Kazee-Hollifield brings in four for 2013 recruiting class
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield has announced the signing of a pair of infielders, an outfielder and a pitcher to the Eagles 2013 signing class.
Audrey Woodyby (Knoxville, Tenn.), Haley Taylor (Strawberry Plains, Tenn.), Hannah Morrison (Jasper, Tenn.) and Sarah Howard (Georgetown, Ky.) have all inked with the Eagles. All four players will be available for the 2014 season.
"As a coaching staff, we brought in ladies who will create competition at every position in the field," Kazee-Hollifield said. "There's some excitement that all of them can come in and make an impact on this team."
Sarah Howard, B/T (R/R), 5-10
A pitcher and first baseman for Scott County High School and native of Georgetown, Ky., Howard graduated high school in 2010 and has spent the last few years at Providence College and the University of Kentucky.
While in high school she earned six varsity letters in softball. Howard was the captain of her softball team in 2009 and 2010. She was an Academic All State First Team selection in 2009 and 2010. Howard was a two-time all-district and two-time all-region selection. She earned region tournament MVP honors in 2010.
"She's a hard thrower who has all the pitches," Kazee-Hollifield said. "It's about fine tuning the pitches with her. She'll add some needed to depth for us in the circle."
Howard ranked sixth on the "Power 40 Playing Rankings 2010." She was the winning pitcher in the 2010 USFA World Series Championship game and allowed only four earned runs during the 2009-2010 high school season. She carried a batting average above .300 and an ERA below 1.3 her final two seasons with the Cardinals.
In a game in Murfreesboro, Tenn., during a tournament she struck out 19 out of 21 batters in Murfreesboro. She helped lead Scott County to a third place finish in the Kentucky State Tournament in 2007. The Cardinals also earned Kentucky State Tournament berths in 2008 and 2010. Howard saw SCHS earn district and regional championships in all four years of her high school career.
At Providence, she appeared in three games and garnered a 1-0 record through 4.2 innings.
Howard is the daughter of John and Denise Howard, she plans to study exercise science in at C-N. In high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club. Her sister, Amanda Coffey, played softball for Lindsey Wilson.
Hannah Morrison, B/T (R/R), 5-7:
Twitter: @hannahmo32
Morrison starred at first and third base for the Marion County Warriors. She clocked 17 home runs, 124 RBI, walking 75 times and scoring 123 runs for coach Larry Richards.
"She can crush the ball," Kazee-Hollifield said with a laugh. "Our assistant Nancy Branim was pitching to her in a tryout and I think Hannah about knocked her arm off she hit a ball that hard at her."
She earned Kingsport Invitational MVP honors as a freshman and Hixson Invitational MVP honors as a junior.
Morrison helped lead the Warriors to three consecutive district championships. MCHS finished fourth in the state tournament in her freshman year and brought home a regional championship in her sophomore season.
The daughter of Tim and Ann Morrison, Hannah plans to major in biology at C-N. She was the winner of the National Seal of Excellence and a member of the Beta Club and the Marion Youth Leadership.
Hayley Taylor, B/T (R/R), 5-3
Twitter: @Hay_Tay1
Taylor graduated from Jefferson County High School in 2011 before starring in the outfield for Walters State the last two seasons.
Last year with the Senators, she batted .390 with three home runs, nine doubles and a triple in helping Walters State to a conference championship and a 38-7 record. She made just one error last year.
"A well-rounded outfielder, I got to see her play a ton in high school," Kazee-Hollifield said. "We'll be depending on her offensively and defensively, so we'll be relying pretty heavily on her."
While playing at Jefferson County for coach Hillary Howard, she led the Patriots in home runs her senior season. She was a two-time All-Conference and All-Lakeway selection and earned All-State honors her senior season.
Taylor is the daughter of Diane and Anthony Moore. She plans to study education at Carson-Newman. She was an AB honor roll student at JCHS.
Audrey Woodby, B/T (R/R), 5-4
Woodby transfers to Carson-Newman from Murray State, where she spent her freshman season appearing in 20 games for the Racers. She is a 2012 graduate of Karns high school.
In her freshman year with the Racers, she cracked 11 hits including a double primarily as a reserve. Defensively, she didn't make an error all season as MSU led the Ohio Valley Conference in fielding percentage.
"We recruited her out of high school and should be our four hitter," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She's a great person and a strong Christian who we're happy will be a part of our team."
While playing for Rick and Judy Siebert at Karns, she batted .464 in her junior season and touted a .341 mark for all four years of her high school career. She posted a career best .905 slugging percentage in 2012 with 12 doubles, four triples and six home runs.
Woodby was a 2010 district tournament MVP and a two-time selection to the all-district tournament team. Her senior year, she made all-district and was a Prep-Xtra honoree in 2011 and 2012. She helped the Beavers to three district and regional championships.
The daughter of Kevin Woodby and Melanie Thomas. She's undecided on a major. In high school, she was named the Business Student of the Year.
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