Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Southeast softball team looks forward to build on championship season

Monday, September 9, 2019

During the halftime of Southeast’s “Black Out” themed home-opening football game, Southeast softball received their Ohio Valley Conference Championship rings for their 2019 season.

Southeast coach Mark Redburn, named OVC Coach of the Year, was all smiles as he praised his teams’ efforts while keeping his focus ever-forward on how much work the team needs to put in their 44th season of the program.

“This ring symbolizes putting in work, dedication and many hours of practice,” centerfielder Rachel Anderson said. “When I look down, I just keep smiling. But I do have one year left, and we’re trying to get another ring for Team 44.”

The 2018-2019 OVC Player of the Year, Anderson will return to centerfield for her senior season as a Redhawk. Anderson broke Southeast’s single-season records in batting average (.454), slugging percentage (.842), games played (64), on-base percentage (.551), hits (83) and total bases (154), and tied the school's single-season triples mark (0.16). She also broke SEMO’s all-time record for career singles.

“It’s going to be a year where we’ve got to work again,” Redburn said. “We cannot ride on last year, we know that we got to go out and earn it, and that’s certainly what they’re going to try to do.”

Junior pitcher, Alexis Estes, described what she wants to see in the next group of girls who join the Redhawks this season.

“I hope they see the excitement in our eyes and in our faces and that team chemistry we have,” Estes said. “I hope they get motivated to work hard just like we have. But I know this is a good group of freshmen and transfers, so I am excited.”

SEMO’s softball team will begin competing again in the spring, along with five new additions that will contribute to the program’s future successes. In the meantime, their practices consist of early morning runs and lift three days a week. The team arrives early to walk down to their running spot together and enjoys spending gym time as a team as well. Individual position practices happen on days in between to get them prepared for competition.

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