Spring Break
Doubling their pleasure on Saturday afternoon, UMKC pitchers Samantha Hurst, junior, and freshman Taya Upkes picked up complete game victories over Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) by identical scores of 4-1. Upkes offered up the Mastodons' lone score in game one on six hits while striking out six and walking a pair.
Something happened late Saturday afternoon that hasn't been witnessed very often in the past two spring seasons. UMKC head softball coach Meredith Smith cracked a smile, and with a relaxed demeanor, talked about what is likely the high point of her 21-month Roo odyssey.
Freshman outfielder Ashley Whiteside may only be 5'3", but she's not afraid of big softball bullies or nine-foot slithering reptiles. "I have a weird liking for the outdoors and animals, especially snakes," Whiteside said. "They're fun and cool and most people are afraid of them.
Whoa baby, what a round. That's likely what most of the field was thinking on April 1 at the Branson Creek Invitational after UMKC hauled in the top score for the day with a score of 291. When added to their two-day total of 590 (299-291), the five-man squad hauled in a third-place finish overall in the team standing.
UMKC senior thrower Sky Hagy put together the best performance of his career as a member of the blue and gold on Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Mo. Competing at the Missouri State Big Bear Invitational, Hagy finished on top in the hammer throw (173' 9"), the javelin throw (151' 10"), the shot put (47' 3 1/2") and the discuss throw (132' 2").
UMKC red-shirt freshman Josh Taylor never could have expected the whirlwind week he was going to have. On April 1, Taylor fooled everyone with a two-round scoring performance of 145 (73-72). Two days later he was named the Summit League Golfer of the Week.
