VIDEO: Sarah Howard Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the third part in a four-part series breaking down Carson-Newman's 2015 softball team position by position.  Today, Sarah Howard (Georgetown, Ky.) helps analyze the Eagles' pitching staff.

Carson-Newman's staff features two veteran arms in Howard and Cassie Lyons (Knoxville, Tenn.) mixed with two newcomers in Lindsay Dean (Coeburn, Va.) and Danielle Kranz (Fairfield, Calif.)

Howard pitched the first half of her sophomore campaign before she was sidelined the back half of the year with mononucleosis.  Lyons rejoined the pitching rotation in Howard's absence after spending the first half of the season in the outfield.  

"As a staff this year, I think we have a truly competitive spirit," Howard said. "Everybody seems to be really into everything that we're doing as a team.  There's a lot of excitement with our pitching staff and depth certainly isn't an issue."

Dean is 5-9 pitcher out of Eastside High School, she tallied 343 strikeouts for coach Suzi Atwood.  Her sophomore year she boasted a 0.395 ERA with an 18-4 record in the circle.  Her high water mark for an ERA came in her freshman year at a gaudy 1.251.   Dean allowed 42 earned runs in the first three seasons of her high school career.  She went 47-10 through her career.

Meanwhile, Kranze Kranz went 12-2 with a 1.20 ERA in 81 1/3 innings as a junior at Benicia High School. She struck out 110 and walked 24 and helped lead Benicia to a 15-0 mark in the Solano County Athletic Conference and the Final Four in the Sac-Joaquin Section postseason.

"Dean is a power pitcher," Howard said. "Danielle has great speed and break on the ball. Then Cassie has the best movement on the staff."

Last year, Howard went 12-6 with a 3.55 ERA and 62 strikeouts.  Meanwhile Lyons racked up a 10-3 record with a 2.86 ERA the latter half of the year

"I feel better than I have in a long time being back pitching," Howard said. "I've worked on my nutrition to become an overall better athlete, especially with endurance.  I'm ready for whatever comes my way."

Carson-Newman softball's position previews finish Friday with a glimpse of the catchers.