SEC fans don't often hear Alabama coaches throwing compliments Tennessee's way, but that's what happened during Monday's softball teleconference.

Lady Vols' senior third baseman Tonya Callahan is that good.

"We're going over all these ballots for All-SEC, she (Callahan) is a tough person not to vote for player of the year,'' said Alabama coach Pat Murphy, who has a pretty strong candidate in Charlotte Morgan.

"She (Callahan) has 30 less at-bats because of the walks, and she has had a great year,'' Murphy said. "She's a tough person to pitch around; we tried, and she hit a home run off us.''

Florida made the mistake of pitching to Callahan too often last weekend, and it very nearly cost the Gators their 32-game win streak.

Callahan hit .500 against Florida (5-of-10) and broke the SEC single-season record for walks (52).

Callahan likely will get another free pass or two when the 12th-ranked Lady Vols (46-13, 14-12 SEC) open the SEC tournament at noon Thursday in Baton Rouge, La., against Georgia (43-21, 14-14).

In 26 league games, Callahan led the SEC in batting average (.500), slugging percentage (1.033), on-base percentage (.684), walks (33, 15 intentional) and was second in home runs (10).

"She's the best hitter we've had at Tennessee,'' said Ralph Weekly, who along with his wife, Karen, serves as co-head coach. "Now, we've had slappers with great speed, like Sarah Fekete, who led the nation in batting average and India Chiles, who won SEC player of the year last year, but Tonya is a pure hitter.''

Karen Weekly said Callahan also has been used more in clutch bunting situations than any other Lady Vol because she's skilled in that facet of the game, too.

A Callahan bunt would be OK with Georgia coach Lu-Harris Champer.

"You just try not to let her hit the ball,'' Champer said. "To her credit, she has gotten better every season she has played. She clearly has a dedicated work ethic.''

LSU coach Yvette Girouard said she hopes to avoid running into UT and Callahan in the tournament.

"Do I have to pitch to her again? That's my question,'' Girouard said. "She hit it out every time we pitched to her. We called two balls off the plate and she still hit it out.

"The first rule you learn is, don't let the best player beat you. She is a huge weapon in that lineup.''

Ralph Weekly said it's important other Lady Vols step up around Callahan and make opponents pay for the walks.

"Hopefully Shannon (Doepking) can come through like she did against Florida a couple of times and against LSU,'' Weekly said. "We have to have some other kids in the lineup come through. You can't put it all on Callahan.''

The SEC awards will be announced Wednesday night at a banquet in Baton Rouge.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.