The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Hosts Rebel Softball Fall Classic
9/25/2002 | Softball
Sept. 25, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss tunes up for the upcoming 2003 softball campaign this weekend with the fifth annual Rebel Softball Fall Classic. Games begin at 9 a.m. CST and will run throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday at Ole Miss Softball Complex.
Joining the Rebels, who won last year's event with a perfect 5-0 mark, will be Christian Brothers, West Alabama, Mississippi University for Women, Jackson State and Delta State.
On Saturday, Ole Miss takes the field at 9 a.m. for Christian Brothers and again at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. for MUW. On Sunday's slate, the Rebels compete at 11 a.m. against West Alabama, 3 p.m. vs. Delta State and 7 p.m. against Jackson State.
UM head coach Candi Letts pushed Ole Miss to its best season in school history a year ago, and returns seven starters and 11 letterwinners from that squad. New to the Rebels are seven freshmen, who will be seeing their first competitive action this weekend.
"This is a great opportunity for some of our young players to get some game experience," Letts said. "These our quality opponents coming in, so the tournament should provide some valuable competition for the team in our preparation for the spring."
This year's Rebel leadership lies with an experienced senior class. Righthanded hurlers Leslie Day of Horn Lake, Miss., and Lindsay Price of Terry, comprise an Ole Miss pitching staff that was the best in school history in 2002. Catcher Phyllis Manley from Southaven, and infielder Julie Baumann from Memphis, are vocal leaders that guide the Rebels on and off the field.
Ole Miss wrapped up last season with the highest single-season winning percentage in the program's six-year history with a 25-29 record. The Rebels broke or tied seven team season records, including most homers (26), most RBI (152) and lowest staff ERA (2.16).
2002 REBEL SOFTBALL FALL CLASSIC
Saturday, Sept. 289 a.m. Ole Miss vs. Christian Brothers11 a.m. Christian Brothers vs. West Alabama1 p.m. Ole Miss vs. MUW3 p.m. Jackson State vs. MUW5 p.m. Jackson State vs. West Alabama7 p.m. Ole Miss vs. MUW
Sunday, Sept. 299 a.m. Delta State vs. West Alabama11 a.m. Ole Miss vs. West Alabama1 p.m. Jackson State vs. Christian Brothers3 p.m. Ole Miss vs. Delta State5 p.m. Jackson State vs. Delta State7 p.m. Ole Miss vs. Jackson State
