UNC softball looking to ?nd spark late in season

Christine Knauer’s voice can be heard from anywhere inside Anderson Stadium. North Carolina’s senior shortstop constantly talks to her teammates.

Sometimes she encourages them after a good play and sometimes urges them to stay focused during an at-bat.

But her voice alone was not good enough for UNC coach Donna Papa. Papa didn’t hear enough from Knauer’s teammates, which is why the veteran coach lined up the entire team at the end of the game and forced them to run sprints.

“They didn’t look like we wanted them to look,” Papa said. “We wanted to change our look, so to speak, as far as being in the moment, and we didn’t feel like we were in the moment enough.”

At this point in the season, with only five games left before the ACC Tournament, Papa is still trying to tie up loose ends. In UNC’s win against Appalachian State, Papa was unimpressed with the way the energy the team put in its performance.

After losing two of three games against Maryland over the weekend, Papa emphasized the importance of coming out with a spark each game.

“Everyone on the team really plays a role in pumping up each other,” Knauer said. “Whether it’s one person saying one line to another person to get them excited or making a great play, everyone on the team has a role to get everyone else excited.

“We didn’t do that today.”

As the postseason approaches, the team is still trying to find the right batting order as well. Papa has adjusted the lineup throughout the season due to injuries and hitting slumps. She still has yet to find the right combination of batters.

Part of the problem has been the emergence of several underclassmen. Sophomore Kelli Wheeler leads the team in home runs, while freshman Haleigh Dickey has become one of Papa’s most prolific power hitters. Papa has also had to make room for Danielle Spaulding after the senior took time off with a hand injury.

“We’re going with who we think is hitting on a daily basis,” Papa said. “Probably our top five or six are set, but when it comes to seven, eight or nine, we are more flexible and are trying different people in there.”

Papa knows that finding consistent energy and a set batting order will be important as UNC tries to qualify for its eighth straight NCAA tournament appearance.

“We can hit the ball and have outstanding pitching, but you have got to mentally be there all the time,” Papa said.



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.