:Canisius Golden Griffins softball
{{Short description|College softball team of Canisius University}}
{{for|all Canisius University sports|Canisius Golden Griffins}}
{{Infobox college softball team
|name = Canisius Golden Griffins
|CurrentSeason =
|logo = Canisius Athletics wordmark.png
|logo_size = 250
|university = Canisius University
|conference = Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
|conference_short = MAAC
|division =
|city = Buffalo
|stateabb = NY
|state = New York (state)
|coach = Kim Griffin
|tenure = 10th
|stadium = Demske Sports Complex
|capacity = 1,200
|nickname = Golden Griffins
|national_champion =
|wcws =
|ncaa_tourneys = 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2022
|conference_tournament = 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2022
|conference_champion = 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2022, 2023
}}
The Canisius Golden Griffins softball team represents Canisius University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Golden Griffins are currently led by head coach Kim Griffin. The team plays its home games at the Demske Sports Complex located on the college's campus.{{cite web
| title=Demske Sports Complex|publisher=GoGriffs.com| url=http://www.gogriffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=20500&KEY=&ATCLID=1498522#demske|accessdate=2012-11-02}}
History
Since joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 1990, the Golden Griffins have won 15 regular season titles to go along with 13 conference tournament championships in 19 championship game appearances, making them the most successful program in MAAC softball history.{{Cite web|url=https://maacsports.com/sports/2010/7/8/204966693.aspx|title=Softball Championship History|website=maacsports.com}} Under former head coach Mike Rappl, the team won the MAAC tournament championship, the regular season championship, or both in 17 of 18 seasons from 1993 to 2010, making the team one of the most dominant in the history of Western New York college sports.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wivb.com/jerry-sullivan/sullivan-erin-hufford-has-griffs-primed-for-run-at-maac-softball-title/|title=Sullivan: Erin Hufford has Griffs primed for run at MAAC softball title|date=May 6, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/college/rappl-poured-his-heart-into-coaching-at-canisius/article_9ddfb184-7f0b-595c-8c22-4a573855ff58.html|title=Rappl poured his heart into coaching at Canisius|first=Owen|last=O'Brien|website=Buffalo News}} The team had only seven losing seasons in 34 years with Rappl as coach.{{Cite web|url=https://gogriffs.com/sports/2008/6/27/1504299.aspx|title=Softball History & Records|website=Canisius College Athletics}} Rappl was named MAAC Coach of the Year seven times, winning the award outright each year from 1993 to 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2008, and sharing the award with Linda Glum of the Iona Gaels in 1992.{{Cite web|url=https://maacsports.com/sports/2007/10/4/1256383.aspx|title=Softball Individual Awards|website=maacsports.com}}
Canisius has qualified for the NCAA Division I softball tournament a MAAC record 12 times, doing so each year from 1994 to 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, each year from 2007 to 2009, and most recently in 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lockportjournal.com/sports/local_sports/canisius-softball-wins-maac-makes-ncaa-tournament/article_da6397e5-b54b-5c9d-803f-cf7149eb6046.html|title=Canisius softball wins MAAC, makes NCAA tournament|first=Jonah|last=Bronstein|website=Lockport Union-Sun & Journal}} Overall, the program has a record of 5–25 in 30 appearances in the NCAA tournament, the most wins among any MAAC program. The only other program to win a game in the NCAA tournament were the 1998 Niagara Purple Eagles, who won two play-in games.{{Cite web|url=https://maacsports.com/sports/2012/7/12/205501979.aspx|title=Softball Postseason History|website=maacsports.com}}
In the Golden Griffins first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 1994, Canisius faced off against UNC Greensboro in the qualifying round, winning the best-of-three playoff in three games. In doing so, they became the first MAAC team to win a game in the NCAA tournament.{{Cite web|url=https://gogriffs.com/honors/hall-of-fame/-team-1994-softball/57|title=(Team) 1994 Softball (2013) - Hall of Fame|website=Canisius College Athletics}} After defeating the Spartans, Canisius faced off against eventual NCAA champion Arizona and were defeated 7–0.{{Cite web|url=https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/softball/opponent-history/canisius-college/245|title=Softball History vs Canisius College|website=University of Arizona Athletics}}{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/top-ranked-cats-blank-golden-griffs-in-softball/article_ce51e85f-559b-5617-b383-d9d72561c1b0.html|title=TOP-RANKED 'CATS BLANK GOLDEN GRIFFS IN SOFTBALL|author=Ben Siegel, Aaron Mansfield, Alan Kryszak, Albert Sterbak, Beverly Bishop, BENJAMIN SIEGEL, ANDREW PARKS, ALAN MALLACH, BOB HABES, BARRY BROWN |website=Buffalo News}} In the losers bracket, they faced Rutgers, who they defeated 4-3 and advanced in the losers bracket.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/1994-ncaa-womens-college-world-series/|title=1994 NCAA Women’s College World Series|date=December 2, 2020|website=Softball History USA}} The Golden Griffins were eliminated from the tournament by Texas A&M, losing 9–0.{{Cite web|url=https://12thman.com/sports/softball/opponent-history/canisius-college/430|title=Softball History vs Canisius College|website=Texas A&M Athletics – 12thMan.com}} While the program qualified for the play-in round of the tournament in 1995, 1996, and 1997, they failed to win a game and were eliminated, twice by UMass in 1995 and 1997, and Princeton in 1996.{{Cite web|url=https://goprincetontigers.com/news/2020/5/25/softball-25-years-later-princetons-run-to-the-womens-college-world-series|title=25 Years Later: Princeton's Run to the Women's College World Series|website=Princeton University Athletics}} After the expansion of the NCAA tournament in 1999,{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/1999-ncaa-womens-college-world-series/|title=1999 NCAA Women’s College World Series|date=December 3, 2020|website=Softball History USA}} the Golden Griffins automatically qualified for the 2000 as a result of winning the MAAC tournament. The team went on to face UCLA in their first game, losing 8–0 in five innings via mercy rule.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-19-sp-31899-story.html|title=UCLA Steals One From Canisius, 8-0|first=Eric|last=Stephens|date=May 19, 2000|website=Los Angeles Times}} In their first game in the losers bracket, Canisius defeated Bethune–Cookman by a score of 3–2 in extra innings.{{Cite web|url=https://bcuathletics.com/sports/softball/opponent-history/canisius-college/40|title=Softball History vs Canisius College|website=Bethune–Cookman University Athletics}} They were eliminated from the tournament after losing to Iowa by a score of 2–1 in a game that went to extra innings.{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/iowa-ousts-canisius-in-ninth/article_2233238c-a57c-51f5-bcda-a49af5b73e66.html|title=IOWA OUSTS CANISIUS IN NINTH|first=Ben|last=Siegel|website=Buffalo News}} Despite making the NCAA tournament in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007, Canisius failed to win a single game over the course of the tournaments and were eliminated. After losing to Arizona in the 2008 NCAA Division I softball tournament, the Golden Griffins snapped their tournament winless streak by defeating LIU Brooklyn by a score of 3–2.{{Cite web|url=https://northeastconference.org/news/2008/5/18/sb-liuncaarecaps.aspx|title=LIU Softball Season Comes To Close With Losses To Hofstra & Canisius In NCAA Tournament|website=northeastconference.org}} However, they were eliminated from the tournament in their next game, losing 5–1 to Hofstra.{{Cite web|url=https://gohofstra.com/news/2008/5/18/HOFSTRA_DEFEATS_CANISIUS_WILL_FACE_ARIZONA_IN_HEMPSTEAD_REGIONAL_FINALS|title=HOFSTRA DEFEATS CANISIUS, WILL FACE ARIZONA IN HEMPSTEAD REGIONAL FINALS|website=Hofstra University Athletics}} In the 2009 NCAA Division I softball tournament, the program's final NCAA appearance under Mike Rappl, the team was eliminated after losing games to Ohio State and Kentucky.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/college/2009/05/16/ohio-state-roundup-softball-team/23619365007/|title=Ohio State roundup: Softball team rallies from four runs down|author=Staff Writer|website=The Columbus Dispatch}}{{Cite web|url=https://gogriffs.com/news/2009/5/16/3739041.aspx|title=Kentucky Ends Softball's Season|website=Canisius College Athletics}}
The Golden Griffins returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 13 years in 2022, the program's first appearance under coach Kim Griffin. The team was defeated in their first game against Florida, losing 10–1 in five innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/sports/college/canisius-college-golden-griffs-fall-in-ncaa-regional-softball-tournament-opener-to-university-of-florida-gators/71-9e5941a7-25ce-463b-b2f8-52c1f947c9d0|title=Canisius softball loses NCAA Regional opener to Florida|date=May 20, 2022|website=wgrz.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.alligator.org/article/2022/05/gators-softball-crushes-canisius-golden-griffins-keep-national-championship-dreams-alive|title=Gators softball crushes Canisius Golden Griffins, keep national championship dreams alive|website=The Independent Florida Alligator}} Canisius was eliminated from the tournament after losing 3–0 to Wisconsin.{{Cite web|url=https://madison.com/sports/college/wisconsin-softball-tops-canisius-to-extend-stay-in-ncaa-tournament/article_21d936a8-56c9-5f7b-922d-6d6afc42cbea.html|title=Wisconsin softball tops Canisius to extend stay in NCAA Tournament|first=Jake Kocorowski | Wisconsin State|last=Journal|website=Wisconsin State Journal}}
=Coaching history=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| style="text-align:center;"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Canisius Golden Griffins|Years|Coach|Record|%}} | |||
| 1980–2014 | Mike Rappl | 831–526–2 | {{winpct|831|526|2}} |
| 2015–present | Kim Griffin | 192–206–1 | {{winpct|192|206|1}} |
Roster
| class="toccolours" style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;" |
| colspan=9 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Canisius Golden Griffins}}"| 2024 Canisius Golden Griffins roster |
|---|
| width="03"|
|valign="top"|
|width="15"| |valign="top"|
|width="25"| |
| colspan="4" style="font-size:8pt; text-align:center;"|Reference:{{Cite web|url=https://gogriffs.com/sports/softball/roster?view=2&sort=position|title=2024 Softball Roster|website=Canisius University Athletics}} |
Season by season results
{{CBB Yearly Record Start
|type=team
|conference=
|postseason=
|poll=no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
|name=Canisius Golden Griffins
|startyear=1980
|conference=America East Conference
|endyear=1989
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1980
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 5–9
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1981
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 9–4
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1982
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 12–10
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1983
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 12–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1984
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 15–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1985
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 28–9
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1986
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 20–6–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1987
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 17–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1988
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 16–9
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1989
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 20–9
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name=Canisius Golden Griffins
|startyear=1990
|conference=Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
|endyear=
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1990
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 21–11–1
| conference =
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1991
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 27–10
| conference = 11–2
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1992
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 22–7
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 1993
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 36–3
| conference = 10–0
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 1994
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 38–8
| conference = 11–1
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Regionals
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 1995
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 28–14
| conference = 11–1
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Play-In
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 1996
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 33–7
| conference = 11–1
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Play-In
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 1997
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 31–14
| conference = 10–2
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Play-In
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 1998
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 22–18
| conference = 14–2
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 1999
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 32–12
| conference = 14–2
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2000
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 34–23
| conference = 9–7
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = NCAA Regionals
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 2001
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 28–15
| conference = 14–2
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2002
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 33–16
| conference = 13–3
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason = NCAA Regionals
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2003
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 15–31
| conference = 6–10
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2004
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 23–30
| conference = 9–7
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason = NCAA Regionals
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2005
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 22–19
| conference = 10–6
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason = NCAA Regionals
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 2006
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 28–23
| conference = 13–3
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2007
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 27–21
| conference = 12–4
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Regionals
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 2008
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 39–14
| conference = 15–1
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Regionals
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2009
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 26–25
| conference = 9–7
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = NCAA Regionals
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 2010
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 34–19
| conference = 13–3
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2011
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 20–21
| conference = 7–9
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2012
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 20–30
| conference = 11–5
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2013
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 22–25
| conference = 6–10
| confstanding = 7th
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2014
| name = Mike Rappl
| overall = 18–30
| conference = 8–12
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 2015
| name = Kim Griffin
| overall = 26–19
| conference = 15–5
| confstanding = T–1st
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2016
| name = Kim Griffin
| overall = 23–32
| conference = 13–7
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2017
| name = Kim Griffin
| overall = 21–32
| conference = 9–11
| confstanding = 9th
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2018
| name = Kim Griffin
| overall = 12–35
| conference = 8–12
| confstanding = 10th
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2019
| name = Kim Griffin
| overall = 14–31
| conference = 8–12
| confstanding = 9th
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2020
| name = Kim Griffin
| overall = 8–9
| conference = 0–0
| confstanding = N/A
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}} Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2021
| name = Kim Griffin
| overall = 26–14
| conference = 22–11
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 2022
| name = Kim Griffin
| overall = 32–18
| conference = 16–4
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Regionals
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 2023
| name = Kim Griffin
| overall = 30–16–1
| conference = 17–3
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2024
| name = Kim Griffin
| overall = 0–0
| conference = 0–0
| confstanding =
| postseason =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall = 1,036–744–3 ({{Winning percentage|1036|744|3}})
| confrecord =
| poll = no
| polltype =
}}{{cite web|author=Mike Rappl |url=https://gogriffs.com/staff-directory/mike-rappl/40 |title=Mike Rappl – Head Coach – Staff Directory – Canisius College Athletics |publisher=Gogriffs.com |date= |accessdate=2023-04-06}}{{cite web|url=https://gogriffs.com/sports/2008/6/27/1504299.aspx |title=Softball History & Records – Canisius College Athletics |publisher=Gogriffs.com |date= |accessdate=2023-04-06}}{{cite web|author=Kim Griffin |url=https://gogriffs.com/staff-directory/kim-griffin/138 |title=Kim Griffin – Head Coach – Staff Directory – Canisius College Athletics |publisher=Gogriffs.com |date= |accessdate=2023-04-06}}{{cite web|url=https://gogriffs.com/documents/2022/5/3/Canisius_Softball_Program_Records.pdf |title=Canisius Softball Program Records (PDF) – Canisius College Athletics |publisher=Gogriffs.com |date= |accessdate=2023-04-06}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}