University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
2004 Softball Championship Team Honored
11/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2004 Softball Championship Team Honored
Before the team returned to school from the 2003 Christmas break, each player and coach designed a championship ring.
?We did it so we would know what to expect,? junior second baseman Charity
The team rebounded from a 5-11 start to the 2004 season, to close the season with wins in 10 of their final 12 games, and 15 in their final 22, highlighted by a regular season final weekend sweep of Louisville to earn the conference championship, the team?s first since the 2000 season.
?Every time I think about that final weekend, everything else is a blur,? Head Coach and 2004 Conference
The team advanced to NCAA postseason play, earning a berth in the Region 7 tournament hosted by Stanford, as Southern Miss concluded its season with a 33-26 overall mark, 19-4 record in Conference
The rings presented Saturday, were crafted after incorporating each individual design. There are five black stones on the front of the ring, symbolizing the team?s five seniors from last year, Auriel Jenkins, Jessica Holaway, Danielle Hatfield, Heather Bell and Sarah Boyd.
?We designed a ring that everyone wanted together,? McNutt said. ?Each player wears a link necklace and that ring is a perfect example of our team unity.?
When the rings were passed out, there were looks of awe and plenty of smiles as the players put their respective rings on.
?I love it,? Jenkins said. ?It?s never coming off.?
?I can?t wait to show it around,? junior third baseman Ashley Brenan said.
?I?m afraid I might lose it,?
For the seniors, the ring ceremony put an end to their respective careers.
?It was awesome to watch the highlight tape and relive last year,? Holaway said. ?Tonight was a good way to put closure to my career. I didn?t realize how unclosed it was.?
?It?s bittersweet,?
Southern Miss will open its 2005 softball season with a doubleheader against
