VIDEO: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield has announced the signing of pitcher Alli Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) and corner infielder Delaney Brown (Knoxville, Tenn.) to round out the program's 2016 recruiting class.
Brown and Webster join nine signees from the early signing period to bring the Eagles' total number of incoming recruits to 11 – a number Kazee-Hollifeld estimates to be the largest incoming crop of players in the program's 30-year history.
"On paper, it looks pretty strong," Kazee-Hollifield said. "But you've got to get kids jelled together and playing together. We've got big shoes to fill, but the impact offensively for this group should be great for us."
Alli Webster (5-7, R/R, pitcher, Charlestown, Ind.) – TWITTER: @alliwebster10
Alli Webster comes to Carson-Newman as a transfer from Wabash Valley College. While with the Warriors, she went 39-7 while earning region player of the year honors as a sophomore. She was third in the NJCAA in strikeouts 254 and third in the country in strikeouts per game with 9.90. She had a 1.64 ERA and was a NJCAA All-American.
"She's a well-rounded strikeout pitcher," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She'll be a great addition to our pitching staff this next season."
Wabash College earned a conference championship in her freshman season while taking home as regional championship and a seventh place finish nationally in her sophomore campaign.
Prior to her stint at Wabash College, Webster starred for Charlestown High School as a four-year all-conference and all-area selection. She was the All-Area player of the year as a junior and senior and an All-State selection as a senior.
She is the Pirates all-time record holder in career hits (161), doubles (37), homeruns (17), wins (66), shutouts (22) and no-hitters (10). She also is the only Charlestown softball player to have thrown a perfect game. She also touts a school record 813 career strikeouts.
The daughter of Jeff and Cindy Webster, Alli plans to study elementary education at Carson-Newman. Her father played baseball at Indiana Wesleyan while her brother Jeffery plays baseball collegiately at Toccoa Falls. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa.
Delaney Brown (5-7, R/R, 1st & 3rd, Knoxville, Tenn.) – TWITTER: @dhbrown17
While playing for coach Dayna Carter at the Christian Academy of Knoxville, Brown hit .374 with a .424 on-base percentage, 57 runs batted in, 79 hits and 70 runs scored.
"She loves to play the corner and will likely play the corners," Kazee-Hollifield said. "She's a strong athlete with a strong arm."
Brown is a two-time All-District selection and helped CAK to district titles in 2012 and 2014. The Warriors finished third in the state a year ago.
The daughter of Doug and Marcia Brown, Delaney plans to study exercise science at Carson-Newman.
