ANGOLA, Ind. – Introducing the Trine University softball team's class of 2020.
The 2020 softball season had all the makings of a sequel performance to 2019's impressive run in the NCAA Division III Softball National Championships where they finished tied for third in the nation. This year the team once again started strong with a 7-3 record during their Spring Break Trip to Florida.
Unfortunately, the season was cut short due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Due to the loss of the majority of the season, the senior class of the team missed out on a chance of becoming the first class of Thunder softball players to reach three the national championships three times.
Even without their fourth season, the class of 2020 leaves Trine as one of the most decorated classes in team history. In just three seasons they captured an MIAA regular-season championship, two NCAA Regional Championships, two NCAA Super Regional Championships, finished seventh in the nation and finished third in the nation. They finish their career with a 107-34 overall record.
Three student-athletes will leave Trine as members of the class of 2020. To help make up for the class missing out on their senior day recognition the following script for that event is presented in its entirety:
#10 Makenna Hartline Brandywine HS, Niles, Mich. Major: Exercise Science
Future Plans: Pursue further education in the field of Physical Therapy at Andrews University.
Message from head coach Don Danklefsen:
Makenna Hartline will leave her mark among the best to ever play the shortstop position for the Thunder! Makenna was named MIAA Position Player of the year for her performance in 2019. She has been an All-MIAA honoree all three seasons of her career. Makenna has been honored by the NFCA as an All-Region recipient for the past three years with twice on the second team and in 2019 as a first-team selection. Makenna recently was awarded the highest honor a Trine athlete can win by being named the Cheryl L. Coons award winner. This award is given to the top senior female athlete who embodies the qualities of leadership, character, citizenship, scholarship and the spirit of competition.
Makenna, a career .328 hitter, finished with 33 career home runs! Despite missing out on her senior season, Hartline boasts multiple top-ten career statistics at Trine. She finishes with 152 runs scored, third overall at Trine. She is fourth with a .456 career on-base percentage and 33 home runs and fifth with a .678 slugging percentage and 72 walks. She also sits in first having been hit-by-pitch 24 times.
She goes down as one of the team's most consistent performers having started 131 of 131 games through her first three seasons.
Kenna will probably be missed by my son Easton more than anyone. Kenna was the Queen of the grout fit, I just never knew anyone can wear that much grey. Kenna was always ready to give anyone and everyone a hug. The daily drop-in to say hello was more to steal candy from Coach Harvey along with Kayla than to have a conversation but it was always nice talking with you and Kayla. If there was one there were two. I know you will miss me bringing over heavier weights to you, getting hit by pitches, hours of rehab and striking out looking. I still think you did it sometimes just to watch me get a little irritated.
Thanks for always being ready to lead by example, working hard and never settling for less than your best. It was an honor and a pleasure watching you grow and play these past three seasons. You should be very proud of what you and the team have accomplished. I will miss watching you play and of course the trash talk in practice.
#5 Michaela Hartline Brandywine HS, Niles, Mich. Major: Exercise Science
Future Plans: Pursue further education with graduate school for Occupational Therapy.
Message from head coach Don Danklefsen:
Michaela Hartline, who put on a show in the Division III National Tournament last spring was a three-year starter in the outfield. It will be impossible for TUSB fans to talk about who the best centerfielder in Trine history is without discussing Kayla. She routinely took away doubles and gap shots and made it look easy! Those that tried to run on her quickly found out that was not a good idea!
Kayla was a career .295 hitter with over 100 runs scored, 100 hits, 100 runners batted in and 20 home runs! She was an All-MIAA second-team selection in 2017 and an All-MIAA first-team selection in 2019. She finishes ninth in career home runs and second in hit by pitch.
Kayla thanks for always being you! I never knew what animal you would bring to the field, the office or would have living with you on campus. I'm sure I only knew about a few of them, but I knew more about them than your father did. How many fines, Kayla? I could always count on you showing up working hard, wearing a smile and making everyone feel welcome. Coach Smith will miss his buddy as we all will. I know you will miss the timed mile and the quick nap you always took right afterward, maybe the one time it was my fault. From the one-ups and the "boom in your face," the growth you showed in three seasons is truly remarkable. The grand slam you robbed in the regionals was "Sports Center Top 10" worthy but the reaction and emotion you showed afterward will always be one of my favorite moments as a coach!
Thanks for all the memories, talks, laughs and great moments. We will keep an eye out for turtles and bird nests on the outfield just for you. #RIPTeeto
#20 Claire Ryan Union Grove HS, Union Grove, Wis. Major: Electrical Engineering
Future Plans: I was selected late last summer to begin in June at BAE Systems in Endicott, N.Y. as part of their rigorous three-year Engineering Leadership Development Program. During the next three years, I will rotate within various segments of their engineering department, complete my Master's Degree in an engineering discipline, and continue building my leadership skills.
Message from head coach Don Danklefsen:
Claire Ryan has been a starter during her career while playing at second base. Her junior season she went the entire regular season without committing an error. She was voted second-team All-MIAA her freshman season. Claire will leave the program as a career .314 hitter and a very solid defensive player. Claire is an excellent example of what hard work and dedication mean as a student-athlete. Her ability to balance engineering and softball is remarkable.
Claire has always been the one to provide positive energy, talk and randomly awkward one-liners. We will miss her fast pants, the explanation of the shortest distance between two points and her ability to always offer her teammates a big hug. Next season without the google sheets and explanation of fascia at clinics, we will all realize how much you did!
Thanks for all that you have done for Trine Softball, way before it was ever asked of you!
To the class of 2020:
"Thanks for all that you did for Trine University and our softball family! The legacy you leave will not be forgotten. The bar has been left very high once again. During the recruiting phase, we talked about the process and the course on which it would take us. Each of you bought in and took us on some great journeys. We are left with great memories and stories.
I am sorry our season and dreams where cut short, but I am more disappointed about the time we didn't get to spend together. We know we had a chance to be very special, but instead of focusing on what didn't happen let's focus on what did. You won over a 100 games in three seasons, won conference, regional, and super-regional championships! You played in two NCAA Division III National Championships, one in Texas and in OKC, every little girl's dream. You finished seventh and third in the country and did it the right way! Created friendships that will last a lifetime and earned degrees in Engineering and Exercise science which will take you exactly where you want to go in life! The doors to success are open and paved with all the hard work, sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears you spilled over the past three years! We have nothing to be upset about because you have earned more in three than most ever do.
Be proud, be very proud and take from this lesson one important thing. That in life nothing is guaranteed or given! Appreciate what you have, respect it and don't take it for granted. Not sports, work or family. Just be thankful for what you have. Keep being you and you will have no regrets! Of course, don't let anyone outwork you!
A few other life lessons to remember:
- No pets means no pets
- Force normal can only be said while screaming
- Lice is never good
- Metal cleats and turf don't mix
- Grey on grey is ok
- Fast pants is a real thing
- If one strikes out the other one does, but if one goes yard so does the other one
- SeaWorld is a mutual decision
- Leaky buses are a good omen
- Turtles cannot fly on public airlines
- Go be fantastic
- Don't get tested for mono
Thanks for everything and each of you will be missed!
UBUNTU"
-- Coach D
