White, Veney, Bullock earn all-tournament honors

Box Score
SEVERN, Md., May 14, 2007 – There is plenty of time for redemption for most of the North Carolina A&T softball team. The Aggies lost to Howard University 17-0 in the finals of the 2007 MEAC Softball Tournament Monday at Randazzo Park.

The Bison (35-19) will advance to the NCAA Tucson, Ariz., Regional to face the University of Arizona Friday evening at 6:30 p.m., MST. For the Aggies, their season ends at 30-30. Despite the loss and the way the Aggies loss, the future looks bright for Mamie Jones and her young and talented squad.  

Jones had eight freshmen on her roster this season. Six freshmen earned significant playing time this season. They are scheduled to return along with veteran starters Chaola Simmons and Sylvia Felder. Four of Jones’ freshmen made either first-and-second team all-conference with shortstop Yahamma White and second baseman Lillian Bullock making first team and first baseman Jessie Larson and pitcher Sasha Philpot earning second-team honors.

Senior Tabitha Veney, White and Bullock were all-tournament team selections. Before talk of the future, however, the Aggies can be proud of the present. N.C. A&T came into the tournament as the No. 5 seed. The Aggies lost to No. 4 seed Howard in the opening game, which meant they had to win six straight to win the championship. They nearly pulled it off.

“For a young team to make a run like we made, it’s encouraging,’’ Jones said. “Of course we wanted to win the championship, but I feel like we have something to build on.”

The Aggies impressive run in the tournament started by beating the defending MEAC Champion Florida A&M Rattlers 12-10 thanks to a Veney grand slam. They followed that performance by knocking out the top-seeded Hampton Pirates thanks to two home runs from Larson and another one from Bullock. Their impressive run also included an 11-5 win over tournament-host Morgan State.

The Aggies then took out Delaware State thanks to a fabulous game-ending play by White and third baseman Tangala Conover as White threw out the tying run at third base for a 5-4 win.

The Aggies entered the championship round having to beat Howard twice because the Bison had yet to lose in the double elimination tournament. The Aggies pounded two grand slam homers within the first two innings of the game to move one step closer to their first-ever MEAC Championship with a 13-8 win. 

But Howard returned the favor on Monday. The Bison scored seven runs in the first inning highlighted by a two-run RBI double by Tournament MVP Courtney Young. In the second, Kristina Cordova and Jennifer Bien-Aime hit back-to-back home runs to put the Bison up nine. The Bison closed out the Aggies with two more home runs in the third.

The loss ends a record-breaking and eye-opening season for the Aggies. Bullock became the school’s all-time home run leader in one season of play with 17. She also led the league in home runs and was nationally ranked throughout the season.

White finished the season hitting a league-best .432, which is the highest season-ending batting average of any Aggie in history. She also ranked among the top 20 hitters in the country. Philpot also joined in on the fun with school record 18 wins on the mound. It was also a season in which the Aggies hit 56 home runs, which is more than they hit the three previous seasons combined.

“You have to be impressed with what A&T did in this tournament,” said Howard coach Tonja Braxton. “The comeback and win as many games as they has to be commended. I think this will serve as motivation for their freshmen.”