The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Softball Program to Open New Stadium Wednesday
6/21/1999 | Softball
Feb. 23, 1998
OXFORD, Miss. -- In only its second year of existence, the Ole Miss women's fastpitch softball team is about to experience another first Wednesday when it moves into its new home, Rebel Stadium.
Ole Miss will officially open the newly-completed facility specifically designed for fastpitch softball, Wednesday, at 2 p.m., when the Rebels host Middle Tennessee State for a doubleheader. Rebel Stadium is located on Hathorn Road and is adjacent to the Women's Multi-Sport Complex.
"It is just good to be home and to be opening our new stadium," Ole Miss head coach Joyce Maudie said. "We have a tough stretch of games on the road and it feels good to be coming home to play on our own field."
Olympian Michele Smith, a member of the gold medal-winning United States fastpitch softball team at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games, will be attendance and is slated to throw the ceremonial first pitch.
Smith has played fastpitch softball all around the world and has many international accolades to her credit, in addition to being a part of the first gold medal-winning softball team, will be available along with the Rebels to sign autographs between the first and second games.
"We are excited about a world-class athlete like Michele coming to throw the first pitch," Maudie said. "We've had this event planned for over a year, and it's special to have her here. The team is really excited just to have Michele on the field. We hope it will be a great way to start playing at our new home."
The Rebels, who played their games at Stone Park in 1997, will open the home schedule after spending the first two weekends on the road. Ole Miss, at 3-8 on the season, is led by sophomore Heather Swinney, who is tied for the team lead with a .375 batting average. The other Rebel boasting a .375 batting average, sophomore Amanda Fine, will miss the next three-to-four weeks after suffering a shoulder injury last weekend against Tennessee at the Mardi Gras Classic.
"We're going to be a slightly different team without Amanda," Maudie said. "She does a lot of things well both pitching and at the plate. But the rest of the team will have to step up and play to our ability."
Middle Tennessee State enters the contest with 1-1 record after splitting a pair of games with Samford Saturday. Sophomore Tamara Davis leads the Lady Raiders with a .400 batting average.
"Middle Tennessee State has a good ball club and it will be a challenge for our team," Maudie said. "I hope we take what we learned from the weekend and apply it Wednesday."
The game against Middle Tennessee State will be the first of has nine home dates on the 1998 schedule for Ole Miss. The Rebels will welcome Southeastern Conference Western Division Champion Louisiana State March 28 and 29 and intrastate rival Mississippi State March 31.
