freshman
  • 6 – Emily Ilano – Junior
  • 18 – Dani Ross – Sophomore
  • 15 – Dani Stefanie – Freshman

Outfielders

  • 1 – Madysen Burkey – Sophomore
  • 3 – Alyssa Cloutier – Junior
  • 14 – Gabi Farris – Sophomore
  • 10 – Ella Johel – Freshman
  • 5 – Christie McGee-Ross – Senior
 
Reference:[26]

Season by season results

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic [27] [28] [29] [30]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Demske Sports Complex. GoGriffs.com. 2012-11-02.
  2. Web site: Softball Championship History. maacsports.com.
  3. Web site: Sullivan: Erin Hufford has Griffs primed for run at MAAC softball title. May 6, 2022.
  4. Web site: Rappl poured his heart into coaching at Canisius. Owen. O'Brien. Buffalo News.
  5. Web site: Softball History & Records. Canisius College Athletics.
  6. Web site: Softball Individual Awards. maacsports.com.
  7. Web site: Canisius softball wins MAAC, makes NCAA tournament. Jonah. Bronstein. Lockport Union-Sun & Journal.
  8. Web site: Softball Postseason History. maacsports.com.
  9. Web site: (Team) 1994 Softball (2013) - Hall of Fame. Canisius College Athletics.
  10. Web site: Softball History vs Canisius College. University of Arizona Athletics.
  11. Web site: TOP-RANKED 'CATS BLANK GOLDEN GRIFFS IN SOFTBALL. Ben Siegelspecial to the news, Aaron MansfieldSpecial to the news, Alan KryszakSPECIAL TO THE News, Albert SterbakSpecial to The News, Beverly Bishop Special to The News, BENJAMIN SIEGEL, SPECIAL TO THE NEWS, ANDREW PARKS, SPECIAL TO THE NEWS, ALAN MALLACH /SPECIAL TO THE NEWS, BOB HABES SPECIAL TO THE NEWS, BARRY BROWN SPECIAL TO THE. NEWS. Buffalo News.
  12. Web site: 1994 NCAA Women’s College World Series. December 2, 2020. Softball History USA.
  13. Web site: Softball History vs Canisius College. Texas A&M Athletics - 12thMan.com.
  14. Web site: 25 Years Later: Princeton's Run to the Women's College World Series. Princeton University Athletics.
  15. Web site: 1999 NCAA Women’s College World Series. December 3, 2020. Softball History USA.
  16. Web site: UCLA Steals One From Canisius, 8-0. Eric. Stephens. May 19, 2000. Los Angeles Times.
  17. Web site: Softball History vs Canisius College. Bethune-Cookman University Athletics.
  18. Web site: IOWA OUSTS CANISIUS IN NINTH. Ben. Siegel. Buffalo News.
  19. Web site: LIU Softball Season Comes To Close With Losses To Hofstra & Canisius In NCAA Tournament. northeastconference.org.
  20. Web site: HOFSTRA DEFEATS CANISIUS, WILL FACE ARIZONA IN HEMPSTEAD REGIONAL FINALS. Hofstra University Athletics.
  21. Web site: Ohio State roundup: Softball team rallies from four runs down. Staff Writer. The Columbus Dispatch.
  22. Web site: Kentucky Ends Softball's Season. Canisius College Athletics.
  23. Web site: Canisius softball loses NCAA Regional opener to Florida. May 20, 2022. wgrz.com.
  24. Web site: Gators softball crushes Canisius Golden Griffins, keep national championship dreams alive. The Independent Florida Alligator.
  25. Web site: Wisconsin softball tops Canisius to extend stay in NCAA Tournament. Jake Kocorowski | Wisconsin State. Journal. Wisconsin State Journal.
  26. Web site: 2024 Softball Roster. Canisius University Athletics.
  27. Web site: Mike Rappl . Mike Rappl - Head Coach - Staff Directory - Canisius College Athletics . Gogriffs.com . 2023-04-06.
  28. Web site: Softball History & Records - Canisius College Athletics . Gogriffs.com . 2023-04-06.
  29. Web site: Kim Griffin . Kim Griffin - Head Coach - Staff Directory - Canisius College Athletics . Gogriffs.com . 2023-04-06.
  30. Web site: Canisius Softball Program Records (PDF) - Canisius College Athletics . Gogriffs.com . 2023-04-06.