Superman and Wonder Woman wandered through the Hall of Fame Stadium crowd Tuesday night. Time was at the Women's College World Series, Superman and Wonder Woman were Arizona coach Mike Candrea and whoever pitched his Wildcats to the NCAA softball title.
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That was back when 'Zona was an automatic Series finalist and a routine champ. Arizona softball was like Iowa wrestling in the Gable days; the 'Cat-women won five NCAA titles in seven seasons and this sport was more top-heavy than a Tahoe.
Now Arizona is like every other softball team under the sun. Get some good players, and scratch and claw, then see what happens.
What happened Tuesday night was Arizona's seventh national title, but its first since 2001 and just its second since 1997, when it seemed like the 'Cats might never lose the trophy on Oklahoma soil.
"In this day and time, there's more teams in this country that can compete and win it," Candrea said. "I brought some very good teams in here that didn't do well. This team peaked at the right time."
Arizona beat Northwestern 5-0, but don't go thinking blowout. Northwestern had at least two runners on base in four of the seven innings. UofA pitcher Alicia Hollowell produced all the big outs, in the process breaking Debbie Doom's 24-year single-Series strikeout record with 64.
This was a good game. It was an even better World Series.
Arizona's title aside, Oklahoma City again was the big winner. No local team, yet 46,122 fans came through the gates, an average of 5,125, which has OKC officials pondering more stadium expansion.
"We're coming back next year," said Stanford fan Jack Seehusen, whose team didn't even qualify for the Series yet made the trip from Mountain View, Calif., a San Jose suburb.
If you think the World Series doesn't promote Oklahoma City tourism, check the license plates in the Hall of Fame parking lot, then read this comment:"We enjoyed Oklahoma City," Seehusen said. "Lot of good stuff." The Seehusens spent 5½ hours Tuesday at the new Oklahoma History Center and "didn't see it all. That's a great exhibit."
Northwestern's coach saluted Oklahoma City, too.
"This is really a special place," Kate Drohan said. "I can speak for my team. We were overwhelmed with the support we found in this city both for our team and this event. It was an exciting experience for us."
So exciting it brought caped crusaders to the park.
Jared Burch, youth pastor at Lakeview Park Church of the Nazarene, has the peculiar habit of dressing up as Superman. A couple of kids in his youth group, Paul Bridgwater and Katie Langston, tagged along as Batman and Wonder Woman. Burch also has been seen with Robin, Captain America, the Flash, Wolverine, the Hulk and Spiderman. Their motives are pure: trying to get on TV.
They've been in costume at the Hornets, the Blazers, the RedHawks, even taken their show on the road to the Colorado Rockies, Dallas Mavs and Texas Rangers.
"We came last year for the first time because of ESPN," Burch said. "We got hooked on it. We'll be here for the World Cup (in July)"
So will Candrea. The 'Zona coach moonlights as the U.S. national coach, and OKC wasn't kind to him in 2005. Arizona, which missed the World Series completely in 2004, went 1-2 last year, and then Captain America's softball team was stunned by Japan in the '05 World Cup.
"Anytime you walk out on the field, you're not guaranteed to win, whether it's the College World Series or with the U.S. team," Candrea said. "I love Oklahoma City, but every year's a new year.
"I really enjoyed watching this team. I'll be back in July, and hopefully we can take care of Japan."
Four Arizona seniors won't be back, including superheroes Hollowell and Autumn Champion. Caitlin Lowe and Champion form a ridiculous top of the 'Zona batting order; each went 8-for-21 in the Series. Lowe scored a Series-high eight runs, Champion drove in a Series-high seven.
They are so fast, Northwestern took to playing all four infielders some 35 feet from the batter's box. If they hit the ball on the ground, it's dang near impossible to throw them out. They do, in effect, steal first base.
Champion is wonderfully named. Autumn Champion is the best World Series name since the aforementioned Debbie Doom, and finally on this night, Champion lived up to billing, just like Doom did for UCLA in 1982.
You come to Arizona and think you're destined for multiple national titles. Yet OKC this week was Last Chance City for Champion and Hollowell.
That's why after the game, the shirtless fellow painted red and blue on both body and face, making him look more comic book than the youth pastor, nearly was reduced to tears.
"It's awesome," said Skyler Champion, Autumn's brother. "I couldn't be prouder. She wanted it so bad. It was her last chance. They played great."
Autumn, whose name would live forever if attached to a football player, said, "I just enjoyed every moment. I just wanted to go out there and play Arizona softball."
That once meant NCAA title. It does so again.
Berry Tramel: 475-3314, btramel@oklahoman.com. His radio show, The Writers Block, can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-7 p.m. on KREF-AM 1400, KADA-AM 1230 and KSEO-AM 750.
