Graves adds King as pitching coach
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves has announced the hiring of former C-N pitcher Sara King as the program’s new pitching coach.
VIDEO: Sara King Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves has announced the hiring of former C-N pitcher Sara King as the program's new pitching coach.
King takes over for Kristen Toppel after the former Eagle shortstop served on the coaching staff for four years.
"Sara showed this past year how capable she can be as a coach," Graves said. "You could tell in the dugout that she had the respect of her teammates and a desire to help them grow in their games. While we hate to lose Coach Toppel and all that she did for this program over the years, we are excited for what Coach King will help us do."
Carson-Newman's number one starter in the circle, King went 16-9 with a 3.50 ERA as a senior. She appeared in the circle 34 times with 21 starts.
"I've been through a lot in the five years I played," King said. "I'm just excited to give back everything I've learned and been through while helping them learn the game."
In 152 innings of work, King struck out 112 and walked 55. Opponents hit .276 off her. King struck out a career-high 10 twice, against both Mars Hill (3/3) and UVA Wise (3/22). She twirled complete-game shutouts against West Virginia State (2/19) and the Lions.
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. 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.
