New Additions to Lady Cougar Softball
The Lady cougars have began looking forward to their next season and are excited about signing 12 new additions.
Alyssa Davis, a second baseman and outfielder, from Marion County High School (TN) brings good range and speed to the lineup. Davis was recently named All District 6AA and Best Defensive Player. Coach Bayne says “Alyssa is a great student and athlete. She brings speed to the lineup and does a good job slapping the ball. She will also add depth to us defensively.”
Sweetwater High School All District outfielder Casey Newton is another signee with great quickness that will battle for an outfield position. Her high school Coach Eric Weaver says “Casey has excellent speed and has the ability to play any position. Casey is the kind of player every coach wants on their team.” Coach Bayne states that “Casey will be used in the outfield for us because of her speed and strong arm. She is very knowledgeable about the game and will only get better.”
Kelsie Holloway is an outstanding shortstop and Honors graduate out of LaVergne High School in Smyrna, TN. LaVergne Coach Brenda Morris says that “Cleveland State is very fortunate to be getting Kelsie on their softball team. We have been blessed to have Kelsie to play at LaVergne the past 3 years. She is a tremendous athlete and will be an asset to our team and college.” Coach Bayne believes that “Kelsie is a hard-nosed player that should get a lot of time at shortstop. She is very aggressive on defense and brings a strong bat with her. She has the ability to hit to all parts of the field.”
Fellow summer ball teammate of Holloway’s, Leah Newman has also committed to Cleveland State. Leah is a catcher and utility player out of Independence High School (TN). Former High School Coach Alicia Justice said that “Leah is an awesome athlete with a fire in her heart for softball. I have enjoyed every minute of the last 2 ½ years of coaching her. She is a workhorse on the field and carries her team.” Newman was All District all 4 years, received the Coach’s challenge, and was name MVP of the year. “Leah is a great athlete that can play anywhere on the field,” says Bayne. “We plan on using her mainly as a catcher and corner player. She is a strong leader that should come in and fight for playing time right away. Leah and Kelsie have been summer ball teammates for a couple of years, so it will help them both being together and leading our team.”
Stacie Scott is a pitcher and utility player from Central High School (TN). She will come in and help with the pitching duties along with Sophomore Stacey Fairbanks. Central’s Softball Coach Rick May states “Stacie is a coaches’ coach on the field. She has a great attitude and will be a positive at Cleveland State. She will continue to improve at the college level.” “Stacie shows a lot of potential at the college level,” adds Bayne. “She is continuing to add more pitches to her game that will help her as she moves to this level. She is very versatile in that we can use her other places due to her strength and knowledge of the game.”
Joining Scott from Central High School is second baseman and outfielder Joanie Goodner. Joanie has the dedication and drive to play college softball. Not only does she excel on the field, but in the classroom as well. Goodner was an honor student all 4 years at Central. High school Coach Rick May states “Joanie is a hard worker. She takes every play seriously and is a coaches’ coach on the field. According to Coach Bayne, “Joanie shows a lot of range in the infield and does a great job putting the ball in play. She has the ability to hit from either side of the plate and excels at both.”
Kayla Stephens, a first and third baseman, is from Russellville High School out of Alabama. Out of the entire state of Alabama, Stephens’ batting average was ranked 5th and her slugging average put her in first. Her high school Coach Ted Ikerd says “Kayla is an excellent high school player. She has great power and is determined to be a good hitter. She has a strong arm. She is coming off a shoulder surgery and this has limited her in the field. She has a great knowledge on how to play to the game. Kayla works hard on the field to lead by example. She is someone who comes to practice and games to succeed. Coach Bayne stats that “Kayla is a great ball player. She has a lot of power and can hit to all parts of the field. I look forward to seeing how she adjusts to the college game and what she can bring to our team. I hope to use her at either corner position.”
Brittany Belcher is a local outfielder from Cleveland High School. Brittany will also be battling for an outfield position and has potential to be a great college athlete. She was given the All Defense Award by her coaches this year. Coach Bayne says that “Brittany is a great person on and off the field. She is an excellent student in the classroom. On the field, I think her best days are ahead. She has a strong arm in the outfield and I hope she can step it up to have a chance to play right away.”
Another outfielder joining the Lady Cougars is Kelsey Hayes from Heritage High School in Maryville, TN. She was named to the All District Team and the All District Tournament Team. Hayes was also named All Blount County 3 years straight. In her academic work, she was named Athletic Academic Achiever for all 4 years at Heritage. Her high school coach says that “Kelsey is a hard worker and has developed her skills and talents. I think she will be an asset to Cleveland State.” “Kelsey is a great student in the classroom and a hard worker on the field,” states Coach Bayne. “She has a strong arm and great range in the outfield. I think she will only get better while here. I look for her to step in right away and challenge for a lot of playing time.”
Another pitcher coming to CSCC is Brittany Tipton, a pitcher from Sale Creek High School (TN). She too will be looked upon to help with the pitching duties with returner Stacey Fairbanks. As a sophomore, she was voted to the All District and All Region team. Tipton was voted All District as a senior and Team MVP. Sale Creek’s head softball Coach Phillips says that “Brittany is a team leader and very determined. She is a competitor and gives 100% when she steps on the field.” Coach Bayne agrees and states that “Brittany is a great person both on and off the field. On the field, she is very focused and works her tail off. She will be able to help us on the mound and in other roles on the field. In the classroom, she works hard and takes care of her business.”
Ashley Malone will be joining Tipton by way of Sale Creek where she had a very successful career. She was a starter in the outfield and hopes to earn a spot for the Lady Cougars in the fall. Malone will be a leader by example and is always committed to finishing the job. Her high school coach Heather Phillips says, “Ashley is a coach’s player. She is always willing to do whatever you ask her to do and always gives you 110%. She loves the game and plays with all her heart.” Coach Bayne believes that “she is a solid defensive outfielder because of her speed and read on the ball. As a hitter, she can hit from either side of the plate. She is a great person and always willing to work to get better every time she steps on the field.”
Transferring from Lincoln Memorial University is Breann Williams a first and third baseman from Silverdale Academy in Ooltewah, TN. At Siverdale, she made the All-Tournament and All-District team both junior and senior years. She was given the Golden Glove Award in 2005 and Best Defense Award by her coaches. Along with bringing a strong bat, Bree has great range on the field and is willing to dive after anything. “Bree is a strong player that will be a good addition to our lineup,” says Bayne. “She is capable of playing either corner position and will add a lot of power to our batting lineup.”