SOFTBALL NEWS

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

Office of Sports Information

Sports Release                                                                                                           April 22, 2008

Burk Presented With President’s Award At LMU Athletics Banquet

HARROGATE, TN – Lincoln Memorial University senior softball shortstop Alisa Burk (Blaine, WA) was presented with the President’s Award at Tuesday night’s annual LMU Athletics Banquet held on the University’s campus.

The President’s Award is given each year to a Lincoln Memorial University student-athlete that has endured a personal tragedy or athletic injury during their career at LMU.  Before coming to LMU four years ago, Burk’s mother passed away while attending high school, leaving her grandmother as her guardian.  Burk’s grandmother knew that her days on this earth were numbered, and she wanted to make sure her granddaughter found a school that was going to take care of her the way she would.

After talking with Lady Railsplitter Head Coach Dan Burns about Lincoln Memorial University and its softball program, Burk’s grandmother felt confident that LMU was the right place for her granddaughter, and following a campus visit, Burk signed a National Letter of Intent, becoming a Lady Railsplitter.

Shortly after arriving on campus her freshman year, Alisa lost her beloved grandmother, once again forcing her to endure the pain of the loss of a family member.  This pain spilled over to the softball diamond year after year, as she overcame injuries and setbacks to start in nearly every game of her career.

As a freshman, she sustained a serious cut on the field which required on-site

stitches.  This year she underwent hip surgery and was determined to be back in playing shape prior to the first practice of the season. Because of her determination, Alisa was ready to play long before the doctors had predicted her to be.  This season she even played through the intense pain of shingles without missing a game.  Near the end of the season, she was sliding into second base on a close play and was stepped on by the fielder.  Three of the fingers on her left hand were cut and bleeding.  The trainers taped her up and she went back on the field. She ended up hitting a walk off homerun in the eleventh inning to win the game.

Perhaps her most shining moment on a playing field didn’t even occur on a softball diamond, it happened on a football field when she helped to save the life of a Union College football player while acting as a student-athletic trainer.

Through personal loss and painful injuries Alisa Burk has been an inspiration for her teammates.  For her dedication, hard work and tenacity of spirit, the 2008 President’s Award was presented to Alisa Burk.

-LMU-

For additional comments please contact,

Head Coach:  Dan Burns

Phone:  (423) 869-6242