VIDEO: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield has announced the signing of nine student athletes during the early signing period, Saturday afternoon.
Kazee-Hollifield signed pitcher Nicole Blackburn (Knoxville, Tenn./Carter High School), outfielder Lexie Needham (Knoxville, Tenn./Gibbs High School), catcher Cheyenne Boles (Knoxville, Tenn./Gibbs High School), outfielder Lilia Torchio (Centreville, Md./Queen Anne's County High School), third baseman Shon Jordan (Hermitage, Tenn./Martin Luther King Jr. Health Magnet School), infielder Ashlyn Cooper (Friendsville, Tenn./William Blount High School), infielder Janelle Benzick (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood High School), Madison Floyd (Lake Park, Ga./Lowndes High School) and Maria Zepeda (Itasca, Ill./Lake Park High School).
Nicole Blackburn is a pitcher from Carter High School in Knoxville, Tenn. Her junior year, she helped Carter to a 34-12 record with 258 strikeouts in 249 innings pitched. She touted a 1.44 ERA with 14 shutouts, two no-hitters and four one-hitters.
"She throws a ton of off-speed stuff," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She will help complement our pitching staff mightily."
She's a two-time all-district selection and earned all-state honors in 2014. The Hornets were the 2014 regular season and tournament district champions.
The daughter of Amy Needham, Nicole is a member of the National Honor Society and has won awards for Chemistry, American History and English 1, 2 and 3 as well as Government.
Lexie Needham plays outfield for coach Carol Mitchell at Gibbs High School. Her junior year, she started 55 games for the Eagles and hit .353 with a .429 on base percentage. She knocked in 53 RBI and scored 42 runs with 34 doubles and 18 home runs.
"Another Gibbs girl," Kazee-Hollifield said. "We wanted to beef up our outfield and she helps to that end. She can hit and field the ball well."
In 2014, she earned first team All-Prep Xtra and All-KIL. She was presented the Silver Slugger Award for having the most home runs on the team. Her 34 doubles tied a school record.
Needham helped guide Gibbs to a 2012 Class 2AA TSSAA State title, a fifth place finish in 2013 and a runner up in 2014.
A member of the National Honor Society, Needham is the daughter of Wes and Cathy Needham. Her father played baseball for Hiwassee.
Cheyenne Boles is another Gibbs Eagle who played for Carol Mitchell and helped Gibbs to a 2012 Class 2AA TSSAA State title, a fifth place finish in 2013 and a runner up in 2014.
"You can't go wrong when you go to Gibbs High School," Kazee-Hollfield "She's a catcher, who can also play the corners."
Boles batted .444 with 21 homers in her junior year. She has 123 runs batted in in her career with a .460 on-base percentage.
She's earned multiple all-district, all-KIL, all-Prep Xtra and all-state accolades in her high school career.
She is the daughter of Kenneth and Wendy Boles. She chose Carson-Newman over East Carolina and Coastal Carolina.
Lilia Torchio an outfielder from Queen Anne's County High School in Maryland, she hit .571 in 2014 with a .714 on-base percentage, 43 total bases and 15 swiped bags.
"She's got the speed," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She's three dimensional at the plate, she can slap and hit. And boy, is she fast."
She earned all-conference accolades from the North Bayside Conference. She was honored as her squad's Unsung Hero Award winner. She was also honored as QACHS' Outstanding Junior Athlete.
The daughter of Phyllis Johnston and Greg Torchio, she is a member of both the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society.
Shon Jordan is a third baseman Hermitage, Tenn. She had the most home runs in her district as a junior while batting .667 with 12 singles, five doubles and three home runs. She sported a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
"When you say her name, you think of an impact player," Kazee-Hollifield said. "I think she'll be that for us. She's fast and can play just about every position."
She was her district's co-MVP and a member of the All-State second team.
During the 2014 season, she helped Martin Luther King Junior Health Magnet School to its first ever district championship.
The daughter of Shontell and Jonathan Jordan, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and the National Science Honor Society. He cousin, Jay Booker, plays football for Austin Peay.
Ashlyn Cooper plays for Amanda Leatherwood at William Blount High School where she's played first and second base, as well as the outfield. She batted .300 with 15 home runs as a junior.
"She's our first commit this year," Kazee-Hollifield said. "We're very excited about her. She's a very strong ball hitter."
For her efforts on the field, she earned MVP honors from her team as a junior and the Coaches Award as a freshman.
The daughter of Robin Roulette, she ranks in the top 10 percent of her class. She's a member of the French Honor Society and has the highest GPA in her class in English.
Janelle Benzick is an infielder from Virginia Beach and Tallwood High School. Her freshman year, she hit .393 with 14 home runs and just one strikeout for the Lions. She cranked 14 more home runs her sophomore season before smashing 10 her junior year with a .431 batting average.
"She's a strong hitter and a strong overall ballplayer," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She's got a great arm and will be a great addition for us."
Benzick won her team's triple crown as a junior and has earned all-conference accolades all three years of her high school career.
A decorated academician, Benzick is the daughter of Susanne and Bently Benzick. She is a member of the Principle's List, Honor Roll and National Honor Society. She is also a member of the National Spanish Honor Society. She holds the chairmanship for the SCA Spirit and Sportsmanship club and is the Future Business Leaders of America vice president.
Madison Floyd is a first baseman for Lowndes High School and head coach Stuart Thomas. In 2014, she batted .365 with a .497 on-base percentage. She hit 21 doubles with eight home runs and scored 22 runs with 32 runs batted in.
"She's an Eagle through and through," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She's a strong girl who is certainly capable of hitting the long ball. She can help us at first base."
She made the Georgia Dugout Club All-State team and the Georgia High School Association All-State Honorable Mention team. She is a three-time recipient of the team's academic award for the highest GPA on her softball team. She is a three-time all-region honoree.
Floyd helped the Vikings to back-to-back region 1AAAAAA championships and the Sweet 16 in the Georgia state playoffs back-to-back years.
The daughter of Jay and Mandy Floyd, Madison is a four-year member of the LHS honor roll and a Georgia Merit Scholar. She also is a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and has been nominated for Governor's honors in Spanish.
Her father played football at Carson-Newman while her mom played tennis for the Eagles. Her brother, Justin, plays football at Furman.
Maria Zepeda plays centerfield and short stop at Lake Park High School for coach James Chellson. As a junior she batted .369 with a .424 on-base percentage. She was the Lancers' team MVP and defensive MVP.
"Maria is a strong outfielder who can play the middle infield," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She's an all-around ball player."
In addition to softball, she played golf and basketball for the Lancers and ran cross country. She helped the LPHS cross country team to a second place finish at the state championship meet.
The daughter of Victoria and Manny Zepeda, she is a member of the High Honor Roll, the recipient of the JKB Leadership Award and the president of Lancer Nation.
She chose Carson-Newman over Bucknell, Middle Tennessee State and West Virginia State University.
