Injuries Haven't Stopped Fung from Staying Strong for USF Softball

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, MAY 1, 2019 – Mia Fung isn’t letting injury adversity stop her from helping USF softball succeed in her final run with the Bulls.

A star outfielder/catcher for the program since 2015, Fung overcame significant injuries to both knees the past two years and was dealt another significant setback in February. Using her all-out playing style, the speedy redshirt senior sprinted for a fly ball in the outfield when she collided with a teammate, flipped around and broke her wrist/forearm area while crashing to the ground.

“It was miserable,” she said. “It was honestly the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. I knew something was wrong because I saw my wrist/forearm hit the ground before my hand.”

Fung was rushed to an Arizona hospital and luckily avoided emergency surgery before the Bulls flew back to her hometown of Tampa on a Sunday. Bright and early the next morning, Fung had surgery and started another comeback that’s still underway.

“I have almost all my range of motion back,” she said. “I’m working on it every day, so I almost have it all back.”

More than two months after the scary injury, mentally tough Fung is staying positive and focused on winning each day of rehab.

“I don’t want to be anything less than what I was and blame it on my injuries,” she said. “I want to be better than what I was and stronger.”

That type of mindset already has helped her get through medial and lateral meniscus tears in her left knee she suffered while stealing a base early in her junior season in 2017. Fung was batting .364 with a .545 slugging percentage at the time.

Fung came back strong from that knee injury and almost made it all the way through her redshirt junior season in 2018 until she tore her ACL in the other leg.

“I grew as a person for sure after all these. I felt like it helped me mature a lot,” she said. “Each injury has been mentally though and mentally exhausting. If you don’t have that drive, where you want to keep going, you’d probably quit. It’s been rough, but I don’t want to quit.”

Despite not being able to resume playing in the field yet this season, Fung has still found a way to contribute to the team. When she’s not rooting for her teammates from the dugout, Fung grabs a helmet, puts on her protective wrist brace and hits the base paths as a pinch-runner for head coach Ken Eriksen.

“Ken knows me and he knows I’m going to do everything I can to be out there in some way,” she said.

The USF dugout roared as Fung made her return to action during a doubleheader at UConn on April 18. Although it was brief pinch-running task, Fung couldn’t help but soak up the supportive gestures from her teammates.

“My whole team was cheering for me, so it made it 10 times better,” she said. “It was great to at least be out there.”

‘I’d Choose USF All Day’
Fung got more cheers last weekend with her family in the stands at home against Memphis, which ended up being USF’s fifth straight conference series sweep.

The fan favorite got to run the bases during the first two games and the series finale sure was sweet on Senior Day, when she was honored along with Macy Cook, Lindsey Devitt, Nicole Doyle and Cheyenne Eggens.

“This program means a lot to me. I’m so blessed I’ve had the opportunity to play here, play for Ken and these girls,” Fung said. “I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I’d choose USF all day.”

It’s been that way for Fung ever since she was little, growing up in Tampa and never seriously considering any other program. The former Strawberry Crest High School standout definitely had opportunities to leave home with several schools interested in the 2013 Tampa Bay Player of the Year.

“I didn’t even take a visit anywhere else because I wanted to come here,” she said.

The granted wish to stay in the Bay has allowed Fung to play more than 150 games in Green and Gold (138 starts). Aside from softball, the health sciences major and aspiring personal trainer will receive her degree this week. Fung plans to walk across the Yuengling Center stage this summer, however, because USF will be playing a series at Wichita State this weekend.

The Bulls could bring home their second straight American Athletic Conference regular season title in Kansas and Fung doesn’t want to miss her chance to play a role in the team’s ever-growing success. First-place USF (38-15, 16-2 in AAC) has won 15 straight conference games and was recently ranked No. 25 in the USA Softball Poll.

“We’re doing really good,” Fung said. “Even though I can’t (fully) play, I’m a part of it. Being in the dugout, I’m doing as much as I can to push these girls. If I can’t do it myself, I’ll have their back and I’ll push them however I can.”

Fung is still hopeful to play in the field this season as she continues to make progress in the “small things” during rehab. Postseason is on the horizon with the conference tournament taking place next week in Houston before NCAA Regionals May 17-19.

“Each day, it’s better and better, so hopefully I can but I’m not 100-percent sure,” she said.

Regardless if she gets to grab a glove or not, Fung feels great about the continuous support she’s receiving from Eriksen’s coaching staff that’s being cautious with the determined veteran.

“They want me to go as hard as I can, but if I need a couple reps off, they give it to me,” she said.

As for her teammates, Fung can’t say enough about what they’ve meant to her throughout all the injury adversity.

“My team for sure has my back,” she said. “They’re one of the reasons why I keep pushing through because I want to play with them. I want to be there.”

About USF Softball
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.