Trysten Melhart had the best seat at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City for one of the most dramatic moments of the first day of the Women’s College World Series.
Melhart, a member of the University of Washington softball team and a graduate of Snohomish High School, was standing on first base when, in the top of the seventh inning, teammate Kirstyn Thomas drilled a home run to center field, a two-run blow that ended up being the difference in the Huskies’ 3-1 victory over Oregon.
It was a magical moment for the Huskies, who ended up finishing tied for third at the Women’s College World Series. And it was a magical moment for Melhart, for whom the entire Women’s College World Series was the experience of a lifetime.
“It was a great experience,” Melhart said Thursday while scrambling to prepare for finals. “It was amazing to get there with my teammates, my coaches, all our parents — my dad came and he was so excited, it was really cute. It was awesome we made it to the final eight to begin with, and then when we got to the last four, I wished we could have made it to being the last team. But it was an amazing experience no matter what.”
Melhart, a junior right fielder, started all four games as Washington went 2-2 at the World Series. The Huskies opened with their victory over Oregon, lost 3-1 to eventual national champion Oklahoma, beat UCLA 1-0 in an intense loser-out game, then were eliminated by eventual runner-up Florida 5-2.
“I think our team played amazing,” Melhart said. “We had so much heart and passion, everyone gave so much to the team, we were all locked in, it was just great. We coudn’t have hoped to have played any better. Our pitchers were working, especially Taran (Alvelo), she pitched pretty much every game and she was hurt and sore, but she gave everything until she couldn’t give any more. I’m proud of everyone on the team.”
Melhart said it was by far the most intense environment she’s experienced as a softball player.
“There were a lot of fans, more than I’ve ever experienced,” she said. “Super Regionals (when the Huskies eliminated Utah to reach the Women’s College World Series) was probably the closest, with a place at the World Series at stake I was extremely nervous — I think I aged 10 years. But it was nothing like the World Series, the environment, all the people and cameras, everything.
“(The first time running onto the field) felt great,” Melhart added. “It was exhilarating. I was so proud of myself and my team, and I was happy and appreciating the moment. We were there to fight, but I would have been happy no matter what happened.”
If Melhart had one regret from her Women’s College World Series experience, it was that she didn’t get a hit. She finished 0-for-9 at the tournament, though she did draw two walks.
“I wish I could have gotten a hit,” Melhart said. “But I think I had great at-bats, I got some walks, played great defense. Honestly, I’m just happy I could experience it and do my part, do what the team needed me to do.”
For the season the slap-hitting Melhart finished with a .255 batting average in 64 games, driving in 10 runs and stealing a team-leading 19 bases. However, her numbers were down from her sophomore season, when she batted a team-leading .378 and earned third-team All-Pac-12 honors.
“The season for me wasn’t so great,” Melhart said. “I have high expectations for myself, I always want to be on base, I always want to be making the diving catches.
“It’s hard to say what happened,” she added. “It might have been that teams knew how to play me defensively. There were some at-bats where I was too much in my own head, so I have to work on that. But there were times when I hit the ball well or got bunts down, and they were playing exactly where it was going. I have to tip my cap to them.”
While Melhart will be looking to rebound next year as a senior, she’ll do so with a Washington team that remains largely intact. The Huskies had just two seniors on this year’s team, and while shortstop Ali Aguilar and left fielder Casey Stangel will be missed, Washington returns enough to have legitimate aspirations of making another trip to the Women’s College World Series.
“We definitely have a lot of talent,” Melhart said. “It will be a huge hole with Ali and Casey gone, they were such great leaders on and off the field. But I definitely think we have enough to make it back to the World Series next year.
Melhart said she appreciated “every little moment” of playing in Oklahoma City.
“Nothing can compare to how it felt playing in the Women’s College World Series,” she said “Every little girl who plays softball has that dream. I had that dream watching UW win it all in 2009. I want to have that feeling again and I think we can get back there.”
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