Feb. 10, 2010
Durham, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University softball team enters its third year of division one status, which means higher stakes and higher measures. Being division one is more than just a tougher schedule, it is a fight to be the best, not only in the conference, but in the nation. For NCCU, conference play doesn't exist and neither does battling for a championship title, but for NCCU, division one is everything. It is a chance compete against the best, a chance to battle for the best student-athletes and a chance to one day be a top tier softball program.
Head coach Mike Charlton is in his third year at the helm of the Lady Eagle softball program and has been there to experience the change. From day one, he has looked to bring in the best student-athletes and has fought to make the Lady Eagle team competitive. This season is no different as Charlton and his coaching staff look to compete at the highest level in division one softball and bring more excitement and enthusiasm to the field.
The 2010 team is young but full of potential and excitement. This year's squad is made up of three seniors, one junior, five sophomores and eight freshmen. With three seniors leading the way, the Lady Eagle youth will have great leadership and a chance to follow the foundation that was laid from the start of division one competition.
"All of our seniors have been here in the three years that I have been here, and so they have gone through the transition with me," said Charlton. "They have a really good idea of what I expect from the team, in terms of attitude, focus and participation, so each of them in their own way is helping to pull the team in that direction and move us in the right spot. I look for each of them to step up and make their senior year a memorable one."
Aside from the seniors, the Lady Eagles will rely on their captains to guide them and bring them together. Being a team is more than just playing on the softball diamond, it is becoming a family and building a sense of trust and acceptance among each other. That job is done by the leaders of the team, the captains. This year's captains are Michelle Ishida, Kristen Schooler and Ashanti Stroud. All of whom are ready for a winning season.
With a 99 percent division one schedule last year, the Lady Eagles had to face the challenge of competing against some tough division one programs. It was a year that tested their passion, commitment and determination. It was a year that built strength and courage. It only made them stronger. This year will be no different as NCCU soars into yet another challenging and competitive season as they battle several top softball programs.
PITCHERS
NCCU returns two pitchers from last year's squad as seniors Kristen Schooler and Michelle Ishida return to the mound for the 2010 season. Schooler returns as the Lady Eagles' starting pitcher after starting 21 games last year and finishing with an 11.93 earned run average. She pitched 134.1 innings and went 1-20 as a junior and will take on the lead role for NCCU this season. Her competitiveness and hard work should help the Lady Eagles compete at the division one level as they look to improve their pitching game this season.
Ishida will contribute in the circle as well after starting in 17 games last season and notching an ERA of 11.63. She is a very versatile student-athlete that can contribute in just about every spot on the field. She was the winning pitcher in four of NCCU's five victories last season and finished with a 4-13 record. Her talent and determination will be key for the Lady Eagles this season as they look to add more variety on the mound.
The Lady Eagles will have a five-man pitching staff this season and will look for all five student-athletes to contribute in the rotation as they continue to strive to the division one level. Joining Schooler and Ishida in the stable are newcomers Shamika Chavis-Hodge, Aurora Baker and Kayla McPeek.
"We have five pitchers in our stable this year and we are going to try to work them all around and try to match them up with teams to try to find the best matchup," added Charlton. "All of our pitchers will work together in rotations to come in and help provide us with what we need."
Shamika Chavis-Hodge is a local standout from Knightdale, N.C., where she played for Enloe High School. She was a three-time All-Conference selection and will be a great asset to the pitching staff as she has worked hard in preseason to prepare for a successful freshman campaign.
Baker is the most experienced newcomer that the Lady Eagles have this season. A transfer from North Carolina A&T State University, Baker brings speed and strength on the mound. She notched an 8.40 ERA in 3.1 innings pitched to record a 0-1 record as an Aggie. The Wake Forest, N.C. native is expected to jump right into the rotation and make an immediate impact for NCCU this season.
McPeek will be a surprise to many people this season. Standing at 5-3, she doesn't look very strong, but she has the speed and the strength to surprise anyone in the batter's box. She hails from Westerville, Ohio, where she attended Thomas Worthington High School. She earned several athletic accolades and looks to continue her success on the mound this season as she looks to earn a spot in the rotation.
"It is not a thing where one person is going to start here or there," continued Charlton. "We are going to try to look at teams and see who we are playing and try to match up the best we can with our pitching staff."
CATCHERS
Behind the plate won't look much different for the Lady Eagles this season as sophomore Andrea Searls will anchor the catching duties. She started 46 games behind the plate for the Lady Eagles, hit .278, had four doubles, one triple and 14 RBIs. Defensively, she had 99 putouts and just seven errors and seven passed balls.
Backing her up will be 5-5 freshman Shakemia Edwards, who hails from Winterville, N.C. Edwards will have a great teacher in Searls, who has full experience behind the plate and will be a great teacher. Following in Searls' cleats, Edwards will be able to provide the Lady Eagles with a talented alternative. She has worked hard in preseason to be a valuable catcher for the NCCU team as she looks to provide assistance wherever it is needed.
INFIELD
The Lady Eagle infield will look a little different this season as several new faces will enter the starting rotation. With the departure of third baseman Sophia Blue, NCCU will have a huge gap to fill at the third base position and throughout the infield as they look to step up their defensive efforts.
Returning in the infield this season are Jessica Refojo and Michelle Ishida. Refojo will return as the infield leader as she returns as the Lady Eagles' shortstop. She comes off a freshman campaign, where she started all 48 games for NCCU. The Miami, Fla. native hit .254 on the season with four doubles, two triples and 18 RBIs.
Ishida will take over the duties at first base when she is not leading the way on the mound. The senior first baseman looks to close out her senior season as a memorable one. She started all 48 games for the Lady Eagles last season, where she notched a .225 batting average. She tallied four doubles and 14 RBIs, while standing second in stolen bases with 10. Her speed and quickness will be an asset to NCCU in the field and on the bases.
Contributing in the infield this season will be newcomers Kaitlin Kramer, Trishann Hayes and Tiffany McCreary. Kramer is expected to make an immediate impact for the Lady Eagles on defense as she brings speed and athleticism to a team that is striving to become a competitive division one program. She hails from Mechanicsburg, Pa., where she attended Cumberland Valley High School. She was a two-time First Team Mid-Penn All-Star and was a Second Team Mid-Penn All-Star during her freshman campaign.
Hayes is new to the softball field, but is a familiar face to Lady Eagle softball fans as she was a member of the Lady Eagle softball team last year, but was unable to step foot on the field. This season, Hayes will be able to show her talent as she adds size and strength in the infield. She is expected to jump in and be a contributor on offense for NCCU this season and she looks to build a solid foundation in the infield.
"We are definitely excited to have Trishann on the field this season, knowing that she has been here a year and couldn't play last season," said Charlton. "Getting her on the field this year is going to be a good asset for us. You will definitely see Trishann and we expect her to make a really big impact."
McCreary is a local talent that will add variety in the infield. She brings heart and a great work ethic to this NCCU team. She is from Holly Springs, N.C., where she attended the North Carolina School of Science and Math. The local native will be a great asset on the field and in the classroom as she is a Chancellor's Scholar.
OUTFIELD
Looking out into the outfield will not be much of a surprise as four student-athletes return to the outfield this season, including one of this year's captains Ashanti Stroud. Joining Stroud as a leader in the outfield is senior Desanbra Franklin. Both will bring leadership and experience to the outfield as they look to build on their successes from last year as the Lady Eagles continue to transition to the division one level.
Stroud will anchor the outfield. Her primary position is in the outfield, but her versatility allows her to contribute significantly anywhere on the field. She can play anywhere, even behind the plate. She started all 48 games for the Lady Eagles last season and notched a .246 batting average. Defensively, she had 55 putouts and just six errors.
Franklin, one of three seniors on this year's squad, brings three years of experience to a team that is young and thirsty for knowledge. She adds strength to the outfield and will continue her role as a top offensive player. She notched a .283 batting average with three doubles, three triples and 18 RBIs. Defensively, she had 33 putouts and just two errors. Her senior leadership will help mold the young talent that will follow.
Nadia Moreta and Andrea Wheeler join Stroud and Franklin as returners in the outfield. Neither one saw much playing time last season, but they have both worked hard during preseason training and have improved on offense and defense. They may not be leaders in the outfield, but they each have a year of experience behind them and can help the freshmen adjust to playing softball on the collegiate level.
Rounding out the outfield are freshmen Nadia Jefferies and Mae'Risha Watts. Jefferies is a local standout from Garner, N.C., where she attended Garner Magnet High School. She was an All-Conference and All-State player while at Garner and earned a Player of the Year honor. She is one freshman that the softball staff is excited about and looks to make an immediate impact this season. Her speed and aggressiveness will make her successful during her freshman season.
"Nadia will make a great impact on defense for us this season," added Charlton. "You will definitely see her make a big impact this season. Her speed and her aggressive attitude will be a great asset to this year's team."
Watts rounds out the Lady Eagle outfield. Her strength and ability in the outfield will provide athleticism and versatility in the outfield. She hails from Whiteville, N.C., where she attended Whiteville High School. Watts has a great work ethic and will work hard this season to make a contribution for the Lady Eagles.
SCHEDULE
The Lady Eagles will face a tough schedule this season as they enter their third year of transition to division one. The 2010 schedule features four tournaments, 12 home dates and six road trips. One of the highlights of this year's schedule is a matchup with neighbor North Carolina State and a trip to Texas Tech. With only three division two teams on the schedule, NCCU will compete with a mostly division one schedule.
"We get a pretty well-rounded schedule this year," continued Charlton. "This year, we have three division two teams, two from the CIAA and Barton, but we have also increased the talent level in which we play on the division one level. We kind of added some wrinkles with Texas Tech and N.C. State, but it will give the girls a chance to see some big time softball."
Aside from a trips to schools, such as N.C. State and Texas Tech, the Lady Eagles will participate in four tournaments, one of which they will host. Many of this year's opponents are from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), a conference where NCCU has received membership starting in July 2010. This year's schedule will be another step closer to full division one competition.
"The kids are kind of use to playing a full division one schedule already," stated Charlton. "They should be able to handle that a little bit easier as they have a really good feel of division one competition. This year, they get the opportunity to see some big time softball, but also play and match up with teams that they are compatible with."
CONCLUSION
This season, the Lady Eagles will have a smaller and younger group as they enter their third year of division one competition. With three seniors, one junior, five sophomores and eight freshmen, NCCU will have to look to their young talent to contribute and make an impact this season. The Lady Eagles are looking to strive for success and become a competitor at the division one ranks. That success starts with recruits and Charlton's program has brought in the young talent needed to set a solid foundation for success at the next level.
"All the kids that are coming in this year are going to add to us defensively and offensively, but the greatest impact that you are going to see from them is on the defensive side of the ball," said Charlton. "We are looking for all of our newcomers at any point in time to have a breakout season and move forward. When you bring in your Kaitlin Kramers and your Nadia Jefferies, who are going to bring speed to the game and aggressive attitudes, it helps build your program and make your program more competitive."
With such a young team, NCCU's youth will be looked to fill in the gaps when needed and will improve and progress as the season moves on. This year's team has increased in talent, hard work and knowledge of the game of softball. Each year, things can only get better and this year will be one step closer to a better tomorrow.
"All of our freshmen can come in and make an impact, but it is just going to be them finding their feet and finding their niche, and understanding that they don't have to do too much right now, but handle their job responsibilities. I think all of them will do fine as they get their feet wet and get use to the college game."
