Millsaps College -   In only its third year of existence, the Millsaps women's fastpitch softball team is a conference contender.   Holding an overall record of 15-14 and a 7-1 mark in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, the Majors have claimed a share of the SCAC West division title with conference rival Trinity University (24-14, 7-1).  After enduring a dismal 0-9 start, the Purple and White surged to 15 wins in their last 20 tries, setting a plethora of school records in the process.  Predicted to finish third in the SCAC West pre-season poll, the Majors will face the University of the South (Sewanee) in the first round of the SCAC Spring Sports Festival softball tournament on Friday, April 26, 2002, at the Millsaps softball facility.  Millsaps will enter the tournament as the West \# 2 seed, with Trinity playing as the West \# 1 seed.  While Millsaps and Trinity each won one game in their rain-shortened series, the seeding is determined by head-to-head play for teams with identical conference records.  Trinity holds a 4 run margin in run-differential over the Majors. (Millsaps defeated Trinity 3-2 in game 1, but fell 5-0 in the nightcap of a doubleheader). 

A true success story, the Majors' softball squad is led by hard hitting Senior third baseman, Keely Mixon. Mixon, who leads the SCAC in home runs with 3, is hitting a clip of .341 with a team high slugging percentage of .537.  Says Mixon of her team's chances this weekend, "We are excited about the tournament, and we anticipate winning some games.  The girls are playing very well right now, and we are confident in our abilities." 

Head Coach, Joe Kinsella couldn't agree more.  "It's been a fun year," says the second year head man.  "We have a young team that has gelled over the course of the season.  We're playing solid defense and are hitting the ball as well as we have all year.  We are looking forward to Friday."
 
Players to Watch:  Six Majors Hitting Above .300; Leads SCAC
Players to watch for the Majors this weekend include Mixon, Sophomore middle infielders   Claire Panter (second base) and Robin Rockco (shortstop), Sophomore rightfielder Emilee Broussard, Junior centerfielder Barbara Balla, and Freshman designated hitter Brittany Ladner.
Panter leads the Majors in hitting with a .358 average, while Rockco boasts an average of .325.
Broussard displays a clip of .333, while Ladner and Balla account for averages of .301 and .320 respectively.  Other players of note include Freshman leftfielder Naffie Mooney, Freshman first baseman Juliana Wallace, Freshman catcher Mandy McGehee, Sophomore outfielder Kendall Morrison, and Freshman pitcher Tammy Ladner.  Mooney, who leads the team in triples with 3 and stolen bases with 5, is also third on the team in runs scored with 16.  A defensive genius, Wallace leads the team in putouts with 145, while McGehee has caught 5 runners stealing and boasts a team high .985 fielding percentage.  Morrison, despite being hampered with nagging injuries, has started 17 games this season and is a defensive asset in the outfield.  Ladner has earned a 10-7 record as the Majors' ace pitcher and enjoys an ERA of 2.51.