BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell’s softball team had a season to be remembered in 2009. Among the numerous highlights were a school record home run total, an Atlantic Sun regular season championship, a second consecutive Atlantic Sun tournament crown, a conference school record for league victories and a second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Overall, season was highlighted by Campbell’s continued power surge. After setting a school record with 64 home runs in 2008, the 2009 Camels went on to shattered the mark with 81 long balls. The 81 home runs led the Atlantic Sun and placed Campbell third nationally in home runs per game at 1.5 a contest. To put the 81 home runs in perspective, the total was four more home runs than 2004-07 teams hit combined. Campbell best stretch of home runs came from February 17-19 when the team hit 17 long balls in a total of four games
against North Carolina Central and UNC Wilmington.
The Campbell offense proved to be steady with an average of 5.72 runs a game (15th nationally), a .294 team batting average (40th nationally) and a slugging percentage of .508 (11th nationally).
Despite offense being a prevalent theme throughout the season the Camels had a noteworthy season in many other ways. Campbell’s 16 wins in Atlantic Sun Conference play proved to be a record (topping the 1995 team’s mark of 14). CU’s 16 conference wins also allowed the team to capture the top seed in the conference tournament for the first time since 1995.
The Camels capitalized on the top seed in the conference tournament by running through the tournament with a perfect 4-0 mark with wins over Stetson (7-5), Jacksonville (5-1) and Mercer twice (1-0, 1-0) on the way to a second consecutive berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Overall, Campbell’s 38 wins were the fourth most in school history, while the team’s winning percentage of .704 went down as the school’s second-best mark. The Camels offensive attack also set school records in slugging percentage (.508) and on-base percentage (.383). The defense proved to be solid as well and tied the school mark with a fielding percentage mark of .966. CU’s fielding percentage placed the team 53rd in the country. The Camels also ranked among the top 50 in nation in doubles plays a game (0.37), ERA (2.35) and winning percentage.
Head Coach Drew Peterson was also able to set the Campbell school record with his 246th career win against Jacksonville on March 6th. The ninth-year head coach ended 2009 with 268 wins at CU. Peterson was also able to earn his second career Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year honor upon completion of the regular season.
Eight other conference honors were bestowed on the 2009 Camels with Brittany Stanley earning her first Pitcher of the Year Honor after going 10-1 with a 0.63 ERA in league play. The junior was also an Atlantic Sun first team all-conference selection and earned a spot on 
the National Fast Coaches Association’s Southeast All-Region team. Stanley, after pitching every inning of the A-Sun Tournament for the second time in as many seasons, took home tournament MVP honors for the second consecutive season. During the season she also stood out at the plate with batting average of .292, six home runs and 26 RBIs. As a pitcher the junior went 19-5 with a sparkling 1.79 ERA and 131 strikeouts.
Senior Karlie Love was able to capture first team all-conference honors. Love led the offensive attack with her .384 batting average, 16 home runs and 53 RBIs. Love’s home run total was the school’s second most for a single season. The senior also ranked among the national leaders in home runs (16th), home runs per game (21st), RBIs per game (24th), slugging percentage (28th), and on-base percentage (27th). Love also was recognized for her outstanding work in the classroom with a spot on the ESPN The Magazine / Academic
All-America Softball second team.
CU also placed three on the All-Atlantic Sun’s second team in junior Robin Leathers, sophomore Amanda Miller and senior Hilary Wheatley.
Leathers had a breakthrough season in earning second-team all-conference honors as an infielder. Leathers pounded out 15 home runs (tied for the third most ever at Campbell) to go along with 39 RBIs. The Tucson, Ariz. native also ranked among the NCAA leader board in home runs per game (19th) and home runs (25th).
Miller was a second-team all-conference infielder. The sophomore ranked among the team leaders in doubles (8), batting average (.316) and hits (53). In only Atlantic Sun action, Miller hit .328 with 19 hits, a home run and eight RBIs.
Wheatley made the second team as an outfielder. The senior hit .337 with 17 runs, 28 hits, seven doubles, 23 RBIs and a .530 slugging percentage. During the conference slate, the Mardela Springs, Md. native hit .367 with 11 hits, four runs, a home run, seven RBIs and three outfield assists. Wheatley had a strong performance against N.C. Central with two runs scored and the first grand slam of her career. She also put on a strong performance at the conference tournament in earning a spot on the Atlantic Sun’s All-Tournament Team.
Two Campbell newcomers also garnered attention as both Taylor McGee and Christina Melton were named Atlantic Sun All-Freshman.
McGee worked exclusively as Campbell’s catcher this season and totaled 54 games and 368 innings behind the plate. The freshman led all first year players in the conference with 12 home runs. Her 12 home runs also placed her seventh in the league. Her 12 home runs are also a record for a freshman at Campbell. Overall, McGee hit .257 with 12 home runs, 25 RBIs, 78 total bases, a .513 slugging
percentage and 20 walks. In back-to-back games in the conference tournament against Mercer, McGee provided all the offense the team would need with two solo game-winning home runs. Her first home run of the tournament against Mercer was an extra inning blast. For the season the clutch freshman was second on the team with seven game-winning RBIs.
Melton split her time between the circle and in designated player role for Campbell. As a pitcher she went 8-7 with 2.51 ERA and 62 strikeouts in her 72.1 innings pitched. At the plate, Melton hit .279 with six home runs and 17 RBIs. The freshman’s top performance was the 10 strikeouts she registered against UNC Wilmington on Feb. 19. The strikeouts are a career high and the only time a Campbell pitcher reached double figures in strikeouts in a game. Melton also had a strong hitting performance against Kennesaw State in hitting a home run, driving in three and walking twice.
Despite not garnering any post-season honors sophomore Katie Woodcock led the conference and nation in saves with the six she recorded in 2009. Woodcock proved to be one of the more durable and reliable relievers in the conference in making all 21 of her appearances out of the pen (a league high) and producing a 2.36 ERA and 27 strikeouts.
With back-to-back Atlantic Sun Tournament titles and consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament the future of Campbell’s softball program continues its upward climb heading to 2010.
Courtesy: GoCamels.com