"In that moment, I remember jumping on the dog
pile like there was no one else in the world. It was
only us celebrating --we were so happy, Gourley recalled.
"Then I looked around and saw the stadium full
of people, then the TV cameras and remembering everyone
back home could see it, too."
When describing the once-in-a-lifetime moments, the
other word Gourley often repeated was "surreal,"
and she also gained the pitching victory in relief with
a pair of no-hit innings in Florida 's 6-3 victory over
conference rival Alabama.
"You dream about being there your whole life as
a young softball player," she added. "And
to actually have it happen is surreal -- it was pretty
amazing."
Unknown to the fans or the ESPN announcer, the plan
all along was to go with the Gators' No. 2 pitcher to
start Game 2 of the championship series, then Gourley
would enter if needed.
"Coach (Tim) Walton told the team at the pregame
meal that it would take as many pitchers as we have,"
she added. "That was the plan whether we won Game
One or not."
"Just being in Oklahoma City was insane, so I'd
been gearing up all week with the coaches telling me
all week to be ready. Then he simply said, 'Okay, you're
in.'"
Over the next half hour or so, Gourley noted she will
never forget the experience of her WCWS appearance.
"Now I will have friends and memories which will
last forever."
The
Final Out
One
Day Later: Party in Gaineville
Women's College World Series
ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Tue., June 3, 2014
FINAL: Florida Gators 6, Alabama Crimson Tide 3
(Gators win series 2-0)
Winning Pitcher: Gourley (2-0 in postseason)
The Florida Gators outlasted
Alabama, 6-3, to sweep the best-of-3 series
to capture the Women's College World Series. El
Capitan alum Delanie Gourley
did not allow a hit in two innings of relief,
gaining the pitching triumph. (ESPN screen shots)
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
The University of Florida
hoists the NCAA trophy
after sweeping Alabana to
capture the Women's
College World Series at
ASA Hall of Fame Stadium
in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Freshman Delanie Gourley,
an El Capitan High alum,
pitched a pair of no-hit
innings with two strikeouts
to gain the victory.
On Friday, the left-hander achieved a personal milestone.
In the opening game of the NCAA Regional, Gourley tossed
a no-hitter in her first collegiate postseason outing,
leading the Gators past Florida A&M, 8-0. With the
victory she raised her record to 14-1.
Later in the weekend, 5th-seeded Florida would sweep
all of its regional opponents, gaining home field for
next weekend's Super Regional to determine a berth to
the Women's College Eorld Series.
Gourley, a freshman, retired the Rattlers in order
in the first with two strikeouts and a groundout. Kelsey
Stewart tripled to lead off for Florida (46-11), and
came home on a sacrifice fly by Stephanie Tofft. The
center fielder for FAMU (25-28) misplayed Tofft’s
fly ball, allowing the senior to advance to second to
set up a two-run home run by Lauren Haeger that put
the Gators ahead 3-0. After Bailey Castro reached on
a fielder’s choice and Kirsti Merritt singled through
the left side, Taylor Schwarz launched a three-run shot
to left-center that pushed Florida’s lead to 6-0.
Gourley allowed a leadoff walk in the second, but Aubree
Munro caught the runner stealing before the lefty struck
out the next two batters. Stewart singled and then stole
second to begin the home half, then came home with UF’s
seventh run on Tofft’s sac bunt.
The Gators will host the University of Washington in
the Super Regional's best 2-out-of-3 series.
REGULAR SEASON
Delanie Gourley owns the nation's
best pitching record at 9-0 for the No.1 ranked
Florida Gators. (Courtesy, Univ. of Florida GatorVision)
Collage showing the projectory
of motion
for Delanie Gourley's screwball. (Courtesy, Univ. of Florida GatorVision)
On Sunday (Mar. 9), Gourley, a freshman, ran her national-leading
record to 9-0 after blanking OIe Miss, 2-0, at KSP Stadium.
The lefty allowed three hits over seven innings with
two walks and four strikeouts, tossing her second shutout
of the year.
"I was just really excited and ready to go,"
said Gourley. "I was just preparing myself and
I was like, ‘Hey, it’s my first SEC start.
I’m just going to show them what I have and pitch
how I know how.’”
Gourley retired the Rebels in order in the first two
innings before she allowed two baserunners in the third
on a hit and a walk, yet pitched out of the difficulty.
Head coach Tim Walton was pleased with Gourley's performance.
"She’s faced some good at-bats. She’s
faced some good hitters. I think it’s going to
give her a lot of experience. The main thing we’ve
got to be able to shape her into is the confidence.
She’s got to be able to have the confidence to
go out there and throw her pitches—any location,
any pitch, any spot, any situation."
Florida (24-1, 2-1 SEC) next travel to LSU for its
next SEC action. Watch on GatorVision.
It only takes one game for Gourley to reach Florida
record book Freshman from El Cap registers save in Gators'
800th all-time victory
Slated to start Saturday (Feb. 8) against Michigan
in the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament, instead Gourley
was called upon to make a piece of Gators history.
With Florida clinging to a 3-2 lead, Illinois State
loaded the bases with no outs in the 7th inning, so
Gurley was summoned from the bullpen. The freshman registered
three straight outs – a pair on strikeouts –
to garner the save in a triumph over the Redbirds.
The victory was the 800th in school history.
Florida (3-0), ranked third in the country to open
the season, remains undefeated in the tournament, which
is hosted annually by the University of South Florida.
