Advertisement

MSU softball: New coach McDonald-Kelley says trusting process will bring winning ways

veronica bolanos, lansing state journal
·4 min read

Title IX, gaining women the right to equal opportunity in sports, was signed into law in 1972. To commemorate the 50-year anniversary, the Lansing State Journal is highlighting all 12 women's sports at Michigan State in a series of articles throughout fall 2022.

More:A closer look at 50 years of Title IX and women's sports at MSU

The MSU softball team got its start back in 1972 when the team posted an impressive 8-4 record. Similar to the volleyball program, there have only been six head coaches in the 50 years since the softball program began. Jacquie Joseph, who retired in May, was the longest-serving coach. She posted a 753-809-1 record over 29 seasons.

Gloria Becksford, Carol Hutchins, Deanne Moore, Patti Raduenz, Diane Spoelstra and Kathy Strahan are the six softball players to be inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame.

On April 16-17 1982, the first softball Big Ten championship tournament was held at the University of Michigan. The tournament was held for just one year before resuming in 1995 to determine the league's automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

Defining moment

2004 — After finishing in seventh place out of 11 teams in the Big Ten regular season, the Spartans did the seemingly impossible task of capturing the Big Ten tournament title. After finishing with an 8-12 record in Big Ten regular-season play, the Spartans shocked No. 1 seed Michigan and then won two more games to lift the trophy for the first, and only, time in program history.

Michigan State's Caitie Ladd fields a ball against Maryland during the fourth inning on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Secchia Stadium in East Lansing.
Michigan State's Caitie Ladd fields a ball against Maryland during the fourth inning on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Secchia Stadium in East Lansing.

The 2004 season was a record-breaking year for the Spartans. They set a school record for runs scored at 297, until that mark was broken in 2017. They also set the program record for doubles with 94. In the pitching circle, Okemos native Jessica Beech tossed three no-hitters. The season also marked MSU's most recent appearance in an NCAA Regional.

More:Michigan State softball coach Jacquie Joseph retires after 29 seasons

By the numbers

  • Years participated in the NCAA Tournament: 4

  • Big Ten tournament appearances: 14

  • Number of games in a typical season 52: (17 at home)

  • Ticket price: TBD (free for students)

  • Innings played: 7

  • Players on the current roster: 22

  • Coaching staff: 3

  • Hours of practice in a typical week: 20

  • Players who went pro in the U.S.: 4

Where the program is now

The Spartans are doing offseason work until the season begins in February. Last year, MSU finished with a 24-28 record. In June, MSU welcomed Sharonda McDonald-Kelley as the sixth head coach in program history, taking over for Joseph.

Michigan State's Alexis Barroso smiles after getting a walk against Maryland during the first inning on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Secchia Stadium in East Lansing.
Michigan State's Alexis Barroso smiles after getting a walk against Maryland during the first inning on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Secchia Stadium in East Lansing.

The Spartans welcome 11 newcomers — seven freshmen and four transfers — to go with 11 returners for the 2023 season. On Nov. 9 the Spartans announced three new signings, the first recruits under McDonald-Kelley.

"I give them (players) so much credit for how they've embraced our staff," McDonald-Kelley said. "I think Jacquie Joseph left this program in a great spot, and our hope is that we can change some mentalities and change some hearts and really get this program going in the right direction."

More:Michigan State hires Sharonda McDonald-Kelley as its new softball coach

What the future holds

The MSU softball schedule runs from the beginning of February to the tail end of May. Throughout the spring season, the team faces nonconference and conference opponents in a mixture of matchups that can be single games or three-game Big Ten series.

The schedule for the 2023 season has not been released, but will be made available to fans in the upcoming weeks.

McDonald-Kelley says there are many new elements to the team, from new players to new coaches. She said improvement will be a process, but in time, the program deserves to be competing not just on a regional level, but a national level as well.

"Obviously you have goals of being in a postseason and being in a World Series," McDonald-Kelley said. "On the short term, we're really focused on the process, and it's not about the results. If we can win the process, I think we're going to get the results that we want."

How to watch

The MSU softball team plays its games at Secchia Stadium. The Spartans' schedule can be found on their website at msuspartans.com/sports/softball. Home games, along with other Big Ten matchups, can be streamed on BTN+ with a subscription (free if you're on campus).

This article is part of a larger project looking back at 50 years of Title IX and what women's sports at MSU look like today. To see the full project, click here.

Veronica Bolanos is a news assistant at the Lansing State Journal. Contact her at VBolanos@lsj.com or 517.267.0460. Follow her on Twitter @BVeronica19.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State Softball: A look at defining moments