Wimpy may be headed for a similar spot in the Lady Senators’ annals if she continues at the level displayed at the Milligan Tournament, which was held Saturday and Sunday at Winged Deer Park in Carter County, Tenn.
The ex-Lady Wildcat finished 13 for 18, a .722 average, with five home runs, 14 RBIs and eight runs scored while helping lead her team to an 8-3 championship game victory against Anderson (S.C.) University on Sunday. Wimpy went 3 for 4 with a walk, a home run and three RBIs in the win.
The Bartow County native called her first weekend of college play indescribable.
“Honestly, I did not think I would do as good as I did this weekend,” Wimpy said. “I knew I was capable of doing it, but I did not think it would end up [going as well as it did].”
In her first collegiate game on Saturday, Wimpy finished 2 for 3, with both of her hits coming off homers in the third and fifth innings — the latter home run being a line drive that went about 280 feet and hit off the fence. She also had four RBIs in Walters State’s 7-4 victory over Tusculum (Tenn.) College.
The Lady Senators followed up their first-game triumph with another win Saturday, defeating Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) University, 9-3. Wimpy added another pair of homers in her 3-for-4 performance, ending the game with three RBIs.
Continuing her scorching start, Wimpy reached base safely on each of her at-bats Sunday against host Milligan University, hitting 4 for 4 with three RBIs in an 11-4 win.
In its matchup with Virginia Intermont College, which followed Walters State’s game with the Lady Buffaloes, Wimpy went 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI in an 8-0 victory, which sent the Lady Senators to the championship against the Lady Trojans, who had gone 4-0 to reach the final game of the tournament.
With each of its opponents at the Milligan Tournament playing in Division II, Walters State, a junior college, seems to have the potential to be every bit of the team coach Larry Sauceman thinks it can be.
“This group could be as good as we’ve ever had,” Sauceman said earlier this month, according to the team’s website. “The kids we have coming back are as good as any class we’ve ever had, and with the new people, there are a lot of good players in that group. If they can all come together, we have a chance to be as good as we have ever been.”
Wimpy, whose Woodland teams went 89-46 and were playoff regulars during her four years, gave no reason to doubt those statements when assessing the team.
“Playing up at this level, especially with our team being as good as they are, is a lot different than high school ball. … It is the best players,” said Wimpy, who is joined on the team by fellow Cartersville native Samaria Curtis, a former Cass player. “We have a player of the year, an All-American pitcher of the year and shortstop. That’s exciting to play with ’em and [to] try playing up there on their level.”
Things have begun well for the teenager who noted that listening and working hard have eased the transition.
“To me, all you gotta do is pay attention and it’s a lot easier than high school. Practice, it’s a lot more different than high school. It’s a lot more running,” Wimpy added. “You have to be disciplined. You have to work your heinie off, as my coach says. … You have to earn your position.”
Wimpy appears to have done that and should contribute heavily once the Lady Senators’ begin their actual season in the spring.
“Wimpy is going to fill the catcher’s spot really well,” Sauceman said. “She’s a really good catcher, and she can swing the bat with a lot of power. She could be better than anybody we’ve ever had. She has that potential, and we’re expecting big things from her this season.”
Walters State’s fall season continues Friday when it plays at Tusculum College.
— Information from the Walters State athletics website was used in this article.