Millsaps fast-pitch softball coach Joe Kinsella realizes it will be difficult to duplicate his team's historic season of 2003. For those with short memories, the Majors rolled to their first-ever SCAC Championship and advanced to their first-ever NCAA Regional, where they went 2-2 and were within striking distance of the supreme prize, a ticket to the NCAA College World Series. For the year, Millsaps finished 28-11, 12-2 in the SCAC.
For Kinsella, the 2003 SCAC Coach of the Year, things look just as promising in 2004. His team returns every starter, including SCAC Player of the Year, CF Barbara Balla (.393, 7 HR, 28 RBI). Kinsella, entering his fourth year as head man, jokingly says, "I just want to stay out of the way and not mess things up!" Don't believe it. Kinsella and his team have been hard at work as they attempt to prove that 2003 was not a fluke.
Millsaps is loaded for bear as they have seven All-SCAC 1st team selections back in the fold, including Balla. They are junior LF Naffie Mooney (.392, 4 HR, 29 RBI), junior DH Brittany Ladner (.320, 24 RBI), junior P Tammy Ladner (14-3, 1.52 ERA), senior SS Robin Rocko (.432, 11 HR, 35 RBI), sophomore 2B Christina Sharp (.333, 14 RBI, .969 FP), and sophomore P Danielle Cross (11-7, 3.29 ERA). Kinsella is also looking for good things from Louisiana-Monroe transfer Katy Fleming, who should join the starting pitching rotation.
The schedule is highlighted by home and home series with arch-rivals Mississippi College and Belhaven. The regular-season ending SCAC Tournament will be held in Atlanta. The season opener is slated for February 7 as the Majors take to the road against Arkansas-Monticello.
