Canisius' Mike Rappl Inducted WNY Softball Hall of Fame
MAAC Sports
BUFFALO, N.Y. ? Timothy J. Maloney, president and executive director of the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame, has announced that Canisius College softball coach Mike Rappl is a member of the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame’s induction class of 2007. The enshrinement ceremony will take place Friday, Nov. 9, at the Woodlawn Fire Hall in Hamburg, N.Y.
“I feel very fortunate to receive this honor, and actually believe it is great recognition for the entire Canisius College softball program,” Rappl said. “I could not have done any of the things I’ve accomplished at the College without the help and support of great student-athletes, a great support staff and a great administration. I proudly go into the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame on behalf of the whole Canisius community.”
Rappl is in his 29th year as the head coach for the Golden Griffins’ softball program, where he’s compiled a career record of 651-362-2. A six-time MAAC Coach of the Year, Rappl has helped lead the Blue and Gold to 11 MAAC regular season championships, 10 MAAC Tournament titles and nine NCAA Division I Softball Tournament appearances, while posting a 257-77 record against league opponents since the school joined the MAAC before the 1989-90 academic year. The only head coach in program history, Rappl became the first coach in MAAC softball history to reach the 600-win plateau March 3, 2006, when the Griffs beat Memphis 2-0.
Since he started the softball program at the College, Canisius posted 14-straight 20-win seasons from 1989-2002, seven 30-win campaigns and 22 consecutive winning seasons from 1981-2002. Under Rappl’s direction, numerous student-athletes have received accolades for their work on the field and in the classroom, with nine players earning national awards, 10 student-athletes receiving regional recognition and 32 Griffs earning All-MAAC honors.
A 1977 graduate of Canisius College, Rappl is the senior-most member of the school’s athletic staff, having served as the softball coach, women’s basketball coach and associate athletic director for facility operations in his time at the school. He’s no stranger to hall of fame honors, having been inducted into the St. Mary’s High School Hall of Fame in 2005. Additionally, 11 of his former student-athletes have been inducted into Canisius’ Sports Hall of Fame.
“All of our softball program’s success starts and ends with Mike Rappl,” Canisius director of athletics Bill Maher said. “His hard work and dedication, not only to the softball team, but the College community is first rate. The entire athletic department is proud of him for this great accomplishment.”
Canisius will open the 2008 season March 1, at the George Washington Invitational in Washington, D.C. The Griffs return 10 letterwinners from last year’s squad that went 27-21 overall and 12-4 in MAAC games en route to the team’s ninth NCAA Tournament appearance, the most of any program at the College.