For the first time in the 38-year history of Christopher Newport softball, the Captains are celebrating a national championship. Keith Parr's team completed a storybook season Tuesday afternoon by beating Trine 3-0, to wrap up the best-of-three championship series at Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Virginia, and claim the trophy for the 62-team tournament.

"Our team has stepped up time and time again this year, and today we accomplished our ultimate goal," Parr said during the postgame celebration. "I couldn't be more proud of this group, they've worked so hard and never backed down. This is just one win today, but it's the biggest win you could ever ask for."

The Captains finished the season with a 47-1 record, and won their final 24 games. CNU opened the 2022 campaign with 23 consecutive wins, at the time the longest winning streak in program history. The 47-1 record is the second best in Division III softball, behind only Tufts' 55-0 championship season in 2015.

Photo by Brandon Berry for Christopher Newport athletics

Freshman left hander Jamie Martin tossed a two-hit, complete game shutout in the circle for the Captains to complete the historic run through the 62-team tournament. She struck out six and improved her record to 22-1, and was awarded the Most Outstanding Pitcher honor. Senior catcher Bailey Roberts was named Most Outstanding Player following the second straight win over the Thunder in as many days. Senior Kaitlyn Hasty, freshman Kate Alger, and sophomore Katie Currin were chosen to be on the All-Tournament team.

The Captains got off to a fast start as the visiting team Tuesday, scoring in the top of the first inning. Senior Caitlin Abernethy opened the game by reaching second base on a Trine fielding error, and then moved to third on a passed ball. Roberts delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home Abernethy with the only run the Captains and Martin would end up needing.

CNU would add two more in the top of the fourth frame, thanks to a two-out rally. Senior shortstop Natalie Carmichael got it started with a single through the left side, and then stole second base. Senior center fielder Sarah Proctor walked, and senior second baseman Maddie Hool added some insurance for the Captains by crushing a double over the right fielder's head scoring both Carmichael and Proctor to provide the 3-0 final tally.

In addition to tremendous pitching and timely hitting, the Captains again showed their defensive prowess Tuesday. Trine had a runner on first with just one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Carmichael made a remarkable stop at shortstop on a ground ball up the middle. She stretched out behind the bag to make the stop and then somehow managed to flip the ball to Hool at second base to cut down the runner, and thwart the Thunder's potential big inning.

Trine's season came to an end with a record of 35-13. The Thunder managed just two singles Tuesday off Martin, one on a bunt. CNU had ended a 20-game Trine winning streak on Monday in a 6-3 victory to open the best-of-three final series.

The victory Tuesday culminated a Christopher Newport season that saw the Captains lose only once...at Averett on April 27 in the second game of a doubleheader. CNU was ranked as the top team in the country for the last two months of the season, and cruised through a four-team regional at Captains Park with three straight victories to open the tournament...followed by back-to-back home wins over Virginia Wesleyan, last year's champion, in a best-of-three Super Regional. The trip to Salem consisted of five straight wins in six days at Moyer Sports Complex to be crowned champions. 

Following the game amid the celebration, Parr made a surprise announcement to the team that the jersey number 27 worn by senior Kaitlyn Hasty would never be issued again. Hasty's illustrious career saw her become the first three-time All-American in CNU softball history this season, and she also became the all-time program leader in home runs with 53. She led the nation in long balls this season, and hit her 19th Monday, a grand slam that propelled the Captains to the 6-3 triumph over Trine. Hasty finished her career also as the all-time leader in slugging percentage, and was second in on-base percentage, total bases, and runs batted in. Number 27 will be formally retired in Hasty's honor at some time during the 2023 CNU softball season.

The 2022 season saw Parr eclipse the 600-win mark for his career, and his record is now 635-188-1 over 19 remarkable seasons. The Captains also recorded their 1,100th victory in program history this week in Salem. This was the 19th trip to the NCAA Tournament for CNU in the 38-year program history, and the 15th consecutive. It marked the third trip to the finals for the Captains, and most importantly, the first national championship.