Sports

ASU’s Bynum, Tate face tough test

• Albany State’s Ta’Shelya Bynum and Kandis Tate must play big for the Lady Rams to beat Barry in today’s Division II first round regional in Miami.

Scott Chancey

MIAMI — Ta’Shelya Bynum and Kandis Tate have provided a constant one-two punch for Albany State’s softball team all season.

Being part of the eighth and final seed, which faces top-seeded and third-ranked Barry University in today’s first-round NCAA Division II Regional game at 6:30 p.m., they know they have to do more than just deliver that punch.

It will have to be nothing short of a knockout.

Tate, who bats fifth and was the most valuable player of the SIAC tournament which the Lady Rams won for the second consecutive time, has 11 home runs, 18 doubles, eight triples and 64 RBI along with a .405 batting average.

“I don’t think you can even imagine the value of anyone who is always an offensive threat,” Lady Rams coach Robert Skinner said.

And Bynum, who has batted cleanup since her days at Monroe, has six home runs and 45 RBI, including a .358 average, four doubles and nine triples.

“She’s not one of my best hitters, she strikes out a lot,” Skinner said, “but I’ve been watching her in Albany since the eighth grade, and she keeps the same mindset. She plays with confidence, you can’t tell her she can’t do anything.”

If starting pitcher Mindy Mager can keep Barry in check, a clutch hit by either Bynum or Tate could win the Lady Rams their first-ever region tournament game.

While the team rested in the Miami Airport Hilton Wednesday afternoon, waiting to take the field for practice, Tate and Bynum knew what would help the team more than anything – getting hits with runners in scoring position.

“My part in the lineup is huge because more often than not, when I’m batting, someone will be on base,” said Tate, who transferred from Bishop State (Ala.) Community College. “And with Ta’Shelya in front of me, she’s really reliable. That takes some pressure off me because she can hit, too.”

Bynum, used to her position since high school, is more comfortable than ever as the No. 4 hitter.

“I know the team is expecting me to come through and deliver,” she said. Allyssa Spellman also has had a strong year at the plate, hitting .388, including 17 doubles, five triples and two home runs and 44 RBI. That is just one more offensive threat at the plate.

Although the Lady Rams are still looking for their first win in region, Bynum feels as good about her team’s chances as she ever has.

“If we can beat Barry in that first game, that will do huge things for us,” she said.

Back to today's Sports>>