Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Devon Park Visit A Year Ago Resonates With Ducks
05/28/25 | Softball
A year after taking in the site of the Women's College World Series, the Oregon softball team earned a spot in OKC this week.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The date was May 16, 2024, and there were puddles on the field at Devon Park.
The Women's College World Series wouldn't begin for a couple more weeks, so there was still time to get the facility formerly known as ASA Hall of Fame Stadium into game shape. But those were the conditions that day for a visit by the Oregon softball team, which was in the area to play an NCAA Regional at Oklahoma.
The massive grandstands were empty. A recent rain storm had left its mark. The Ducks were on hallowed grounds, and they knew well the facility's place in softball culture. But also, and even if only a little, some of the mystique started to wane.
The UO team that visited the stadium last spring was "Version 6" of the program under head coach Melyssa Lombardi. But that visit resonates now as Version 7 prepares to take the field in Devon Park for a WCWS matchup with UCLA on Thursday (6:30 p.m., ESPN2).
"I played here when I was in travel ball, and then coming here last year — just to be able to see the field and get a little bit familiar with it — it makes it seem maybe not as big this time around," UO senior shortstop Paige Sinicki said Wednesday, before the Ducks practiced at the stadium. "Just a very familiar place, that I'm excited to hopefully make familiar for all these other girls coming up."
Above, below and cover photos from Oregon's visit to Devon Park in May 2024.
The point of Oregon's visit a year ago, Lombardi said, was to make reaching Devon Park a reality for Version 6. It bolstered the Ducks' belief, which was demonstrated in a 2-2 showing in the Oklahoma Regional that featured two competitive losses to the host team and eventual national championships.
That the visit resonates now with Version 7 only enhanced the decision to make time for the trip.
"It was very beneficial for us last year competing in the postseason," Lombardi said. "But you can see now that it was a big part of the story for this year's group, for them to go and see what it looked like and now be here, one year later, competing for a national championship."
The visit a year ago wasn't the first for several members of Version 7, as Sinicki noted. A handful of others also played travel ball games here, and seniors Kai Luschar and Kedre Luschar attended the 2016 Women's College World Series.
Coming to OKC is special. But when it's time to take the field Thursday, the Ducks can't be caught up in that. Previous visits can help them get past the pageantry.
"I already kind of had an idea of what it's going to be like, and then we came last year and got to see the field and envision ourselves being here," Kai Luschar said Wednesday. "So it's just gonna be another game."
Facing an historic rival in UCLA, Luschar said, can only amplify Oregon's sense of familiarity Thursday. And even having seen Devon Park a year ago before it was all dressed up for the WCWS could pay dividends, senior Abby Mulvey added.
"It broke its steel a little bit, because there was mud everywhere and puddles and it was soaking wet," Mulvey said. "It was messy, just like The Jane gets sometimes. It's beautiful, but it's the same. It's 60 feet between bases everywhere."
All season the Ducks have talked about how they're at their best when they're playing free and having fun. For that to be so, the stage can't feel too big.
"We talked about just coming here and owning it," Sinicki said. "When you come in and test the waters, you're gonna regret what you do here in OKC. For all of us to just come in here and be confident and bold and know that we belong here, show that we belong here, we'll really enjoy and take the most from the experience."
Fostering that attitude wasn't going to be done in one pregame meeting this week. It's taken all kinds of steps, over the past year and beyond. Including that visit to Devon Park a little over a year ago.
"From the start of this season I feel like this was the ultimate goal," UO assistant coach Sydney Romero said. "It's not all we talked about, but that was our mission. And the fact they felt it the year before, being out here, and they made it a reality? I think it's so cool."
The Women's College World Series wouldn't begin for a couple more weeks, so there was still time to get the facility formerly known as ASA Hall of Fame Stadium into game shape. But those were the conditions that day for a visit by the Oregon softball team, which was in the area to play an NCAA Regional at Oklahoma.
The massive grandstands were empty. A recent rain storm had left its mark. The Ducks were on hallowed grounds, and they knew well the facility's place in softball culture. But also, and even if only a little, some of the mystique started to wane.
The UO team that visited the stadium last spring was "Version 6" of the program under head coach Melyssa Lombardi. But that visit resonates now as Version 7 prepares to take the field in Devon Park for a WCWS matchup with UCLA on Thursday (6:30 p.m., ESPN2).
"I played here when I was in travel ball, and then coming here last year — just to be able to see the field and get a little bit familiar with it — it makes it seem maybe not as big this time around," UO senior shortstop Paige Sinicki said Wednesday, before the Ducks practiced at the stadium. "Just a very familiar place, that I'm excited to hopefully make familiar for all these other girls coming up."
Above, below and cover photos from Oregon's visit to Devon Park in May 2024.
The point of Oregon's visit a year ago, Lombardi said, was to make reaching Devon Park a reality for Version 6. It bolstered the Ducks' belief, which was demonstrated in a 2-2 showing in the Oklahoma Regional that featured two competitive losses to the host team and eventual national championships.
That the visit resonates now with Version 7 only enhanced the decision to make time for the trip.
"It was very beneficial for us last year competing in the postseason," Lombardi said. "But you can see now that it was a big part of the story for this year's group, for them to go and see what it looked like and now be here, one year later, competing for a national championship."
The visit a year ago wasn't the first for several members of Version 7, as Sinicki noted. A handful of others also played travel ball games here, and seniors Kai Luschar and Kedre Luschar attended the 2016 Women's College World Series.
Coming to OKC is special. But when it's time to take the field Thursday, the Ducks can't be caught up in that. Previous visits can help them get past the pageantry.
"I already kind of had an idea of what it's going to be like, and then we came last year and got to see the field and envision ourselves being here," Kai Luschar said Wednesday. "So it's just gonna be another game."
Facing an historic rival in UCLA, Luschar said, can only amplify Oregon's sense of familiarity Thursday. And even having seen Devon Park a year ago before it was all dressed up for the WCWS could pay dividends, senior Abby Mulvey added.
"It broke its steel a little bit, because there was mud everywhere and puddles and it was soaking wet," Mulvey said. "It was messy, just like The Jane gets sometimes. It's beautiful, but it's the same. It's 60 feet between bases everywhere."
All season the Ducks have talked about how they're at their best when they're playing free and having fun. For that to be so, the stage can't feel too big.
"We talked about just coming here and owning it," Sinicki said. "When you come in and test the waters, you're gonna regret what you do here in OKC. For all of us to just come in here and be confident and bold and know that we belong here, show that we belong here, we'll really enjoy and take the most from the experience."
Fostering that attitude wasn't going to be done in one pregame meeting this week. It's taken all kinds of steps, over the past year and beyond. Including that visit to Devon Park a little over a year ago.
"From the start of this season I feel like this was the ultimate goal," UO assistant coach Sydney Romero said. "It's not all we talked about, but that was our mission. And the fact they felt it the year before, being out here, and they made it a reality? I think it's so cool."
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