North Carolina Central University

SOFTBALL

     by Bryan Jerrod Harvey -- NCCU Sports Information Student Assistant

     (Durham, NC - April 27, 2001)  Upon a season-ending loss to the Lady Broncos of Fayetteville State University in the second-round of the CIAA Championships at exactly 5:49 p.m. on Friday, the 27th of April in the year 2001.
     The Lady Eagles 17-13 record may not show how hard they worked during the season with a new head coach, and new assistants.  Despite having a very tough division with rival Winston-Salem State University and Fayetteville State University, the Lady Eagles had a good season with some exciting games ...and unlikely upsets.
     Rookie / Freshman outfielder Adija Beaty, known for her quickness on the bases, improved to become a great outfielder by utilizing her speed to run under a lot of fly balls hit her way.  She also showed that she had an arm from right field that no one in the league would dare to run on if she came up from her position throwing to home plate.  Rookie / Freshman Kaila Ealy, playing the catcher position, came into her own to take a rightfully earned starting position late in the season.
     Known for her tantalizing defense and explosive offense on the basketball court, third baseman Shenika Worthy showed that she had a glove better than a lot of third basemen in the conference, and could hit like a champion.
     Lanelle Turner, affectionately known as "Nelley" to the NCCU softball family and fans ...who are considered family ...used her "golden glove" efforts to hold down the shortstop position for the team.
     And seniors Latisha McEachern, Alexis Cole, and Lisa Hicks showed why they could hold a team together with team unity, tainted at times, but always coming back together ...and through simple senior leadership.
     But most of all, it was the first year head coaching efforts of Lori Vazquez, affectionately known as "Squeeze" to the NCCU athletics family.  She had a young team, but a team with more depth that she could have ever anticipated.  With some key returning starters, Vazquez utilized that and turned it into a championship run ...only to fall short in the end.
     The only thing that made this season, although it will have no championship banner ...like every other sport for NCCU this year ...is the thing that NCCU used to be known for in the past, the fans.  Three particular fans, whom I will not name ...but they know who they are, were at every single game, sometimes skipping work to cheer for the maroon and gray.
     At the CIAA Championships, these same fans ...including Athletics Director Lin Dawson, Ingrid Wicker, A.G. Hall, Sam Jordan, Sandra Prescott-Logan, and others from the athletics department ...were there to show their love for NCCU softball, which has been slated in the past by students and other fans alike.
     But all in all, this season will be remembered for more than wins and losses.  It will go down in history for the will of the team to fight through any obstacle in order to get to the next game.
     Let's just hope and pray that next season will prove to be just as enjoyable as this past season has been, and that there will be many banners to hang in the gym of McLendon-McDougald in the future.
     Just as a side note, I sat at the table in astonishment after a 9-8 loss to FSU in the CIAA Championships and, like I do every time a season comes to an end for all sports, thought hard about the now past season, and I could only smile.  I know that a lot of the Lady Eagles were upset, but I was very pleased.  I was pleased at the way they had battled back throughout this game.  I was pleased at the way the team rallied around their fans.  And I was pleased to be a part of this experience, as I was the men's and women's basketball programs this past season.
     No, there will be no banners hung this season for any sport, but I can say one thing as an Eagle fan and sports department student assistant.  "I was always excited to go to the games.  And I looked forward to being a part of that experience, and couldn't wait for the next."
     Congratulations on a FANtastic season, Lady Eagles.  Good luck next season.  Even though I will be graduating in the winter of 2001, and won't be able to be a part of the 2002 experience, I will be cheering for the maroon and gray of NCCU softball wherever life's endeavors lead me.