The University of Mississippi Athletics
Freshman Callahan Steps Right In For Rebels
4/8/2004 | Softball
April 8, 2004
By Ben Hammond, Courtesy of The Ole Miss Spirit
OXFORD, Miss. - Many freshmen have problems adjusting to the increased level of competition that college athletics provides. Be sure not to put Mary Jane Callahan, the Lady Rebels' freshman southpaw, into that category.
Callahan, the 5-foot-9 Muenster, Texas native, has handled her role on the 2004 Ole Miss women's softball team with cool composure.
But, then again, it's kind of hard not have that sort of easy-going attitude when you consider the circumstances in which Callahan made her first collegiate start. The Lady Rebels began the season in the Arizona Pepsi Classic, and after falling to California State-Northridge 6-2, Callahan was thrown out onto the mound against then No. 2-ranked Arizona which was playing at home.
But even more than that, the Lady Wildcats had just mercy-ruled New Mexico 12-0 in five innings in their first game of the tournament, and Callahan had to watch every pitch of that affair. After watching what the potent Arizona offense had the potential of doing, Callahan went out and threw a six-hit, four-strikeout gem in a 3-2 Ole Miss loss. After making her debut in those circumstances, not much rattles Callahan any more.
"I was a little intimidated pitching against Arizona, but it was an awesome experience," Callahan said. "Every game that I pitch, I try to carry the team on my back and do the best that I can so we can have a chance to win."
Her head coach says Callahan is a real competitor, and that's what makes her rise to the top of her game in crucial situations.
"Mary Jane has a lot of mental toughness," sixth-year Ole Miss head coach Candi Letts said. "She takes responsibility and wants to be in control of her game. She relies solely on herself, and that kind of maturity is very unusual in a freshman."
Letts saw Callahan at the ASA Nationals when Callahan played for "Fear This," helping her team to a ninth-place finish. Callahan received interest from Ole Miss and Florida during her senior year in high school, and after a trip to Oxford, she was totally sold on Ole Miss.
"I loved the school, and I loved the girls on the team here," Callahan said. "I went to some camps in Florida, so Florida showed me some interest, but I loved the atmosphere up here and the fact that the coach was energetic."
Since arriving at Ole Miss, Callahan has become an important part of the Lady Rebel team and its goals for success. In 18 appearances, Callahan has thrown 12 complete games and three shutouts. She has 103 strikeouts in 107 innings pitched while compiling a 1.37 ERA and 7 wins.
Callahan is on the verge of breaking into several top-five categories for single-season pitchers, including wins, innings pitched, shutouts, and complete games. Callahan is also four strikeouts away from moving into sole possession of fourth place on the Ole Miss single-season career list for strikeouts.
If the season were to end today, Callahan would finish the season with the lowest ERA of any pitcher in Ole Miss softball history. And she has accomplished all of this as a freshman.
"She is a leader on the mound and has really stepped up this year," Letts said. "She really is a team player and loves to be around her teammates."
Callahan says she believes the team is improving and has more wins ahead during the rest of this season.
"We have a balanced team here that can surprise a lot of people," Callahan said of the 2003-04 version of Ole Miss women's softball. "We have a lot of strengths on this year's team like base running, hitting, and pitching."
As far as the team's performance goes, Callahan insists that Ole Miss is improving every game. That was never more evident than in Callahan's complete-game, 2-hit shutout against No.25-ranked Auburn last Sunday to give the Lady Rebels their first Top-25 win of the season en route to a 3-1 Ole Miss victory.
The win also snapped Auburn's seven-game winning streak and gave the Lady Tigers their first loss at home this season. Games like that back up Callahan's assessment of her team, as the Lady Rebel program moves upward.
With players like Mary Jane Callahan, although only a freshman, leading the way, more of those days like the winning one at Auburn should certainly be in Ole Miss softball's future.
