The SEC title is on the line beginning tonight in Gainesville when Tennessee takes on Florida in the final series of the regular season. Scoreboard watchers will be busy this weekend, as what happens in Oxford also matters with Alabama, the defending league champion, taking on Ole Miss.
Scout.com: Lady Vols softball notebook
Entering play Friday, Tennessee (44-7, 20-5) has a slight edge over Florida (44-8, 18-7) with Alabama (42-7, 16-6) hovering one game behind the Lady Vols.
The Crimson Tide are at Ole Miss (14-36, 3-20) and need to sweep the Rebels and have the Gators take two of three from Tennessee to claim SEC supremacy in 2011.
The trophy is awarded based on winning percentage in league games so for Florida to take the crown Alabama would need to lose at least one game to Ole Miss (unlikely), and the Gators would have to sweep Tennessee (not out of the question).
The Lady Vols do control their own destiny by simply winning, and if Alabama loses a game at Ole Miss, Tennessee would need just one win over Florida to seize the championship.
But getting wins in Gainesville wonÂ’t be easy. Tennessee is 5-19 in Gainesville and won just one series in 2007, two games to one. The Lady Vols were swept at Pressly Stadium in 2009. Overall, Florida leads the series, 35-18, with 11 of the Lady Vol wins coming during the Weekly era at Tennessee, which began in 2002.
“It could be win three, lose three or any combination therein,” Tennessee Co-Head
FRESHMAN SENSATIONS: First-year players will be all over the field this weekend for Tennessee, as the Lady Vols have relied on the youngsters all season.
One of those freshmen is pitcher Ellen Renfroe, who has taken the approach that the game remained the same even though the competition got tougher.
“Our coaches have helped us,” Renfroe said. “We try to encourage each other. It’s the same game. It’s still softball. The game has not changed. You still use the same yellow ball.
“Coming into this season I was talking to a coach and he said, ‘Ellen, it’s the same ball. There are still nine players on the field. There is going to be a hitter up there and they’re going to have a bat. It’s all the same thing.’
“Even though it is on a different level you still have to keep that same mentality. Have fun with it. You’re going to get beat some games. Some games you’re not going to be on perfectly. That is when you really learn and you have to fight through not being perfect every time and coming through with the big hit or the strikeout.”
Renfroe made the relatively short trip from Jackson, Tenn., to wear orange and be a part of the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. Freshman Melissa Davin traveled from Fresno, Calif.
“I love the coaches. I love the team. It’s just a great atmosphere, and I wanted to play here,” Davin said of the decision to play so far from home. “I know if I need them (family) they’ll be here in a heartbeat.”
Davin has been slotted primarily this season at designated player and first base.
“Growing up I played utility,” Davin said. “I’ve been everywhere. I’ve been in different situations so it just comes natural.”
The freshmen – other members of the group are Ashley Holmes, Tory Lewis, Chelsea O’Connor, Kourtny Thomas and Madison Shipman – have embraced the pressure.
“You would think we would have heavy shoulders from it, but we come out, we practice hard, we work hard, we put everything we’ve got into the field every day, and it’s showing,” Davin said.