Softball alums big test for Lady Vols

By Mike Griffith
Published Thursday, September 24, 2009

It will be "Back to the Future" for the Tennessee Lady Vols softball team at Lee Stadium at 8 tonight.

The 2010 version of the Lady Vols will take on a star-studded UT alumni team that includes virtually every big name to wear orange except Monica Abbott.

Abbott, who holds most every pitching record in NCAA history, is playing professional softball in Japan, so that means there should be a few more runs scored for the fans who choose to take advantage of the free admission.

"I'm going to play our returning players the first three innings, and the freshmen after that,'' said Ralph Weekly, who along with his wife, Karen, serves as UT's co-head coach. "But I was looking at that alumni roster, and I anticipate it will be a very competitive game.''

Four of the Lady Vols alumni players are coming off professional seasons: India Chiles, Kenora Posey, Tonya Callahan and Lilliam Hammond.

Three alumni are former All-Americans, Callahan, Chiles and Maryville's Sarah Fekete, who batted .500 in 2006 and still teaches slap-hitting in the Knoxville area.

Former UT home run leader Adrianna Wilson, who played for the Lady Vols before the Weeklys arrived, also will be in uniform for the alumni team.