INSIDE SOFTBALL
BY ANNA POULTER-HENDRICKSON
@BadgerSoftball
SCHEDULE (28-6, 6-3)
This Week
Friday
at #19/22 Nebraska 6 p.m.
Saturday at #19/22 Nebraska 1 p.m.
Sunday at #19/22 Nebraska Noon
Next Week
Apr. 16 Green Bay
Apr.19
Ohio State
Massey���s move behind
the plate paying off
Senior has caught three no-hitters this year
A
n All-Big Ten selection
at second base a year
ago, some might have questioned Whitney Massey���s
move behind the plate this
season. But for Massey, the
move was a return to her
roots. For the Badgers, it has
paid off in the form of three
no-hitters.
���I had to go back to my
48 �� VARSITY
APR I L 11, 2013
catching roots,��� said Massey
of the transition. ���I was a
catcher before I came to college and I love catching. I���m
more natural at it than any
other position.���
Massey has had her hand
in all three of the Badgers���
no-hitters this season. She
caught Cassandra Darrah���s
no-hitter on Feb. 22, mark-
3/5 p.m.
6 p.m.
ing Wisconsin���s first no-hitter in 12
years.
Massey was behind the plate for
Meghan McIntosh���s first no-hitter
on Feb. 10 against Eastern Kentucky
and again on April 7 for McIntosh���s
second against Minnesota.
Part of Massey���s success can be attributed to the relationship she has
built with the pitchers.
���I���ve established a relationship
with them,��� said Massey. ���I���m roommates with Meghan, and that helps
a lot. She���s very superstitious, so
we have a certain ritual we do before we go out. Cass is the same way,
she���s not as superstitious, but during
warmups there���s a certain time when
I come in to start warming her up.���
Massey puts the relationships she
has built with the pitchers to work
during the games.
���I know if someone likes more
timeouts called, or if there are little
jokes that I can say to relax them,
stuff like that.���
The move behind the plate hasn���t
slowed Massey down in the batter���s
box. The reigning NCAA doubles
leader, she leads the Badgers with 14.
The lefty is batting .356 and is tied for
the team lead with seven home runs.
For Massey, it was a return home.
