By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Tammy Silveira began her college softball career after winning the 1989 Massachusetts Division 1 championship with New Bedford High School.

Her days as a champion continued once Silveira joined the softball program at what was then known as Bridgewater State College.

From 1990-93, Silveira was a versatile member of Bears' teams that won four straight MASCAC titles and appeared in four consecutive NCAA Division 3 tournaments under Hall of Fame head coach Dee Dee Enabenter.

She played all but one of 125 games during that stretch, as a catcher (73 starts), center fielder (29), second base (15), third base (four), left field and right field.

A .390 career hitter, Silveira went 145-for-372 with 32 doubles, nine triples, eight home runs, 106 runs scored, 109 RBI, 23 stolen bases and a program-record 73 walks.

Silveira made the All-MASCAC first team three times, and as a senior, was selected to the National Softball Coaches Association Division 3 All-America second team.

That season, she was also the conference's player of the year and the ECAC Division 3 New England player of the year and made the Division 3 All-Northeast Region and the ECAC Division 3 All-New England first teams.

Silveira hit .463 with 10 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 54 RBI with a .537 on-base percentage and a .806 slugging percentage in that 1993 season when the Bears went 27-10.

For all of her achievements, Silveira will be inducted into the Bridgewater State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night, Oct. 20 during Homecoming Weekend.

"My goals when I got there were to be the best I could possibly be, try to learn from the coaching staff and the players that were there," said Silveira. "When I walked in as a first-year student, there were a lot of great upperclassmen there.

"I tried to learn from them and tried to get better every day. That's kind of the mindset I have anyway."

Bridgewater State was a combined 90-35 during Silveira's career, and her yearly improvement played a large role in that consistent success that the program had.

"I think I did (keep improving)," she said. "As you get better, the team gets better. If everyone can get better, it makes the team better overall and I think that's what happened."

Silveira made the All-Northeast Region first team as a sophomore and the All-ECAC second team as a junior before closing in style as a senior.

She also played on the volleyball team as a senior in the fall of 1992 and made the All-MASCAC first team.

"It was great to play,'' said Silveira. "I hadn't played volleyball in a number of years. I enjoyed it."

Silveira has been the head softball coach at Dean College in Franklin after being an assistant there. She is also working as a professor at Dean.

During the 2022 season, Silveira found herself back at Bridgewater State when Dean faced the Bears in a non-conference doubleheader. The games were played at Alumni Park, which did not exist when she was on the team in the early 1990s.

"When I played, the field was near the train station where one of the dorms are now," she said. "It was so different. Going back and seeing the great changes that have been made since I left, it was great. It definitely helps the athletic program."

Silveira has plenty of fond memories from her Bridgewater State days and they will be rushing back thanks to the Hall of Fame induction.

"It's a great feeling and I'm just really appreciative of the school as well as the Hall of Fame committee for selecting me," said Silveira. "It's just an honor to be a part of this. I think it'll be exciting to be there. I really haven't been on campus. I'm looking forward to it. It's great to be honored.

"I think it was just a great experience, especially coming out of high school and not knowing what to expect. I try to tell my team now to enjoy it while you can. These are four years that you're not going to get back. You want to continue as long as you want. Try to play as long as you can and have fun with it.

"There's going to be a time when you won't be able to continue at this level. It's a great honor and privilege to play at this level."