- Softball Sisters in slugging ~~while the old saying that "all good things must come to an end" ~\ can never be proven fully, the story of the Harding University . women's softball team certainly lends credit to the adage . After only three years of existence, including two Arkansas Intercollegiate Championships the team was forced to disband for the simple and unusual reason that they had no competition. "Unusual is hardly the word," said Coach Ted Altman of the situation. At the beginning of the year, three schools besides Harding indicated that they would sponsor a softball team. But when the season arrived, Harding had the only officially certified team. "It is a different kind of feeling to be declared conference champion by default, but that's essentially what happened," Altman said . The season did see some action despite its brevity. The Lady Bisons sought competition outside their league, ending the season with a 3-5 record. Their victories over NCAA member Arkansas State University and Northeastern Oklahoma proved their ability to play the game. Eleven team members were named all-conference. They were Lisa Baker of Horn Lake, Mississippi , Shelma Collins of Searcy, Lois Goodin of Roselle, Illinois, Sue Hainzinger of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Amy Hall of Burkburnett , Texas, Sandra Hammontree of Spanish Fort, Alabama. Gina Huffman of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Dawn and Karen Mason of Tabernacle, New Jersey, Dera Phillips of Capshaw, Alabama, and Linda Phillips of Royal Oak, Michigan. Even with the lack of competition, members of the team felt that the season was worth their time and effort. "We had so much fun; it was really fun getting to know everybody," explained freshmen member Shelma Collins. The extensive traveling the team had to do in order to play gave team members a chance to grow closer and to simply have a good time, according to Dawn Mason, a junior player. "Traveling six to eight hours in . a car with a bunch ~f people, you do some crazy things," she commented. Both Collins and Mason agreed that they were sorry to see the team come to an end. Said Mason , "I think Coach Altman's knowledge of softball is really good. It's a shame the program had to stop becasue we had the potential to be a good team." 11I[ Limber legs. Teammates Amy Hall , Linda Phillips, and Gina Huffman stretch their hamstrings during an afternoon practice . Both Phillips and Hall lettered two years . - photo by P.R. Office. Softball team. Front row : Huffman , Phillips , Johnson; second row : Goodin , Hall , Imler , Taylor , Mason ; back row: Phillips , Baker , Hainzinger , Thigpen , Collins , Hammontree. - photo by P.R. Office . Softball 133
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