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The University of Mississippi Athletics
DeDe Justice Named SEC Player of the Week
3/18/2003 | Softball
March 18, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Ole Miss' DeDe Justice has been named the Southeastern Conference Softball Player of the Week, as announced by the league office. She is the first Rebel softball player to receive the honor.
A native of Vero Beach, Fla., Justice guided Ole Miss to a series win at Kentucky last weekend with a record-setting performance. In Sunday's rubber match, the sophomore catcher became the first Rebel to homer twice in one game in Ole Miss' 14-7 victory over the Wildcats. She also set a school record for single-game RBI with six, while her nine total bases matched the previous game high.
In six total games last week, Justice batted .368 (7-for-19) with 10 runs driven in, including the game-winning RBI in a 3-2 win at Arkansas on Wednesday.
"Two homers says a lot," said Ole Miss head coach Candi Letts. "Everyone in this conference knows who DeDe is, and they try to find her weaknesses. But she has worked tremendously and has become an outstanding hitter and a force in this league."
Less than two full seasons into her college career, Justice has already become the most prolific offensive player in Ole Miss fastpitch history. She is easily the Rebel career leader in batting at .342 and homers with 16, and she is currently second in RBI with 53.
This season, Justice ranks top five in the SEC in batting average (.403), slugging percentage (.722) and RBI (25), while placing among the top 10 in on-base percentage (.483), home runs (5), walks (13) and total bases (52).
Justice and the Rebels (11-14, 3-3 SEC) return to action and open a five-game homestand Wednesday against in-state foe Southern Miss. The doubleheader is set for 5 p.m. CST at Ole Miss Softball Complex.
Last weekend's UK series wrapped up a 12-day, 13-game road swing, in which the Rebels posted a 6-7 mark and split its first two conference series. As a team, Ole Miss hit .284 for the trip led by Justice and freshmen Rebecca McIntire and Mandy Ott.
McIntire, a third baseman from Chatsworth, Calif., collected at least one single in the first nine games of the trip, and finished at .395 with 11 RBI - eight of the two-out variety.
Ott registered a .417 average over the 13 games, and the Hillsboro, Ore., native has moved into second on the team in batting for the season at .326, coming from the designated player spot.
On the mound, Lindsay Price posted a 5-2 mark on the road swing, and she notched the first two seven-inning shutouts of her career at the Speedline Invitational in Plant City, Fla. The senior from Terry, Miss., has already established a new career high for season wins with seven, and her 10 consecutive complete games is a UM record.
USM (11-14) travels to Alabama Tuesday before facing off with the Rebels in Wednesday's twin bill. The Golden Eagles are riding a four-game win streak, having swept Northwestern State and McNeese State last week.
Junior outfielder Sarah Boyd has been Southern's best offensive weapon with a .313 average and 15 RBI, while junior Jessica Holaway is the top hurler with a 1.88 ERA, three shutouts and a 5-8 record.
The Eagles lead the all-time series 4-2, and the two clubs split a doubleheader last year in Hattiesburg.
