Omaha has a Bahl with returning softball star

Jordy Bahl was one of the most decorated players in college softball when she announced her transfer to Nebraska in mid-June after winning back-to-back national championships at Oklahoma.

The reason was simple enough -- she wanted to return home for her final two years of college.

So it was fitting that her first public appearance as a member of the Cornhuskers was in the backyard of her home in Papillion, Neb. She threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers on Friday night.

Bahl has long been a fixture of Nebraska and Omaha sports, dating back to when she earned All-State honors all four years at Papillion-La Vista High School and led the Monarchs to three straight Class A state titles. She was even named Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year as a senior.

After 2 years of wonderful memories, I’m excited for 2 more representing the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This state, these people, and this N are all things I’m excited, proud, and thankful to be a part of. @HuskerSoftball pic.twitter.com/TctJwJgik3

— Jordyn Bahl (@jordybahl) June 15, 2023

Still, making an appearance at Werner Park -- a five-minute drive from home, close enough to hear fireworks on Friday nights -- made for a night to remember.

"Since I've come home, it's just been overwhelming support and nothing but love," Bahl said. "I was talking to someone not that long ago, just saying how cool it is to be here at a Storm Chaser event. I grew up coming to these games with my brothers since I was young. I remember going to games even at Rosenblatt [Stadium] before they moved out to Papillion. But I'm Papillion born and raised. This is a huge thing for me. This is the coolest thing ever."

Bahl had been debating whether to throw her overhand or underhand for her first pitch. Given that she wasn't going to go all out, she chose the former and delivered a strike home -- which came as little surprise given how dominant she was with the Sooners.

We are so happy to have Jordy back in Nebraska 🤩 pic.twitter.com/O2SKbh2RKV

— Omaha Cattlemen (@OMAStormChasers) July 1, 2023

Across 288 2/3 innings, the two-time first-team All-American sports a 0.99 ERA with 397 strikeouts and a stunning 44-2 record. She's thrown 15 shutouts and 26 complete games in her 46 starts -- and even hit .350 in 40 at-bats.

Bahl could have played out her historic career at Oklahoma after being named the 2023 Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player as the Sooners capped their record 53-game winning streak. But it was important to her to finish where she started and to give back to her home community.

Bahl wanted to make sure her home state of Nebraska was on the map in the softball world so the next generation of stars could see her play. And Omaha clearly feels the same way, with a packed crowd of 6,012 -- the fourth-largest of the year for the Storm Chasers -- coming out to see her Huskers debut and standing on long lines to get autographs and pictures.

The Bahl effect.

I’ve been here for 15 minutes and the line to meet Papillion native and NU pitcher Jordy Bahl is still all the way backed up to the front entrance 🥎 #Huskers pic.twitter.com/Uxkj4untIp

— Ellie French (@elliefrenchTV) July 1, 2023

"So far since I've come home, one thing that's been really cool is getting to interact with younger softball players from this area," Bahl said. "I hear a lot of excitement from them, just about all of them talking about how they're going to come to games. I think that's a really cool thing because, at Oklahoma, we had sellouts every single game of the season. But a lot of the time, if girls from Nebraska made a trip down to Oklahoma, it was rare that I would actually get the chance to interact with them or sign a ball for them or even see them.

"But even since I've been home, I've been able to personally connect with these girls. Moving forward, knowing that I'm going to make a point to visit with them and take a picture with them after a game or something, just having them able to watch in person is one of the coolest things, I think. These girls are super-important to me, but I feel like I haven't been able to give them the attention that I'd want to since I've been away."