Aubrey Mable put everything she had into her athletic career at Eaglecrest High School and she’s done the same in four years with the Bryant University softball team.
The former Raptors star and one the best all-around athletes in school history graduated in 2010 and headed to Bryant — located in Smithfield, R.I. — where she joined the program in the early stages as it transitioned up from Division II to Division I.
Now, four years later, Mable and the Bulldogs are headed to the NCAA softball tournament for the first time after winning the Northeast Conference Championship on May 10 with a 5-3 win over LIU Brooklyn. Mable, a senior shortstop, made the All-NEC tournament team as Bryant grabbed an automatic berth by winning the conference tournament. The result made her feel even better about her choice of schools.
“I knew I would be able to play an instrumental role in a team that had a huge opportunity in front of them in that transition from D-II to D-I,” Mable told ESPN of her decision to go to Bryant. “Being able to look back and say I made the right decision and that I am a part of the history that’s been made here this spring is something that is very special to me and special to this entire team.”
When the NCAA tournament field was released Saturday night, Bryant (32-30) ended up in the Norman (Okla.) Regional scheduled for May 16-18, where it will face seventh-seeded and defending national champion Oklahoma (45-10). Hofstra (33-13) and Texas A&M (35-20) round out the regional field.
Mable, a communications major, has been a big driving force behind Bryant’s success this season. In 52 games, she’s second among regulars in batting average (.342) and has racked up 52 hits, including 13 doubles, a triple and eight home runs.
At Eaglecrest, Mable was a three-time All-City first team selection for the Aurora Sentinel and had an outstanding senior season, as she played nearly flawless defense at shortstop, hit .516, stole 21 bases and scored 40 times in helping the Raptors win the Centennial League championship. She also lettered and captained the girls basketball and girls golf teams at the school.
— Courtney Oakes, Sports Editor
