Senate Resolution 5

A RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE OLE MISS SOFTBALL TEAM, HEAD COACH MIKE SMITH AND STAR PITCHER KAITLIN LEE FOR WINNING THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP, HOSTING AND WINNING THE NCAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND ADVANCING TO THE SUPER REGIONALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

WHEREAS, the Ole Miss Softball Team made a significant breakthrough in the 2017 season. For the first time in school history, the Ole Miss Softball Team, led by Head Coach Mike Smith and his staff, won their first-ever SEC Title and clinched their first-ever Super Regional appearance with a 7-2 win over North Carolina on May 21, 2017, to win their NCAA Regional Championship in front of a crowd of 1,709 fans, a program record, with many fans following the game outside the stadium; and

WHEREAS, the Rebels (43-18) capped off what turned into a memorable weekend in Oxford that saw two record crowds and almost 5,000 fans cross through the gates of the Ole Miss Softball Complex. Through three games in the regional, Ole Miss allowed only two runs, and piled on 17 to claim its seventh-straight win; and

WHEREAS, as has been the case for the latter part of the season, the Rebels relied on the arm of Kaitlin Lee, who again earned her way to another stellar victory. She threw her school record 12th-straight complete game, and allowed only two runs off five hits, with six strikeouts to settle in after the first two innings. Lee had been on a roll since the regular season ended. Since the start of the SEC Tournament, she won seven consecutive games, pitched every inning of all seven, and allowed five runs in 47 innings. Kaitlin has been the main character in Ole Miss' surprising run to a Super Regional; and

WHEREAS, offensively, Elantra Cox again paved the way going 3-for-3, while Brittany Finney had the go-ahead, 2-run blast in the six that gave the Rebels the lead. Senior Miranda Strother, in potentially her final home game as a Rebel, made it a big one with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBIs and two runs scored; and

WHEREAS, as a team the Rebels finished the Regional weekend outscoring its three opponents 17-2, and trailed only once for three innings in the Championship Game; and

WHEREAS, at the Regional, junior RHP Kaitlin Lee continued her dominating streak of 12 consecutive complete games, which further extends her school record. She capped the weekend with only the two runs allowed on Sunday, and threw two shutouts, struck out 11, and surrendered only 12 hits. Kaitlin has also tied Madi Osias' single-season record from a year ago with her 23rd game, and tied Amanda Fine's single-season school record with 26 complete games; and

WHEREAS, Ole Miss, which played in its first-ever Super Regional, began playing softball in 1997. In their first 18 seasons, the Rebels posted a winning record twice. The challenges were apparent right away. "Sometimes it's just the perfect synergy of people that you put together. Just the culture Coach Mike Smith created, the environment he created has led to some phenomenal success. He is an amazing coach," first Coach Joyce Maudie said. "This is exactly what I envisioned would happen with the Ole Miss softball program back in 1995 when I was initially talking about the program and the future of it." For the Rebels, that future is here; and

WHEREAS, the Ole Miss "Rebels" 2017 Softball Team Roster is: Gabby Alvarez, 1B/3B; Kylan Becker, OF; Morgan Bruce, RHP; Raven Campos, UT; Bry Castro, 2B; Alyssa Clayton, LHP; Elantra Cox, OF; Brittany Finney, RHP/1B; Alyssa Gonzalez, 1B; Kaylee Horton, UT; Elisha Jahnke, RHP; Ashton Lampton, SS/3B; Kaitlin Lee, RHP; Kennedy Legg, C; Grayce Majam, 2B; Dakota Matiko, 3B/1B; Paige McKinney, UT; Dominique Salinas, OF; Alex Schneider, 1B; Dylinn Stancil, INF; Allison Stark, OF; Miranda Strother, OF; Courtney Syrett, C; and Sarah Van Schaik, C; Head Coach Mike Smith; Associate Head Coach Ruben Felix; Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach Taryne Mowatt; Volunteer Assistant/Camp Coordinator Katie Rietkovich; Director of Operations Jody Davidson; Athletic Trainer, Brittany Ferrell; Strength and Conditioning, Anna Kuzan; Assistant Director of Academic Support, Sheila Padgett; Mangers: Kayla Holland, Jessica Ricks, Kelsey Shaw, Daniel Rowland, Zach Coutee and Tess Soefje; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this special Mississippi university team which has brought pride to their university, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby pay tribute to the 2017 Ole Miss Softball Team, Head Coach Mike Smith and Star Pitcher Kaitlin Lee for winning the SEC Championship, hosting and winning the NCAA Regional Championship and advancing to the Super Regionals for the first time in school history, and extend our best wishes for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Head Coach Mike Smith and Chancellor Jeffrey S. Vitter, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.