All Joanna Gail wanted was the chance to keep playing.
Her emotions had already been on full display in a 3-0 win Saturday in her final game at Howe Field. She had made the most of it, too, with a hit-saving catch and two doubles.
She did it all in a television broadcast that she felt was enough to earn the team a berth in the NCAA Tournament and is now ready for a lengthy postseason run.
“Especially with the way we ended our regular season, I think we’re feeling fresh and excited again,” Gail said.
Oregon (33-27) learned Sunday it had been selected to the NCAA Tournament and will play Oklahoma (43-12) on Friday in Norman, Okla. Arkansas (36-27) and Tulsa (34-23) are also in the regional.
Coach Kathy Arendsen pointed to Oregon’s two wins over defending national champion Arizona and the Ducks’ upset of then-No. 6 Oklahoma as positives on her team’s resume.
“Those are power wins that get you there,” she said.
She also knew it was a distinct possibility that Oregon could be left out. Arendsen usually wings her speeches, versus preparing them beforehand, but she says gratitude would have been the first thing she would have shared with the senior class, which includes Gail, Lovena Chaput, Alicia Cook, Kayleen Hudson and Amie Morris.
“I thought we did enough, but I also knew we had some tough losses that might have haunted us,” Arendsen said. “I would have consoled them and thanked them.”
Last season Oregon was a lock for an NCAA Tournament berth and opened up the selection show to the media. This season with Oregon as a bubble team, Arendsen invited the players to her home and watched the show with her team.
If Oregon had been bypassed, last Saturday’s 3-0 win over Washington would have been the final college game for the Ducks’ five seniors.
“If you’re one of those teams that was not selected it’s very emotional,” she said. “It was out of respect for our players.”
As much as Gail hoped Oregon would get in, she tempered her expectations so she wouldn’t be crushed if she didn’t make it in.
The players expressed optimism following Saturday’s win. They celebrated the team’s season in their annual banquet Saturday evening.
On Sunday morning, Gail, who had family and friends in town for her final home games, had Mother’s Day breakfast with her mom, Katie Emery, and then the waiting was on.
Players passed the time and uncertainty with laundry and homework until the selection show came on at 7 p.m.
When Oregon’s name appeared on the screen, it was pure joy.
“You’re laughing,” Gail said. “You’re crying. You’re so excited to play again.”
And as Gail and Arendsen made it clear, this is a clean slate where everyone enters postseason play with a new opportunity. Oregon saw last year’s postseason run end with consecutive losses to South Carolina. Arendsen says her team is capable of winning its regional in Norman, Okla.
Maybe most important is the opportunity for Oregon’s five seniors to don Oregon green and yellow once more.
“They are outstanding young women and they’ve brought so much to our program,” Arendsen said.
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