Missie Mills
Print Managing Editor
October 13, 2004
The Milligan Lady Buffs softball team had some tough opponents this weekend in Knoxville where they played against NCAA division 1 University of Tennessee, Tennessee Tech University and Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent Tennessee Wesleyan College in tournament games.
Hosted at Tyson Park, Saturday’s games resulted in a 0-10 loss to UT, 1-6 loss to TN Tech and a 2-0 win to Wesleyan.
“We accomplished what we needed to by exposing them this fall to the level of playing that we’d like them to be,” said head coach Wes Holly. “The weekend at UT was good for them. We have a good nucleus and a talented bunch of athletes, but are a very young team.”
“Overall, our performance could have been better.” Holly said he thought the girls were nervous and excited to play UT, and that may have hindered their playing.
“Playing UT was a great learning experience,” said junior right fielder Rebecca Gilley. “Playing a D1 team allowed us to see our strengths and weaknesses as individuals and as a team. Facing this sort of competition has given our team the motivation to never stop trying.”
Sophomore third baseman Megan Aldridge said the games taught the team an important lesson. “I wouldn’t so much say that we gained experience as much as I would say we learned a valuable lesson—about ourselves, about our team and about what we have to work towards.”
Holly spoke to the team after the game, saying, “We aren’t so good that we can just put on our uniforms and show up. It takes more than that, and we have to be willing to give what it takes.”
The team had what it took against Wesleyan, when freshman Jennifer Wise stepped up to the plate. “Jen hit a bomb to win the game in the bottom of the seventh,” Aldridge said.
“They (Wesleyan) didn’t seem as strong as they did last year,” said Gilley, “but still we played our game and came away with the win.”
The tournament marked the end of the Lady Buffs’ fall season, leaving them with a 6-4 record.
“We should do well in the spring if we start concentrating and executing each play,” said freshman centerfielder Cassidy Sigars.