Two Former Softball Players Graduate This Weekend
Friday, May 1, 2009 | Softball
Two former University of Florida softball players will earn their degrees from UF May 1 through May 3, as commencement ceremonies take place on campus throughout the weekend. Current student coach Mary Ratliff (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) and former outfielder Lindsey Cameron (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) will each be honored as they receive their degrees.
Ratliff (2005-08), who will graduate with a bachelor's of science degree in political science, went down in Florida history as one of the best clutch hitters the program has ever seen. She will most be remembered for her sixth-inning grand slam in the 2008 Southeastern Conference Championship game against Alabama with the Gators down 1-0. Earlier that season, she also blasted a three-run walk-off home run to defeat Stanford in Fullerton, Calif., and added a grand slam at Alabama in a tie ball game.
The right fielder made only one error in her entire career. Her 15 doubles in 2008 is tied for the fifth-best single-season total and her 48 RBIs the same year is seventh. She hit 14 career home runs, which is 12th all-time and her 27 doubles rank 16th. She is planning to attend medical school next year.
Cameron (2003-06), who will graduate with a bachelor's of arts degree in sociology, can be found throughout Florida's record book. She owns the top stop for career total bases (377) and ranks second in home runs (36), as current junior Francesca Enea (Woodland Hills, Calif.) broke the record earlier this season. Cameron owns seven other records on top-10 career lists. Her .377 batting average in 2005 is third-best all-time and her .671 the same year is fourth.
Leading the way for soon-to-be UF graduates, the women's track and field and cross country teams will graduate eight seniors in commencement ceremonies this weekend, while seven current and former members of the Gator football team will graduate from Florida.
Six men's track and cross country athletes, and six men's and women's swimmers each, will also walk in commencement ceremonies, while the Gator baseball team will bid three former players goodbye.
Florida's men's golf, soccer, volleyball and softball teams will graduate two Gators each, while the Orange & Blue women's basketball team, gymnastics and tennis teams will congratulate one.
The No. 1/1 Gators will honor this year's seven seniors in the three-game series against Longwood on May 2 and 3. Le-Net Franklin (Belton, Texas), Danyell Hines (Bryan, Texas) and Brooke Johnson (Lakeland, Fla.) will be recognized 20 minutes for the start of the 3 p.m. game on Saturday. Ali Gardiner (Waccabuc, N.Y.), Kristina Hilberth (Dunedin, Fla.), Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and Kim Walezonia (Fontana, Calif.) will be honored 20 minutes before the 1 p.m. start on Sunday.
