University of Tennessee Athletics
Softball Opens 2012 Fall Practice
September 21, 2012 | Softball
Sept. 21, 2012
Here are a few notable quotes from the first day of fall practice:
CO-HEAD COACH Karen Weekly
"We're going to scrimmage today, just get everybody out there playing their positions. Everybody is going to see some live pitching, live hitting. We've been doing individuals for a few weeks. They've been doing a lot of work on their own. We'll just get a feel for where everybody is and tomorrow we'll start with some fundamentals work."
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The start of the spring sports are months away, but it sure did not look that way on Thursday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium as the Tennessee softball team opened its fall practice with an intrasquad scrimmage.
The Lady Vols, who are coming off their fifth Women's College World Series appearance in program history in 2012, were split into Orange and White teams. Most of the veterans were on the Orange team while freshmen and younger players were featured on the White.
"The fall season gives younger players a chance to get acclimated to college ball," co-head coach Karen Weekly said. "Things move at a faster pace and we work a whole lot harder than they're used to working. They just kind of get comfortable with how we do things and how quickly we need to be moving at this pace."
GIBSON LIKES TEAM DEPTH
Senior second baseman Lauren Gibson started fall practice on a good note, ripping a single to right in her first at-bat. The two-time first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American was glad to be back in Orange and White after an exciting summer donning the Red, White and Blue for USA Softball Women's National Team.
Gibson led the USA with a .500 batting average, competing against the best the rest of the world has to offer. After playing 22 games this summer on a loaded team with the country's top softball talent, Gibson can appreciate a team that has great depth. With four returning All-Americans and a wealth of talent up and down the roster, Tennessee aims to make for another June trip to Oklahoma City.
"We have a great infield-outfield and our bench is basically like a starting lineup for any other team," Gibson said. "We have great lineup and I feel, going into the season, we have a great chance of going all the way."
E. RENFROE LOOKS TO KEEP IMPROVING
As a two-time first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American and member of the USA Elite Team, junior Ellen Renfroe has established herself as one of the premier pitchers in the country. But the Jackson, Tenn., native thinks that she still has room to improve.
"I think a lot of people take for granted how mental the game of softball is," Renfroe said. "I would really like to improve on the mental aspect of the game. That's one thing I would really like to focus on this fall."
