Deseret News archives: Utes softball squad made its mark in record books

The 1990-91 Utah softball team. Back row: (left to right) Assistant coach Mary Kay Amicone, assistant coach Michele Townsend, Deb DiMeglio, Jamie Sibley, Melissa Halkinrude, Janet Womack, Charmelle Green, Christina Freeman, Suzie Berdis, Jennifer Fotheringham, Wendy Stewart, head coach Jo Evans and trainer Ken Hurt. Front row: Amy Cowley, Laurel Simmons, Amy Dillon, Amy Timmel, Kayla Sintz, Pam Collins, Gaylene Hoshide. Utah's softball team had a 56-inning game during the 1991 season. | University of Utah

Editor’s note: This story was originally published on May 11, 2024.

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

Media coverage of women’s sports has seen its ebbs and flows through the years. Iconic moments and inspiring stories — think U.S. women’s soccer triumphs on the world stage or the recent NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament — tend to provide the boost.

But it wasn’t always the case. Regrettably, the Deseret News archives, like most newspapers, reveal too few of the great moments in girls and women’s sports.

But that doesn’t mean the magic moments didn’t happen.

On this day in 1991, the University of Utah women’s softball team began a two-game series with Creighton with an NCAA College World Series berth on the line.

And 56 innings later, you read that right, the Utes were headed to the College World Series, their first-ever time.

“It all seems like such a blur to me,” Utah coach Jo Evans said after the games, which due to the late hour, were played on May 11 and 12. “I can’t even remember everything that happened. We had so many chances to win the game, as did Creighton. We look over here and feel badly for Creighton, it’s a shame that .”