The University of Mississippi Athletics
Three Rebel Softball Players to Play in Canada Cup
6/30/1999 | Softball
June 30, 1999
OXFORD, Miss. - Three of Ole Miss' finest will get the chance to take on the world's best at The Canada Cup international softball tournament, which will take place July 3-11.
Mandy Shklar, Kaci Coffee, and Heather Swinney will make the trip to Surrey, British Columbia with their select team, the Team Texas Majors. For all three it will be their first chance to play against international competition.
"It's going to be great. It's such an honor to play against the greatest in the world. We'll only get better. We've got nothing to loose," Coffee said.
Last season, the trio led the Rebels in almost every catagory including: hits, home runs, games played, and runs scored.
In 1997, Shklar transfered to Ole Miss from Tulsa University and was named Top Newcomer on the Rebel squad. The Owasso, Okla., native started 61 games for the Rebels in '99 and was second in the Southeastern Conference in fielding percentage at shortstop.
Swinney came to Oxford from Nashville, Tenn., and was fourth in the conference in 1999 with a .982 fielding percentage. Off the field, Swinney has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for the past two years.
Last season, Coffee started 61 games for the Rebels and led the team with 10 multiple RBI games. This will not be the first time that the Collinsville, Okla. native has played on a summer team with Shklar. The two played on the Tulsa Eagles with Rebel teamates Brittany Maxey, Allison Willrath, and Kara Chapman.
The Team Texas Majors were put together by Robert Andaya, a pitching coach from Houston who selected the players by scouting the top programs in NCAA Division I softball.
Though the team's name would lead one to believe that all of the players are from Texas, they come from all across America. Four players come to the Majors from Washington University, which finished second in the nation in 1999. Other schools represented include nationally ranked LSU, Alabama, Texas, and Oklahoma State.
Although Shklar, Coffee, and Swinney have never played on the same team with the other players, gelling with their new teammates will be a little easier having a couple of fellow Rebels on the team.
"It will just make it a lot more comfortable having them there. Plus, we have played against many of the other players in the SEC and in summer leagues," Shklar said, who led the SEC with 181 assists this past season.
Coming together will have to take place in a hurry as the Majors will face a tough challenge against Japan in their first game on July 3.
With national teams from the United States, China, and Australia, the competition doesn't get any easier. Team USA won the gold medal in the 96 Olympics with China winning the silver. "Basically, in our bracket it's us and the world's seven toughest teams," Coffee commented.
The strong competition will be made tougher with a few differences in pitching.
"In the SEC there are only a few who pitch 60 [mph]. At this tourney everyone will be pitching that fast," Coffee said.
Also, in this tournement the pitchers will be closer to home plate making it tougher on the batters. International rules have the pitching rubber 40 feet from home plate while the NCAA has a distance of 43 feet.
Even though Team Texas is facing the highest caliber competition in the world, they are not going to back down to the challenge. "Why go if you don't think you have a chance to win," Shklar said.
Coffee echoed those sentiments, "It will teach us so much, win or loose. I'm going up there to learn from the best players there are. I'll see where I stand; see how good I really am."
Not only will this tournament allow the players to improve their individual skills, but they believe that it will help them as they lead the Rebels next season.
"I hope we bring back a different attitude next season. We'll be around people who have won. Maybe we can bring back a spark for next year," Shklar said.
Ole Miss coach Candi Letts is excited about the experience that her players will gain for next season, but doesn't want them to loose sight of just how great of an honor playing in this tournement will be for them.
"This is a great oppurtunity for our players to compete against some of the top softball players in the world," Letts said. "This experience will be something that they can look back on after their playing days and have a great deal of pride in having accomplished."
