Senior Teanna Davis has played every position on the softball field except pitching.  Although she said short stop is the toughest position, it's the catcher's role to lead the team.
 
"As catcher I am supposed to lead the team," Davis explained.  "The hardest part is I have to be selfless in all aspects of the game. You have to keep talking so the whole team knows where to go. 
 
"You have to be extremely vigilant," she added.  "You have to keep that energy up.  You're literally on your toes all the time."
 
While her time at WSSU has been mostly catching and playing first and third bases, Davis played outfield for the first time at Thomas Dale High School in Chester, VA.  "I played center field and loved it," she said.  "I made All Region."
 
Davis originally did not have WSSU on her recruiting radar.  "It was a battle between Howard and Hampton," she recalled. "I ended up going to Randolph College, but Coach (LaTaya) Gray didn't give up. She sold me on everything about WSSU."
 
Hilliard-Gray, the longtime former WSSU softball coach, convinced Davis to come for a visit.  "As soon as I met her and talked to her and got on campus I was sold," Davis said.  "I was sad when she left but very happy for her.
 
"At the end of the season I thought something was going on.  I thought she was joking at first.  She deserves all her flowers."
Davis started playing softball when she was four years old.  She hijacked her parents' garage in high school.  "I had a net and four buckets of balls," she said.  "When I got mad, I would go and hit."
 
The hard work has paid dividends.  Davis is currently number two in the CIAA with two doubles and number thirteen in hits.  The pressure on batters is something she takes in stride.
 
"I love the pressure," Davis said.  "I make it a point to get the job done as long as I can move my runners around.  Being relaxed is when my best hits come.  When I'm relaxed, I have an air of confidence.  It's knowing what you want and finding it."
 
Davis is proud of the honor of being Miss Red and White.  "As Miss Red and White I went to a NOLA conference," she said.  "It was mind-blowing.  I have never had an experience like that."
 
She said the softball team has had more promotions this season.  Still, she would like to see more support from the student body. "SAC has been promoting it more and the Royal Court has been coming to our games," Davis said.  "It's hard not having our own field.
 
"We work really, really hard," continued Davis.  "We have a shared experience of putting in work.  If you can watch football, you can watch softball."
 
Representing student-athletes on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has been satisfying, according to Davis.  "We have the potential to make some changes in athletics," she said. "We're getting renovations of the (Whitaker) gym.  We need better equipment and more funding.  We need more mental health days.  At times there's a lack of empathy because we're expected to perform all the time."
 
Davis, a Political Science major, plans to follow in her dad's footsteps and become an attorney.  "I want to be a civil rights prosecutor," she said.  "That intrigues me."
 
Her senior year has gone by quickly.  "As soon as that first game came, I knew it was going to go by quickly," Davis observed.  "Blink and it's gone."
 
Her biggest fan has been her mom, Teresa.  "She's by far my biggest critic," confessed Davis.  "She has come to every single game.  You'll hear her before you see her.   My teammates say, 'that's Mama T!'"
 
As her playing days dwindle in a Rams uniform, Davis reemphasized her love for the WSSU experience. "Playing here was the best decision I've ever made," she said.  "I'm extremely grateful for the experience.  I have grown in so many ways."
 
The Rams conclude the regular season on April 28 with a doubleheader at Claflin.  A sweep would give 'SU a first-place tie with the Panthers in the Southern Division heading into next week's CIAA Tournament.  "We have a history in softball," Davis said.  "It's time to protect the legacy."
 
 
Senior Teanna Davis has played every position on the softball field except pitching.  Although she said short stop is the toughest position, it's the catcher's role to lead the team.
 
"As catcher I am supposed to lead the team," Davis explained.  "The hardest part is I have to be selfless in all aspects of the game. You have to keep talking so the whole team knows where to go. 
 
"You have to be extremely vigilant," she added.  "You have to keep that energy up.  You're literally on your toes all the time."
 
While her time at WSSU has been mostly catching and playing first and third bases, Davis played outfield for the first time at Thomas Dale High School in Chester, VA.  "I played center field and loved it," she said.  "I made All Region."
 
Davis originally did not have WSSU on her recruiting radar.  "It was a battle between Howard and Hampton," she recalled. "I ended up going to Randolph College, but Coach (LaTaya) Gray didn't give up. She sold me on everything about WSSU."
 
Hilliard-Gray, the longtime former WSSU softball coach, convinced Davis to come for a visit.  "As soon as I met her and talked to her and got on campus I was sold," Davis said.  "I was sad when she left but very happy for her.
 
"At the end of the season I thought something was going on.  I thought she was joking at first.  She deserves all her flowers."
Davis started playing softball when she was four years old.  She hijacked her parents' garage in high school.  "I had a net and four buckets of balls," she said.  "When I got mad, I would go and hit."
 
The hard work has paid dividends.  Davis is currently number two in the CIAA with two doubles and number thirteen in hits.  The pressure on batters is something she takes in stride.
 
"I love the pressure," Davis said.  "I make it a point to get the job done as long as I can move my runners around.  Being relaxed is when my best hits come.  When I'm relaxed, I have an air of confidence.  It's knowing what you want and finding it."
 
Davis is proud of the honor of being Miss Red and White.  "As Miss Red and White I went to a NOLA conference," she said.  "It was mind-blowing.  I have never had an experience like that."
 
She said the softball team has had more promotions this season.  Still, she would like to see more support from the student body. "SAC has been promoting it more and the Royal Court has been coming to our games," Davis said.  "It's hard not having our own field.
 
"We work really, really hard," continued Davis.  "We have a shared experience of putting in work.  If you can watch football, you can watch softball."
 
Representing student-athletes on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has been satisfying, according to Davis.  "We have the potential to make some changes in athletics," she said. "We're getting renovations of the (Whitaker) gym.  We need better equipment and more funding.  We need more mental health days.  At times there's a lack of empathy because we're expected to perform all the time."
 
Davis, a Political Science major, plans to follow in her dad's footsteps and become an attorney.  "I want to be a civil rights prosecutor," she said.  "That intrigues me."
 
Her senior year has gone by quickly.  "As soon as that first game came, I knew it was going to go by quickly," Davis observed.  "Blink and it's gone."
 
Her biggest fan has been her mom, Teresa.  "She's by far my biggest critic," confessed Davis.  "She has come to every single game.  You'll hear her before you see her.   My teammates say, 'that's Mama T!'"
 
As her playing days dwindle in a Rams uniform, Davis reemphasized her love for the WSSU experience. "Playing here was the best decision I've ever made," she said.  "I'm extremely grateful for the experience.  I have grown in so many ways."
 
The Rams conclude the regular season on April 28 with a doubleheader at Claflin.  A sweep would give 'SU a first-place tie with the Panthers in the Southern Division heading into next week's CIAA Tournament.  "We have a history in softball," Davis said.  "It's time to protect the legacy."