Jordy Bahl Night at the Omaha Storm Chasers game was a homecoming for Nebraska’s newest star

Jordy Bahl Night at Werner Park had been in the works since the Women’s College World Series, with Storm Chasers officials thinking that honoring the hometown star would be a good recognition of her talent. However, after Bahl transferred shortly after closing the WCWS with her second national championship, the night took on an added significance.

“It’s huge for Nebraska,” said Kandice Dolesh, who was in attendance with her two daughters and some members of their Nebraska Quakes softball teams. “It’s such a positive role model for young girls that they can look up to.”

But it wasn’t just young softball players seeking to get an autograph or a picture from Bahl. Many diehard Husker fans showed up to the park as well.

“(Jordy Bahl Night) is literally the only reason I’m here,” Dustyn Behm, a Nebraska softball fan, said Friday night. Behm said he was accustomed to easy access to softball tickets, but with Bahl back in town and interest in Nebraska softball spiking, “That show’s over for me now.”

For Bahl, though, the show is only continuing. Twice a first-team All-American while at Oklahoma, the Papillion-La Vista graduate came back home not merely as a softball hero, but as a newborn Nebraska star. The line to meet her reached over 100 participants by 6:20 p.m., despite the fact that she wasn’t scheduled to appear until 7:05. By the time Bahl arrived at the signing table to cheers from the spectators, the line contained nearly 250 people.

“I’ve never felt this level of support from people before,” Bahl said. “I just love the opportunity to personally connect with these people.”

While often over quickly, those connections generally involved Bahl signing a piece of merchandise — a jersey, a picture, a glove, a ball — and having a quick conversation with the item’s owner. She began signing at 7:07, and did not finish until 8:03, but did it all with a smile on her face.

The positive feelings are mutual, with the fans often expressing outright admiration for Bahl. Niko Oropeza grew up a fan of Oklahoma football but didn’t become a fan of the softball team until his daughter Lilliana began watching the sport.

“They made softball fun at Oklahoma,” the elder Oropeza said. And despite Bahl leaving his team in the transfer portal, there are no hard feelings. “I hope it’s her with Nebraska and Oklahoma in the final next year.”

For the children in attendance, the chance to meet Bahl had a much simpler motivation than lifelong fandoms. Bahl was one of the most exciting players in college softball last year, and that has led to many children — especially softball players — jumping at the chance to meet her.

Lilliana Oropeza said she wanted to meet Bahl because she “enjoyed watching her at Oklahoma.” For the Nebraska Quakes softball program, which brought some of their 12U, 11U, and 9U teams to Werner Park, the enthusiasm could barely be contained. When asked to describe Bahl, members of the various teams said things like “She’s amazing,” “She’s very very good” and, “She’s a softball player and my idol.”

Perhaps the most succinct description of Bahl came from Crosby Gerhauser, a member of the Quakes 12U team: “She slays.”

The one change from two weeks ago is that Bahl will now have a chance to do just that in a Nebraska uniform. And if she helps lead Nebraska to their first WCWS since 2013, there’s no telling how high fan enthusiasm will get.