DePaul University Athletics
Nowak Staser Kept Her Eyes on the Dream
1/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
CHICAGO - With one swing, Missy Nowak Staser almost changed the landscape of USA Softball.
This was July of 1993, the summer after Nowak's sophomore season at DePaul. She headed up a team of college softball standouts invited to play in the International Cup in Haarlem, Holland against various national teams from around the world.
The college team was representing our country since the USA national team had turned down the invitation.
When word spread of the college team replacing the national team, Team USA reversed course and headed to the Netherlands.
The Dutch promoters absolutely loved it. They marketed the tournament as a showdown between the established national team and a collection of upstart, young, collegians from the most dominant softball country in the world.
Both American teams advanced to the title game, which drew a large crowd. Early in a scoreless tie, the college team got two runners aboard.
Up to the plate stepped Nowak to face the legendary Lisa Fernandez, the greatest pitcher in softball history.
With a one-ball, one-strike count, Fernandez challenged Nowak with her intimidating fastball.
Nowak's quick, powerful stroke made full contact, and she sent the pitch soaring towards the Netherlands' night sky---well beyond the left-field fence.
Only at the last moment, the would-be, three-run homer tailed off into foul territory by the width of a softball.
"That at-bat catapulted my career," Nowak said. "I wasn't ever going to face anyone tougher than Lisa Fernandez."
Nowak went on to become the first Blue Demon softball player to be chosen First Team All-American in 1995, and graduated as the program's all-time leader in nine statistical categories---including hits, home runs and RBI.
For all of that along with leading her team to four postseason tournament appearances, Nowak will be inducted into the DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday night.
"We were just living in the moment and having a great time," Nowak said about the Holland experience that saw her team finish second. "Some of the best college talent in the country was on our team, and we all felt we could do well against the national team."
After that tournament, collegians Michelle Venturella (Thornwood High School) of Indiana and Jenny McFalls of Texas A&M were added to the national team. After graduating from DePaul, Nowak made it to the USA Softball top-40 roster, but came up short of beng placed on the national team.
"It was a fantastic tournament and an awesome trip because we got to experience the Dutch culture and do all the sightseeing and shopping," Nowak said.
Nowak is the youngest in a family of 11 kids, and sisters Nancy, Becky, Regina, Sue and Mary all went to DePaul. Sue was a cheerleader that accompanied the Blue Demons to the NCAA Final Four in 1979 when they fell to Indiana State and Larry Bird 76-74 in Salt Lake City.
Nowak used to shag balls for older brothers Matt (Southwest Missouri State baseball player) and Guy (Lewis University baseball player). Matt was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1986 and played three years in their farm system.
Once they grew up and left home, her dad Rich (who passed away in 1997) took over.
"My dad was the one that really pushed me in softball," Nowak said. "He used to play 16-inch slow-pitch in Chicago and didn't know anything about fast-pitch. He bought a video and started working with me.
"He always instilled a strong work ethic in me. Don't let your friends and your social life take over. Keep your eyes on the dream."
Nowak still remembers the time she woke up at 5 a.m. to allow enough time to finish her softball workout so she could join friends for a Great America outing.
"After I signed my letter of intent, dad walked up to me and said: 'It doesn't matter what you do, whether you hit home runs or strike out, I just wanted you to go to college for free,'" Nowak recalled fondly.
She also shared her favorite recruiting anecdote.
"I was seriously considering going to Notre Dame along with DePaul," she said. "When Eug (DePaul coach Eugene Lenti) came out to Custer Park for a home visit, he turned down a road that led to our house.
"Eug looked up and saw the street sign: Irish Way. He said to himself: 'Oh man, this is a BAD sign.'"
Nowak chose DePaul over Notre Dame, Northwestern, Creighton, Southern Illinois, Drake and Illinois State.
What better place than DePaul's family environment for the youngest of 11 kids?
"My visit to DePaul---everything was perfect," Nowak said. "I had been wearing DePaul gear since I was in second grade. I loved Eug and I loved Jeanne (Athletic Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto).
"I'll never forget trying to make the NCAA tournament for the first time during my junior year. There was a party for us in the Blue Demon Room and we watched the selection show on a big-screen TV.
"It came down to the last (four-team) bracket, and we all knew three of those teams had automatic berths.
"When we saw our name pop up for the last spot, everyone went crazy!"
Returning to campus for her singular honor will bring back memories of close friends and ex-teammates Kiki Calumet, Jen Bruno, Amy Ernst, Julie Bonk and Christine Luna.
And there will be some fun stories to exchange with her favorite coach.
"Eug is awesome," Nowak said. "He is happy-go-lucky off the field and fiery on the field. He really wants to win. We were very compatible, and he had high expectations of me.
"He trusted me as a leader, and I liked that role. We got along very well, and still do to this day."
There will probably be a few reflective moments for Nowak as she enters the Hall of Fame.
"Softball brought me to a lot of places I never thought I'd see---all over the USA and to Holland," she said. "The game was my passion, finding new challenges every day.
"You develop a great work ethic, encounter different personalities and learn how to get the best out of people."
The best of Missy Nowak will be on display Saturday at the Hall of Fame Banquet.