Hall of Fame
The 1996 UW-Parkside Softball team put together one of the best seasons in NCAA history going 64-6-1 while advancing to its second straight Division II World Series. The Rangers dominated their opponents all year long, outscoring the opposition 493-115.
A year after winning its first regional championship, Coach Tory Acheson’s Rangers left no doubt they would once again be one of the nation’s best teams. They won 18 straight games to start the season, and 36 out of their first 37 to position themselves for another magical year.
The Rangers earned the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season title and a top seed in the league tournament. After a game two loss, the team responded with five straight victories, including two in a row over Lewis University, to earn the GLVC Tournament championship.
Playing much of the year as the nation’s top-ranked team, UW-Parkside rolled through the regional with three consecutive victories by star pitcher Wendy Wolff. Unfortunately a pair of tough one-run losses at the national tournament ended a banner season.
The 1996 team can still be found throughout the NCAA Record Book. Their 64 wins are the second-most in Division II history while the offense still stands as one of the best ever. The Rangers have the fifth-most hits (672) and sixth-most runs (493) ever. They also led the country in doubles (106), home runs (62), and total bases (998).
A team with five All-Americans also was one of the best in the classroom. Coach Acheson’s squad was fifth in the nation with a team grade point average of 3.145.
