Michigan Wolverine softball is facing elimination in the Stillwater regional. The Wolverines own a 4-2 lead over the Kentucky Wildcats heading into the bottom of the fourth. Before the inning got underway, Michigan softball coach Bonnie Tholl shared an update and revealed the mind frame of star freshman Lily Vallimont. The Wolverines skipper also revealed what it is like to be coaching her niece KiKi Tholl.
“Well, I think she burst a bursa sac right there, and those things hurt. When she looked down at her arm and it was a big lump on her arm, I just told her, ‘Look, it’s gonna hurt; you just burst a bursa sac right there.’ Luckily, we had our trainer come out (and) the Kentucky trainer helped us, was able to wrap it up, and she got after it. She’s like, ‘I’m fine.’ You know, after the initial view of looking at her arm, she was back at it,” said Tholl.
The freshman catcher took a shot to the inside of her right forearm, causing significant swelling. After being looked over by the trainers from both programs, Vallimont elected to stay in the game, hitting a 2-run home run to help give Michigan their 4-2 lead. The other individual to homer for Wolverines softball during this elimination game was Bonnie’s niece Kiki Tholl, who also sent a 2-run shoot out of the yard.
At the bottom of the fourth, Tholl spoke glowingly of his niece, explaining their player-coach as the interview continued.
“It’s been four fast years. It’s pretty cool. I think that, as a family, we’ll have more perspective in years to come. But when you’re in the middle of it, she’s just my player, she’s that’s my athlete.”
“She’s a great teammate and she’s gotten so much better. This is a kid who’s a recruited walk-on, who just has earned her way into the middle of our lineup and has done nothing but be a great Michigan Wolverine.”
In the 5th inning Michigan still hangs on to their 4-2 lead. Should they hang on, the wolverine softball team we’ll keep their national championship hopes alive, at least for another day.
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