Carson-Newman Softball Position Previews: The Battery
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the final part in a three-part series breaking down Carson-Newman softball’s positions for the 2022 season. This part features the Eagles’ pitchers and catchers with the assistance of Sara King.
VIDEO: Sara King Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the final part in a three-part series breaking down Carson-Newman softball's positions for the 2022 season. This part features the Eagles' pitchers and catchers with the assistance of Sara King.
For the first time in 203 games, Carson-Newman will turn away from KaraLynne Levi behind the plate and Lacie Rinus in the circle. The multi-year All-SAC catcher and pitcher respectively both graduated last year after prodigious careers.
In their stead, C-N turns to transfers and some experience pitching.
King comes to Carson-Newman after playing for both Morehead State and Young Harris. She has one year remaining as a grad transfer.
In two years at Young Harris, King tallied a 13-4 record in the circle with a 2.49 ERA across 36 appearances and 18 starts.
"I really got out of my head last year," King said. "I've got a good changeup. I started thinking on the mound that I was going to dominate every batter that I pitched to. That took me from average to above average."
She dealt a three-hit complete-game shutout against Anderson in the 2021 NCAA Southeast Regional. She struck out 104 in 132.1 innings across her two years at Young Harris. Before going to Young Harris, she played in 31 games and started five at Morehead State University starting four games as a pitcher and recording 23 strikeouts.
King is joined by two returning hurlers and a freshman in the Eagles' rotation.
Morgen Baker-Celis and NicKolette Ferguson.
Ferguson went 6-0 in the circle with a 4.26 ERA. She appeared in 10 games in the circle, striking out 20 across 30.2 innings of work.
"She is one of the hardest workers in the bullpen," King said. "She's strong when it comes to pounding the zone."
She had one complete-game effort on the year, against Tiffin (2/21) and fanned a career-high six in 3.0 innings of work against Bluefield State (3/21).
Baker-Celis evolved into Carson-Newman's number two starter in the circle toward the tail end of her junior year. She went 5-1 with a 3.57 ERA. Baker-Celis made 11 appearances and seven starts in the circle, going a complete game five times with one shutout. She gave up 60 hits and 31 runs, 27 earned, in 53.0 innings of work.
"She is going to throw off people's timing because her change is that slow," King said. "She has that drive. She has a complete change of speed if you throw her after someone who tops out in the mid 60s.
Baker-Celis only walked 12 while fanning 38. Baker-Celis notched double-digit strikeouts for the first time in her career when she made 10 whiff in a 5.1-inning relief effort at Wingate (3/27). That also goes down as the most strikeouts by a Carson-Newman reliever all-time.
Meanwhile, freshman Syerra Rogers put up big strikeout numbers at East Hamilton High School in Graysville, Tenn.
Rogers struck out 272 batters in her senior year pitching for Normal Nelson at East Hamilton High School.
"Syerra is a little fire ant on the mound," King said. "She goes after batters and makes adjustments. For a newcomer, she acts like someone who has been here for whole career."
At the plate, she hit .426 with 12 home runs. She also swiped 21 stolen bases en route to helping East Hamilton to a district title.
Behind the plate, Carson-Newman has a transfer and a freshman at its disposal.
Kennedy Warder transfers to C-N from Eastern Kentucky where she redshirted for a team that won the OVC title. Warder hit .524 through 82 games in her high school career. She led the state of Kentucky in batting average and on-base percentage in 2019. An all-state selection in Kentucky she was runner up for the 5A Region Player of the Year in 2019.
Ruthie Allen comes to C-N from South Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga.
A Two-time all-region and an all-county selection, Allen played in the Georgia Dugout Club All-State Games. She batted .434 with a 1.174 OPS and two home runs her senior year that led South Forsyth to the region title and a top 16 finish in the AAAAAAA state playoffs in Georgia.
"Ruthie is going to give it her all and talk to you while hyping you up," King said. "Kennedy came from a D1 so she has experience. She's really good at blocking a ball and at least with me, recognizing when something is wrong with my motion and helping me fix it."
Carson-Newman opens the season Feb. 5 in Milledgeville, Ga.
