It may have been Kristen Brown’s last game at Anderson Softball Stadium on Wednesday, but the senior shortstop for the North Carolina softball team isn’t finished just yet.
As the UNC's all-time home runs leader, Brown will play in her last ACC Tournament in a few weeks. She said she’s been spending extra time marveling at campus staples like the Old Well and the bell tower ahead of what could be her final games in a Tar Heel jersey.
“It still hasn’t hit me that we’re not going to play on this field again,” Brown said. “Leaving a legacy behind is something cool and I made such good friends here. The coaches were great and the program, you can’t even talk enough about it. It’s really an honor and I’m going to miss this place.”
In her grand finale at home, Brown went one-for-three in the Tar Heels’ 9-6 win over Campbell. Now, Brown looks forward to the team's last series of the regular season against Georgia Tech and the impending postseason.
“We’re going to get some wins,” Brown said. “We’ve got something to prove because we didn’t start the year off so well, so we’re looking to finish strong and so far we have been. We’re going to go in, make some damage and win the tournament and then go into postseason and compete there.”
While Brown is almost at the end of her UNC career, first-year Berlynne Delamora is trying to craft her own legacy. The third baseman currently sits third on the team in batting average and went two-for-three on Wednesday a home run and three RBIs.
Although she has had success in her first year with the Tar Heels, Delamora said she hasn’t paid much attention to anything other than the team dynamic, including her time spent with Brown.
“To be honest, I don’t really look into that,” she said. “I just try to play my heart out every single game and stats are just numbers. She’s given me so much advice on softball and just life in general. She’s just a great role model.”
With the ACC Tournament starting on May 12, Coach Donna Papa looked forward to the postseason and reflected on the impact her seniors have had on the season.
