W
isconsin softball coach Yvette
Healy wondered aloud about
time and place ― the whereabouts of her players the last
"time" the Badgers took their
"place'' among the nation's top ranked teams.
Eleven years ago, Wisconsin was No. 25 in the
USA Today/NFCA rankings.
Healy was then a director of marketing for the
Chicago Bulls and White Sox Academy; the job
that she held before joining the collegiate coaching profession as an assistant at DePaul, her
alma mater.
When junior outfielder Mary Massei was informed that the Badgers were last ranked in
March of 2002, she almost did a double-take before confiding, "Oh my gosh, I was 10 years old.''
It certainly brings context to how far Healy has
taken Wisconsin in two-plus seasons, and that
point was not lost on Massei, who said, "Wow, it
feels great to be making history in this program.''
Healy is cautious by nature; a characteristic
she shares with most successful coaches. So it
was second-nature for her to keep things in perspective when UW showed up this week in the
rankings.
Along with being slotted No. 25 in the USA
Today/NFCA Division I poll, the Badgers, who
have played all 31 of their games on the road,
broke in at No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate poll.
"It's exciting for the outside community; we
like to see that external validation,'' said Healy,
whose first two teams won 30 or more games;
the first time it has happened back-to-back at
UW since 2001-02.
"But I think everyone is really focused on playing good softball and getting better, so I don't
think we're going to get too wrapped up in it (the
rankings).''
Without further prodding, she did allow, "It's
nice for a little boost of confidence.''
Minutes before Tuesday's workout at the McClain Center, Healy had yet to discuss the top 25
polls with her players, who have yet to practice
outdoors in Madison.
38 » VARSITY
APR I L 4, 2013
Not only is Mary Massei leading the Badgers in
batting average (.454), but has matched her home
run total (4) from a year ago and has 27 RBIs.
