Loss of season opener won’t discourage Lady Rams softball

By Janell J. LewisArgus Managing EditorThe Lady Rams softball team has a history of good talent stemming from a 2000 CIAA championship and a 2003 Western Division regular season title. In fact, the team has been unequivocally dominating the western division for several years now. The team is returning six starters from last season along with second-year head coach, LaTanya Hilliard-Gray. The ladies are pouncing from a victorious 21-11 2003 season and a CIAA Western Division regular season title  The Lady Rams opened their season recently, a month earlier than last year, with a four-game road trip. Unfortunately, the season-opener was a 9-0 upset by the Lady Tigers of Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. Though pitcher Heather Davis (Sr/ 5’11/ Detroit, Michigan) headed an 11-4 record last season she gave up nine runs on 14 hits for five innings of the game. “They weren’t able to overcome their jitters,” Coach Hilliard-Gray said, and then added that she was confident that the loss to Benedict College was not a prelude for the coming season. “We’re pretty confident that we’re going to have a good season,” she said. The team quickly ridded themselves of all jitters and started to focus on their next opponent—Claflin College. The following day, the team rode to Orangeburg, South Carolina to defeat Claflin in both games of a double header and improved to 2-1 on the season. Coach Hilliard-Gray said, “Once we won, I think they realized that we can achieve anything.” Hilliard-Gray said that with six freshmen coming on the team this year, she has one primary focus. “We’re going to have to work a lot on defense,” Hilliard-Gray said. Half of the team may be newcomers, but Coach Hilliard-Gray said she doesn’t see that playing a huge role in the team’s ability and skills. “Even though we’re young, we still have a whole lot of talent,” she said. The six veterans on the team are Heather Davis, Shannon Davis (Jr/5’4/C/Detroit, MI), LeAndrea Suggs (Jr/OF/5’7/Kinston,NC), LaKelsha Carney (Sr/5’4/SS,3B/Greenvilee, NC), Toyia Vaughn (So/5’6/3B/Burlington, NC), and Tameka Ferguson (So/5’6/OF/Charlotte, NC). The six 1st-year players are Curtina Barrett (FR/5’6/2B/Monroe, NC), L’Tisha Bell (FR/5’5/UT/Kings Mountain, NC), SaRhonda Hawkins (JR/5’8/OF, 1B/Greenville, AL), Jennifer Jones-Cockerham (Jr/5’0/OF,SS/Thomasville, NC), Whitney Lewis (FR/5’2/OF/Charlotte, NC, and Alexis Portlock (JR/5’5/OF/Charlotte, NC).