UT Tyler’s Brittanni Hanna Aiming To Lead Patriots Softball Team To Success
(Staff Photo by Tom Turner)
UT TYLER catcher Brittanni Hanna played 33 consecutive innings behind the plate last week in the American Southwest Conference Tournament.
By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor
Brittanni Hanna and endurance go hand in hand.
Sports Editor
Brittanni Hanna and endurance go hand in hand.
Last weekend in the American Southwest Conference Softball Tournament in Irving, Hanna caught all 45 1/3 innings behind the plate.
“Brittanni is a tough kid,” UT Tyler coach Mike Reed said. “She never considered it as an option to come out of the game. She just went out there and did her job.”
The duty behind the plate never affected her bat, either. She was 7-of-20 at the plate for a .350 batting average and seven RBIs. She also came through in the clutch with a two-RBI game-winning double in a 5-4 victory over Mary Hardin-Baylor.
“There was never an indication of fatigue,” Reed said. “Most of the time, an athlete may lose some bat speed after catching that many innings, but not Brittanni.”
The Patriots will need her catching and her bat as the Tyler Regional of the NCAA Division III Softball Championships get under way today at UT Tyler Ballpark.
The schedule for first the day includes: Redlands (Calif.) vs. Linfield (Ore.), 10 a.m.; Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) vs. Chapman (Calif.), noon; La Verne (Calif.) vs. UT Tyler, 2 p.m.; Louisiana College vs. Redlands-Linfield winner, 4 p.m.
Hanna, a 5-2 freshman from Mesquite, is accustomed to taking part in the playoffs. In her four years on varsity at North Mesquite, she helped lead the Lady Stallions to the third round of the playoffs each year.
She feels the Patriots will do well this weekend.
“The depth, the chemistry and the attitude, all combine to make this a good team,” said Hanna, who is batting .333 with 32 RBIs. “This is a team that sticks together.”
In the ASC Tournament, twice the Patriots rallied in the seventh inning to register wins. Those comebacks energized the team said Hanna, who is a business major.
The desire to win helped her go out each inning behind the plate.
“It’s just a matter of staying focused,” Hanna said when asked if she tired during the endurance test of innings. “We just want to focus on the big prize.
“As a freshman I feel very honored to be on the field with the seniors and these upperclassmen.”
Notes:
UT Tyler Ballpark is located on the southwest portion of the campus. To reach the field, take Loop 323 until reaching Spur 248 University Boulevard. Take 248 and then take a left onto Patriot Avenue. Then take a right onto Campus Drive. Park in either Lot 10 or Lot 14. …Tickets are available for $8 per day and good for all games that day. Children under 3 may be admitted free if they will not be using a seat. No passes will be accepted. … The winner of the Tyler Regional advances to the Division III World Series May 16-20 in Salem, Va.
UT Tyler Ballpark is located on the southwest portion of the campus. To reach the field, take Loop 323 until reaching Spur 248 University Boulevard. Take 248 and then take a left onto Patriot Avenue. Then take a right onto Campus Drive. Park in either Lot 10 or Lot 14. …Tickets are available for $8 per day and good for all games that day. Children under 3 may be admitted free if they will not be using a seat. No passes will be accepted. … The winner of the Tyler Regional advances to the Division III World Series May 16-20 in Salem, Va.
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