May 5, 2017
Weather cancels TTU-JSU softball series, seniors honored
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The weather may have dampened the field at Tennessee Tech’s softball stadium, but it wasn’t going to rain on the team’s Senior Day celebration. The doubleheader against Jacksonville State was cancelled, ending Tech’s regular season at 16-28, 8-8 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The bracket for next week’s OVC Tournament in Oxford, Ala., will be announced this weekend following the conclusion of the entire regular-season slate.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The weather may have dampened the field at Tennessee Tech's softball stadium, but it wasn't going to rain on the team's Senior Day celebration.
The doubleheader against Jacksonville State was cancelled, ending Tech's regular season at 16-28, 8-8 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The bracket for next week's OVC Tournament in Oxford, Ala., will be announced this weekend following the conclusion of the entire regular-season slate.
But weather aside, it was still a moment to celebrate as the Golden Eagles honored their six 2017 seniors, who all will be receiving their diplomas in the university's commencement exercises on Saturday.
The seniors, their family and teammates went indoor to the Hooper Eblen Center's Eagles Nest for the ceremony.
The seniors included:
Amity Brown – A Knoxville native, Brown has played 88 games for the Golden Eagles, scoring 29 runs and stealing eight bases. With her speed, Brown has been a key pinch runner in strategic moments. She was escorted by her mother, Gwen Brown; sister Ariana Reynolds; sister Alyssia Brown; and friend Sieta Weisman.
Sarah Freels – A Dayton native and transfer from Roane State, Freels has played in 65 games, collecting 22 hits and scoring 21 runs. She has driven in 16 runs and has hit six home runs as well as stolen six bases. She was escorted by her mother Christy, father Darren; sisters Jessie and Katie; and nephew and niece Andyn and Addy.
Kelly Kennedy – A three-year member of the team from Plainfield, Ill., Kennedy has a career .231 average with 66 hits, 25 runs scored, 36 runs batted in and 14 home runs. She was escorted by her mom Julie, father Erin, brother Nolan and sister Alie.
Danielle Liberatore – One of the top strikeout pitchers in team history, Liberatore has a career 2.74 earned run average and a 58-46 record. She has appeared in 127 games, pitched 76 complete games and recorded 76 shutouts. She has struck out 807, including a career-high 17 against Morehead State in 2015, the same year she was named Tech's Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year. She was escorted by her mom Sheri, father Dan, sister Alyssa, grandmother Susan and grandfather Dennis.
Gabby Perez – A four-year starter from Covington, La., Perez has played in 191 games and has accumulated a .247 average. She has 92 hits, 55 runs scored, 15 RBI and has stolen 21 bases in her career. This season, she was a nominee for Tech's Woman of the Year Award for her efforts on the field, in the classroom and in the community. She was escorted by her mother, Barbara.
Alyssa Richards – A native of Italy, Texas, Richards has provided plenty of power for the Golden Eagles. In her 207 games played, she has a .282 average, driving in 104 runs and hitting 30 home runs, while scoring 51 times. She was escorted by her father Allen, great-grandparents Luciana and Rebecca Garza, grandparents Rita and Leo Garza and Elaine and Greg Richards, aunt Dana Garza and cousins Grant and Jake Hamby.
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
