The 1977 women's softball team took a unique journey to the national tournament. After winning the school's first post-Title IX, Region XV title, the college denied the team the money to travel to the NJCAA tourney in San Diego. This was at a time that most people didn't believe female athletes shared the same passion for sports as men.

Maggie Callaghan- Catcher 1977 women's softball team

The players refused to give up. Greyhound was offering a deal that enabled an individual to ride a bus anywhere in the United States for $100. So the players went out and raised the money. Then they spent four days on a bus to get from New York to the west coast.

Newsday sent reporter Malcolm Moran on the bus with the team. Each day, he wrote stories about the trip, telling readers how the women slept on the floor and in the baggage compartments above the seats. They ate and went to the bathroom at rest stops. When they finally got to California they lost their first two games in the double elimination tourney. Then they climbed onto a bus again and rode four more grueling days to get home.

This trip turned out to be about a lot more than winning and losing. It set an indelible example for young girls and the rest of the folks back home. Everyday they read about what these athletes were willing to do to realize their dream of competing in the national tournament.

How's that for passion!