The weekend softball series between North Carolina and Georgia Tech was more than a competition between the top contenders for the ACC regular season title.
It was a matchup of the two early favorites for the conference player of the year award.
North Carolina’s two-time ACC player of the year Danielle Spaulding and Georgia Tech’s hitting prodigy Jen Yee were supposed to be going head-to-head in a classic pitcher-hitter duel.
Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, Spaulding was absent from the mound. She went out last weekend against Florida State after getting hit on her throwing hand.
“I would have liked to see the matchup between Danielle being on the mound with Georgia Tech to see what we could have done,” coach Donna Papa said.
Not only did her hiatus probably cost North Carolina the series, but it hurt her chances of winning the player of the year award for the third time.
The senior remained in the hitting rotation this weekend but wore a protective glove on the injured hand.
“Me being not able to pitch, it kills me,” Spaulding said.
Yee, who is arguably the nation’s top hitter, has shredded pitchers all season. The senior from British Columbia is averaging an astounding .589 at bat and has 17 home runs on the season—already eclipsing her 16 from last season.
“She’s so effective because she just had great hands at the plate, she waits and she is very disciplined,” Papa said. “She is just a phenomenal hitter.
“I haven’t seen a hitter come through like her in, I would say, most of the years I have been coaching — and I have been coaching for 27 years.”
Yee showed her prowess against North Carolina by driving in four runs on four hits including two home runs this weekend — despite being walked the majority of the time.
When Spaulding returns to the mound, she said she would love the opportunity to prove that she has the stuff to shut down Georgia Tech and Yee.
“One of the most disappointing things about not being able to pitch this weekend is that … they rocked me last year, and I wanted a second chance against them.”
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