The Alabama 2019 softball team was honored Friday for its Southeastern Conference championship season.
The “Celebration of Champions” ceremony was held at the Sarah Patterson Champions Plaza. Members of the Crimson Tide, along with head coach Patrick Murphy, athletic directord Grey Byrne and UA president Dr. Stuart Bell were in attendance.
Alabama’s 2019 team finished with a 60-10 record with an 18-6 mark in the SEC. The Crimson Tide clinched the regular-season SEC title with a sweep of LSU in Baton Rouge to close out the regular season.
The Crimson Tide lost to Florida in the SEC Tournament in the championship game, but won the Tuscaloosa Regional, the Super Regional and advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series.
“You have to start right here with Merris Schroder,” Murphy said of the key to the 2019 season. “She was one of our four seniors. You had Courney Gettins, Reagan Dykes and Caroline Hardy. Everybody talks about, ‘you have to have leaders.’ Yes, that’s true, but we found out that it’s more important that you have good followers,” Murphy said. “The rest of the squad bought in 100 percent with what Merris was selling them. (The seniors) were four of the best leaders we’ve had in the history of the program.
“They didn’t care who got the winning hit, they didn’t care who was the pitcher. It was all about the team. It was 100 percent buy-in from the very beginning and that was the difference this year.”
The team will receive its championship rings in an on-field ceremony between the first and second quarter of the Alabama-Tennessee football game on Saturday, Oct. 19.
