The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Softball Team Welcomes New Assistant Coach, Fall Practice
9/10/2003 | Softball
Sept. 10, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. - As it opened fall practice Wednesday, the Ole Miss softball team also welcomed the return of a former Rebel great. Mandy Walls, the former Mandy Shklar who was a three-year letterwinner for the Rebels from 1998-2000, has been named assistant coach, as announced by Ole Miss head coach Candi Letts.
A native of Owasso, Okla., Walls was a defensive standout at shortstop, and still holds the Rebel career record for assists (541). As a junior, she finished second in the SEC in fielding at shortstop with a .949 percentage.
At the plate, Walls ranks second all-time at Ole Miss in runs (85) and stolen bases (49) and sits third in career doubles (22), walks (52) and at-bats (596). She was chosen to the ASA/USA All-America third team in 1999 and earned All-Tournament honors at the 1999 Speedline Invitational and the 2000 Fresno State Invitational.
Walls, who transferred to Ole Miss after one season at Tulsa, was also an Academic All-American and a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection.
"We're so excited about Mandy coming back," Letts said. "She is going to make an immediate impact with our infielders. Her skills and knowledge of the game should rub off on our young but talented infield. She brings enthusiasm and an outstanding work ethic. It's always nice to have one of our own come back, and we expect Mandy to become a vital part of our team."
Letts' Rebels began fall practice on Wednesday, focusing on defensive work. The team performed several infield/outfield drills in preparation for the regular season, which begins Feb. 6, 2004 at the Arizona Pepsi Classic in Tuscon, Ariz.
Ole Miss loses only one position starter from last year's squad that closed out 2003 with flashes of brilliance. Over the final month, the Rebels posted victories over No. 10 Georgia, No. 18 South Carolina and Tennessee and also took the season series from rival Mississippi State for the first time since 1999.
The team has been joined this fall by five newcomers including Jill Bandhauer, a sophomore transfer from Jacksonville University in Florida. The 5-7 utility player from Crystal River, Fla., earned Atlantic Sun All-Freshman honors last year for the Dolphins, who finished 23-33 in their inaugural season as a program.
Bandhauer started all 56 games for JU and recorded a .326 batting average with team-highs in home runs (3), RBI (25) and multiple-RBI games (9). She was also an All-State pick as a senior at Lecanto High School.
Also new to the Rebel squad is fellow 5-7 utility player Ashley Broom. A junior transfer from John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill., Broom is coming off a season in which she batted .301 with 14 RBI and led the club in stolen bases, going 12-for-12. Broom, who originally hails from Fort Worth, Texas, helped Logan to a 49-32 record over the last two years.
At Vienna High School in Vienna, Ill., Broom was an outstanding prep athlete, earning All-Conference honors in softball and All-South accolades in basketball. She also nabbed MVP awards at four different tournaments for her summer softball team, the Southern Express.
Freshman Vanessa Gibbs is the latest addition to the UM club. The Seminary, Miss., native was her team's most valuable player at Seminary High, where she was also salutatorian and the basketball MVP. In addition, Gibbs, a 5-7 utility player, was a member of the Diamond Girls club team from Jackson.
The Rebels' fall offseason includes the Ole Miss Softball Fall Classic, presented by Southeastern Sports Management. The event will be held Oct. 4-5 at Greenbrook Park in Southaven, Miss., and the field will include Delta State, Christian Brothers, Mississippi Valley State and Northeast Mississippi Community College.
For more information on the tournament, visit Southeastern Sports Management's official website at www.ssmsports.com.
