1997 NCAA Division I softball tournament


The 1997 NCAA Division I softball tournament was the sixteenth annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA women's collegiate softball. Held during May 1997, thirty-two Division I college softball teams contested the championship. The tournament featured eight regionals of four teams, each in a double elimination format. The 1997 Women's College World Series was held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from May 22 through May 26 and marked the conclusion of the 1997 NCAA Division I softball season. The event returned to Oklahoma City after a one-year hiatus, and it has remained there ever since. [1997 1997 Arizona Wildcats softball team|Arizona Wildcats softball team|Arizona] won their fifth NCAA championship by defeating UCLA 10–2 in the final game. Arizona pitcher Nancy Evans was named Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player.

Regionals

Regional No. 1 - held at Tucson, Arizona

Arizona qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 2 - held at Columbia, South Carolina

South Carolina qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 3 - held at Iowa City, Iowa

Iowa qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 4 - held at Fresno, California

Fresno State qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 5 - held at Lafayette, Louisiana

UCLA qualifies for WCWS

Regional No. 6 - held at Ann Arbor, Michigan

Michigan qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 7 - held at Norman, Oklahoma

Washington qualifies for WCWS.

Regional No. 8 - held at Amherst, Massachusetts

UMass qualifies for WCWS.

Women's College World Series

Participants

SchoolConferenceRecordHead coachWCWS appearances†
ArizonaPac-1057–4Mike Candrea10
Western Athletic52–12Margie Wright10
Big Ten51–7Gayle Blevins3
Atlantic 1037–21–1Elaine Sortino2
Big Ten55–14–1Carol Hutchins3
SEC63–3Joyce Compton3
UCLAPac-1045–12Sue Enquist15
Pac-1048–17Teresa Wilson2

†: Excludes results of the pre-NCAA Women's College World Series of 1969 through 1981.

Results

Bracket


Championship Game

SchoolTop BatterStats.
Arizona WildcatsNancy Evans 1-3 3RBIs 2B BB
UCLA BruinsJulie Marshall 1-2 RBI HR

SchoolPitcherIPHRERBBSOABBF
Arizona WildcatsNancy Evans 5.0522132021
UCLA BruinsChrista Williams 5.011108572533

All-Tournament Team

The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team.
PositionPlayerClassSchool
PJamie GravesFreshmanWashington
PDanielle HendersonSophomoreMassachusetts
PChrista WilliamsFreshmanUCLA
CStacey NuvemanFreshmanUCLA
1BLeah O'BrienSeniorArizona
1BAlleah PoulsonSeniorUCLA
2BNina LindenbergJuniorFresno State
2BSara PickeringSeniorWashington
SSChristy HebertSeniorIowa
3BMelissa GentileFreshmanMichigan
OFAlison JohnsenJuniorArizona
MOPNancy EvansJuniorArizona