DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – Under the direction of first-year head coach Theresa Stephens, the Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central University launch the 2012 campaign with a doubleheader against the Seahawks of UNC Wilmington on Friday, Feb. 10 in Wilmington, N.C., and a two-day appearance at the Elon Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11-12 at Elon in Elon, N.C.

Stephens, who begins her collegiate Division I head coaching career at NCCU, will guide 16 Lady Eagles into diamond battle this weekend.

The pyramid of Stephens coaching philosophy is “energy, passion and swagger.”

“Energy is one of the staples of this program this season,” said Stephens.  “Getting them fired up to play with purpose will guide us to success.  As we rediscover the love and desire for this sport, the energy will return rapidly.

“I also want to instill that ‘swagger’ a confidant, not cocky, player should possess.  And finally, I want to reignite the level of passion for softball, through my own deep passion and enthusiasm.”

Alongside Stephens will be first-year assistant coach Alyssa Ishibashi who enters the coaching realm after a stellar
career at North Carolina State University.

The 16 young women in maroon and gray consist of 10 returners and six newcomers, with two of the Lady Eagle newcomers being junior transfers.

PITCHERS

NCCU enters the 2012 season with another three-woman pitching workforce consisting of two returners and one new Lady Eagle: senior Aurora Baker, junior Kayla McPeek and junior transfer Bianka Molina.  McPeek returners as the standout pitcher during her sophomore year, as she led the pitching regime with a 5.92 ERA with 112.1 innings pitched.  She finished the season with four of the six pitching wins and led the team in strikeouts with 32 in the course of 28 games with 18 starts. 

“McPeek is one of our top returning pitchers,” said Stephens.  “As she bounces back from a minor wrist injury, she has become more focused of the movement of the ball and getting stronger.”

Baker appeared in 13 games and seven starts during the 2011 campaign.  In her second year as a Lady Eagle, she was second among the pitchers with 7.94 ERA in 52.0 innings.

“Baker is back for her last season and I'm very excited about watching her continue to grow throughout this season,” said Stephens.  “She has grown up so much in the circle.”

Molina, who is a transfer from De Anza College, will be a solid addition to the pitching staff.  As a high school student-athlete, she led her team to a 15-12 overall record and an 8-6 league record in her senior year.

“Molina is one of the easiest pitchers I've ever worked with,” said Stephens.  “She is another player that leads by her performance on the field.  She is a very quiet player and does not let much phase her at all in the circle.”

CATCHERS

There will be two familiar faces behind the plate and one new student-athlete in maroon and gray.   With four years of experience and the primary catcher for Lady Eagles will be senior Andrea Searls, followed by sophomore Amanda Bullock and newcomer Sarah Kaiser.

Searls enters her final year in maroon and gray following a strong outing in 2011, where she appeared in 35 games with 35 starts.  For the second consecutive season, the catcher was second in slugging percentage at .313 with 11 runs, 27 hits and eight RBI on 99 times at bat.  From the field Searls is fifth in at 92.1 percent with 101 putouts, 27 assists and 139 chances, while catching 13 opponents stealing bases on 52 attempts.

“I am very blessed that I am getting at least one year with this young lady,” said Stephens.  “She is probably one of our smartest players and is turning out to be one of the most devastating hitters we have.  She has a great eye for the ball, has a sense of determination and does not like to be defeated.”

Bullock, who was last season’s primary first baseman, will see some action from behind the plate as well.  In her freshman season, Bullock appeared and started in all 37 contests during the 2011 campaign.  She was fourth on the team in batting average with a .250 after going 24-for-96 and led the team in fielding at 97 percent with 186 putouts, nine assists and seven errors.

“Bullock is another promising hitter for us this year,” said Stephens.  “She brings a great deal of power to the plate.  Bullock will be seeing time this season in the catching, designate player and first base roles.”
 
Kaiser also hails from De Anza College.  The junior transfer attended Saint Frances High School where the team concluded her senior year with 10 wins and 16 loses overall and 6 wins and five losses in league play during the 2007-08 campaign.

“Kaiser will bring performance leadership to this season’s is team,” said Stephens.  “In other words, her work on the field will lead the squad and maintain the high level of play we will bring to the game.   She loves to hit and brings focus and experience to the plate and in the field.”
 
INFIELD

Inside NCCU’s diamond will be full of fresh faces, as Stephens returns three Lady Eagles while welcoming four to the maroon and gray nation.  Bullock will return to her duties at first base, while Regina Diaz returns to her duties at middle infield and Shamekia Edwards returns to action after taking a hiatus during the 2011 season.  Infield newcomers include Martha Batie, Tiphani Jackson, Kaiser and Ariel Lanier.

Diaz, who had an outstanding freshman year with 36 starts in 36 contests attained a .170 batting average after going 14-of-88 and scoring 10 runs with 10 RBI and one double.  She was a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen bases, as well as a .871 fielding percentage with 46 putouts, 76 assists and 18 errors. 

“Diaz is the voice to this team and you will always hear her on the field,” said Stephens.  “She has shown the most improvements among her class.  Diaz brings that mental strength to the game that every coach appreciates.”
Edwards competed during the 2010 campaign.

“Edwards is back and better than ever,” said Stephens.  “She brings defensive strength and power at the plate.  She has the unique ability to come through in the clutch by moving runners and getting them in.”
 
Batie enters the nest from Susquehanna Township High School, where she was named all-conference three times from 2009-2011.  In her debut as an Eagle, the Harrisburg, Pa., native will be vital to the success of third base and middle infield.

“Batie brings the team a little more speed and talent,” said Stephens.

Jackson begins her collegiate career after playing high school softball at Elizabeth Seton High School in Bowie, Md.

“Jackson will be that freshman who will be seeing quite a few starting rolls this season between second and first base,” said Stephens.  “She has stepped up to the challenges we have presented to her and is starting to blossom into one of those key players offensively and defensively.”
 
Lanier of Mableton, Ga., will bring a double dynamic of academic strength and athleticism.  As she commences her career as a Lady Eagle, Lanier is coming off the Defensive Player of the Year award, Highest G.P.A. Award with a 4.3 average on a 4.0 scale and an appearance at the state playoffs.
 
OUTFIELD

The outfield will have the most experienced depth this season, with four returners commanding the grass: Cember Carmichael, Mae’Risha Watts, Nadia Moreta and Nadia Jefferies.

Carmichael returns to the diamond following a stellar freshman year.  She appeared in 37 games for NCCU, where she started in all 37, and was first on the team in batting average with .393 on a 25-of-89 effort.  Carmichael was the lone Eagle to obtain homeruns with two, as she notched four doubles and one triple and attained a team-high 18 RBI.  She also notched a .891 fielding percentage with 39 putouts, two assists and five errors.

“Carmichael is the returner to look out for and one of our top hitters returning,” said Stephens.  “Not only has Carmichael worked hard to become a stronger mental game hitter, she has also improved her defensive game.”

Watts will return to the grass for the 2012 campaign, after advancing her playing time in 2011 to 37 contests on 36 starts as the starting center fielder.  Watts accomplished a .838 fielding percentage with 53 putouts and four assists on 68 chances.

“Watts has truly stepped it up defensively and offensively and has taken the time to focus on creating an offensive balance,” said Stephens.

Moreta enters her fourth and final year as a Lady Eagle outfielder.  During last season’s campaign Moreta recorded a .879 fielding percentage with 26 putouts and 61 assists on 99 chances as a third baseman. 

“Moreta is also back for her last season as our right fielder and potential pinch hitter,” said Stephens.

Jefferies looks to continue her stellar effort from last season, where she played and started in 29 contests of the 2011 season.  She enters her junior season as the third slugging leader at 29.6 percent with 15 runs and 23 hits on 81 times at bat.  The right fielder tallied 19 assists on 77 chances with 48 putouts for 87.0 percent from the field, on top of seizing her best outing in a 1-0 victory over Saint Paul’s College with three runs, two hits and one RBI on three times at bat.

“Jefferies will definitely be running the bags more this year,” said Stephens.  “She not only brings speed, she has also improved on her left side shortcake and as a result she has turned into a stronger utility player.”

CONCLUSION

The 2012 softball season will be a year of nuisances, the season that Stephens plans to “take the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference by storm.”

For more information on Lady Eagles Softball or for up-to-date scores and statistics, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.