2008 Woodie Awards
Burtner Filling Lucas' Shoes
Softball
Jake Goldberg
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Sports
The softball team has been without one of its best hitters, freshman Melissa Lucas, for the past 11 games.
You wouldn't notice it, however, since they have inserted junior Erin Burtner, who has helped UConn to a 7-4 record in those 11 games.
Lucas was forced to have an appendectomy and doesn't have a specific time table for a return.
"I am feeling better. My incisions kind of hurt though," Lucas said. "I am going to see a doctor a week from Monday, so I could possibly play this weekend; at least that's what I am hoping."
With Lucas on the DL for an extended period the Huskies called upon Burtner to take her place in the outfield. Burtner wasn't always an outfielder but is willing to do what the team needs her to do in this injury period.
"I came in as in as a catcher but kind of got transformed because Danielle (Del Ponte) is a catcher and we are the same age, and so I got moved around a little bit," Burtner said. "I practice in the outfield all the time, when Lucas said she was going to be out for a while I was like alright time to get ready."
Lucas couldn't be happier for her teammate, as she is generally the first one out of the dugout to congratulate Burtner on her accomplishments.
"I think Burt is doing an awesome job in left field, they moved Neuschwander to right which I thought was a brilliant idea and I think
Burt is just doing awesome out there," Lucas said.
Head coach Karen Mullins accepts injuries as a part of the game and doesn't always look at them as a negative.
"When people get hurt that's what a team is all about people stepping in and playing," Mullins said. "We have had a lot of players do a lot different things for us and it's what makes us a good team."
With all of this being said, Lucas would do anything to get back out on the field and be with her teammates.
Mullins sympathizes with Lucas's situation but also knows there are still things she can do as an athlete.
You wouldn't notice it, however, since they have inserted junior Erin Burtner, who has helped UConn to a 7-4 record in those 11 games.
Lucas was forced to have an appendectomy and doesn't have a specific time table for a return.
"I am feeling better. My incisions kind of hurt though," Lucas said. "I am going to see a doctor a week from Monday, so I could possibly play this weekend; at least that's what I am hoping."
With Lucas on the DL for an extended period the Huskies called upon Burtner to take her place in the outfield. Burtner wasn't always an outfielder but is willing to do what the team needs her to do in this injury period.
"I came in as in as a catcher but kind of got transformed because Danielle (Del Ponte) is a catcher and we are the same age, and so I got moved around a little bit," Burtner said. "I practice in the outfield all the time, when Lucas said she was going to be out for a while I was like alright time to get ready."
Lucas couldn't be happier for her teammate, as she is generally the first one out of the dugout to congratulate Burtner on her accomplishments.
"I think Burt is doing an awesome job in left field, they moved Neuschwander to right which I thought was a brilliant idea and I think
Burt is just doing awesome out there," Lucas said.
Head coach Karen Mullins accepts injuries as a part of the game and doesn't always look at them as a negative.
"When people get hurt that's what a team is all about people stepping in and playing," Mullins said. "We have had a lot of players do a lot different things for us and it's what makes us a good team."
With all of this being said, Lucas would do anything to get back out on the field and be with her teammates.
Mullins sympathizes with Lucas's situation but also knows there are still things she can do as an athlete.
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