BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell University head softball coach Drew Peterson recently announced the signing of seven high school players to National-Letters-Of-Intent during the early signing period.
The Camels signed Kate Andrews (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's), Shaela Churchill (Winterville, N.C./South Central), Jordan Clarke (Capron, Va./Tidewater Academy), Jessi Lane (Angier, N.C./Harnett Central), Raven Lee (Battlesboro, N.C./Northern Nash), Tori Ryan (Randleman, N.C./Randleman High) and Olivia Scarborough (Lillington, N.C./Cape Fear Christian Academy) for the 2010-11 school year.
"I am confident that this group of young women will prove to be exceptional in all phases of evaluation when their time at Campbell is finished (academically, socially, athletically, etc.)", Peterson explained. "This group's past track record points only to great things. They are all highly competitive students and athletes who have learned how to succeed. These seven women are of noble character and integrity and show desire to be servant leaders. I believe they will serve as fitting examples of what I interpret the administration at Campbell University is looking for in their recruiting. With this group coming into the program, my feelings of optimism for the future of Campbell softball continues to grow! Simply put...these young women will be a pleasure to coach!"
Andrews, a 5'6" first baseman, is a three-year letterwinner for St. Mark's High School in Wilmington, Del. In 2009, she hit .429 with three triples, 12 doubles and a home run. She also scored 23 runs and stole 11 bases. The two-time Second Team All-Catholic Conference selection has already been voted her team's captain prior to the start of the 2010 season. As a freshman, she played on the varsity and aided the Spartans to a conference title and a playoff berth. While at St. Mark's, Andrew also participated in both volleyball and winter track during her high school career. During the summer she has participated in summer travel ball with the New Jersey Breakers Gold. The N.J. Breakers Gold went undefeated in the Region 3 in 2009 and advanced to the ASA Gold Nationals.
She is the daughter of James and Susan Andrews of Wilmington, Del., and has a younger sister, Kristina. Following her anticipated 2014 graduation from Campbell, the potential pre-pharmacy major intends to become a pharmacist.
"We feel Katie is a gifted first baseman," Peterson said. "She is very quick and smooth on defense. At the plate she is a driven hitter from the left side who will be a difficult out."
Churchill, a 5'4" shortstop/second baseman, is a three-year softball letterwinner through the start of her senior season at South Central High School. In each of her first three seasons, Churchill has been a Coastal All-Conference selection. She added an all-district and all-state selection to her resume in both her sophomore and junior seasons. She begins her final high school season with a career batting average of .421 and a career fielding mark of .977 playing the middle infield positions on the field. An outstanding overall athlete, she has totaled 10 letters in three sports. Churchill was a four-year varsity letterwinner in volleyball. On the volleyball court among the honors she has earned in her high school career are Rookie of the Year, Best Defense Award and a spot on the Coastal All-Conference team three times. She also was a two-year varsity letterwinner in basketball. In both her seasons her basketball teams were crowned as conference champions. Recently, Churchill was named Wendy's High School Heisman winner for the state of North Carolina. During the summers she has played for the Carolina Diamonds travel softball team. The Carolina Diamonds were the 2008 World Fastpitch Connection National Champions.
She is the daughter of Greg and Sherri Churchill of Winterville, N.C., and has a younger sibling, Sawyer. Following her anticipated graduation from Campbell in 2014 with an education degree, she intends to teach mathematics in either middle school or high school.
"Shaela has exceptional concentration at all aspects of the game," Peterson stated. "She is capable of competing and playing at multiple positions at a high level. She possesses both power and speed at the plate and runs the bases with an intuitive aggression."
Clarke, a 5'9" catcher, is a three-year softball letterwinner prior to her senior campaign. The Tidewater Academy star has helped lead her team to the Virginia Commonwealth Conference (VCC) Championship in each of her first three seasons. Her teams in both her sophomore and junior season were able to reach the championship game of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association. The team finished as a runner-up in the 2008 and won the championship in 2009. The championship was the first ever for the softball program. Clarke has earned VCC All-Conference selection as both a sophomore and junior. She was a second team all-state selection as sophomore and moved up to first team all-state as junior. Last season, as a junior, she hit .441 with seven doubles, a triple, two home runs, 25 RBIs, six stolen bases, and an on-base percentage of .486. A multi-sport athlete, Clarke has played basketball from seventh grade through this season. She was a VCC Honorable Mention and earned the team's MVP Award on the hardwood as a junior. She also participated in volleyball as a senior.
She is the daughter of David and Kim Clarke of Capron, Va., and has two younger siblings, Mikayla and Joshua. She intends to major in chemistry and has aspirations of pursuing a career as a DNA Analyst upon graduation.
"Jordan is very strong and has great power at the plate," Peterson commented. "She also has the flexibility on defense of being a solid catcher or first baseman."
Lane, a 5'6" infielder, is a three-year softball letterwinner through her junior season. She was Cape Fear Valley All-Conference as both a freshman and sophomore. As a freshman she also was selected for the all-state and all-district team when she hit .350 and aided the team to the 3A State Final Four. As a sophomore, she batted .390 with a .659 slugging percentage, a 444 on-base percentage and fielded at a .984 clip and also was an all-state selection. She missed her junior season with an injury. A talented athlete, Lane also lettered in volleyball, basketball and cross country while at Harnett Central. Off the field, Lane has been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and served as the organization's president as a junior.
She is the daughter of Andy and Janice Lane of Angier, N.C., and has two younger siblings, Joey Lane and Ryan Sills. She intends to major in pre-med and plans on attending graduate school upon graduation from Campbell.
"Jessi has fantastic hitting ability and is a threat to go deep or drop a bunt down," Peterson stated. "She has the athletic ability to play the outfield at the highest level, but the flexibility to play the infield."
Lee, a 5'6" infielder, is a three-year softball letterwinner through her junior campaign. She was a First Team Big East 3-A All-Conference choice in each of her first three seasons. She was also named the team's 'Hitter of the Year' as a sophomore. Lee also has lettered in volleyball and swimming while at Northern Nash.
She is the daughter of Patrick and Dawn Lane of Battlesboro, N.C., and has a younger sibling, Sydney. She intends to major in exercise science and plans on becoming a physical therapist when she graduates from Campbell.
"Raven has tremendous power at the plate and is capable of carrying a team when she gets in a hot streak," Peterson explained. "She is a gamer who we expect to compete at third base. She simply finds ways to make plays."
Ryan, a 5'7" catcher, is a three-year softball letterwinner through her junior season. She was all-conference, all-county, all-area honorable mention and the team's offensive MVP as both a freshman and sophomore. As a freshman on the varsity she hit .306 in conference play. During her sophomore year she put up a .500 batting average and didn't allow a pass ball the entire season. She was injured during her junior season but has rebounded to win the Wendy's Heisman Award for her high school as a senior. A talented athlete, she also participated in basketball and varsity tennis while at Randleman. She was named all-conference and player of the year in tennis in her first year playing the sport as a senior. She has played travel softball in the summer for the Randolph Knockouts. During travel softball in 2009 she hit .409, had a .487 slugging percentage, reached base at a .449 clip and was not thrown out trying to steal.
She is the daughter of John and Melissa Ryan of Randleman, N.C., and has a pair of older siblings, Travis Ryan and Elizabeth R. Hunt. She intends to major in physical education and plans on becoming a physical education teacher and coach when she graduates from Campbell.
"Tori is a five-tool athlete," Peterson exclaimed." She has a dependable glove and arm, the ability to hit for power and average, and speed on the bases. We expected her to compete for playing time as a catcher and infielder."
Scarborough, a 5'9" pitcher, is a three-year softball letterwinner through her junior season. Scarborough enters her final season with an impressive resume that includes being named the Carolina Christian Conference Player of the Year, team MVP, All-State and Cape Fear Valley All Regional in each of her first three seasons. As a junior she threw 13 shutouts and five perfect games, while hitting .590 with four home runs. She did not give up a run from the circle her entire junior season including being unscathed in the state tournament. As a sophomore, she hit .570. Scarborough has shown great athletic prowess and was a three-year varsity volleyball player, a two-year basketball letterwinner and a varsity tennis player. She was a Carolina Christian All-Conference selection in volleyball as a junior and the junior varsity MVP as a sophomore in basketball. She has played summer travel softball with the Cape Fear Storm for the last nine years. The team went to and won nationals in 2007.
She is the daughter of Thomas and Tammy Scarborough of Lillington, N.C. Both her father and her two uncles, Rusty and Marty, played soccer at Campbell. She is undecided on a potential major at this point.
"Olivia is a game changer," Peterson paused." She has the ability to both pitch a no-hitter and lead the team with her bat. Olivia loves to compete in all aspects of the game. She has the ability to hit for a high average with great power."
The two-time defending Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Champion Camels finished the 2009 campaign with a 38-16 record and a 16-4 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play. CU is looking for their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament after sweeping both the regular season and conference tournament titles in the A-Sun last season and winning the conference tournament title in 2008. The Camels are coming off a season in which the team broke the home run mark for the second time in as many seasons with 81 home runs. The team also set a school record for on-base percentage (.383), slugging (.508) and tied the fielding mark (.966). The Camels will open the 2009-10 season with a doubleheader against UNC-Wilmington on Feb. 11.
Courtesy: GoCamels.com