VIDEO: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the first time in 2017, Carson-Newman (4-2) will experience life away from the Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Softball Complex with a visit to Bristol, Tenn., for a Saturday doubleheader against King (0-2). First pitch with the Tornado is set for 1 p.m.
Last year, Carson-Newman's first true road game didn't come until March 5. C-N split a doubleheader at USC Aiken that day, losing game one 4-0 before triumphing in the nightcap 7-0.
"You get used to your dugout and facility, where the fence is. But it's still 60 feet to first base," head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield said. "Road trips are supposed to be fun. We'll have a battle on our hands if we're going to get two wins."
Kazee-Hollifield sits at 1,096 wins for her career. She is within spitting distance of becoming the 19th coach among all divisions to win 11 games. She is in a race with Minnesota State Mankato coach Lori Meyer to see who gets there first. Meyer has 1,093 career wins. The Mavericks start their season this weekend with four games in St. Cloud, Minn. Kazee-Hollifield is trying to becoming the sixth Division II coach past that milestone.
The Eagles are looking to continue the good vibes from a doubleheader sweep over North Greenville on Wednesday.
"This team comes off the field tired after a doubleheader," Kazee-Hollifield said. "They've worked hard. A coach should never have to coach effort (in a perfect world). You have to encourage and motivate. It's pleasant for me right now because I'm not having to coach effort. They're playing hard and that's fun to see."
Carson-Newman's pitching staff factored prominently in the sweep of the Crusaders. Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) and Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) combined to give up six hits while striking out 14.
"Both Alli and Lacie have given us an opportunity to win every ballgame we've been in," Kazee-Hollifield said. "Both of them have pitched really well for it to be so early. At this point I usually get asked the question what's the biggest surprise. Alli isn't a surprise anymore. The battery of KaraLynn Levi and Rinus as two freshman, they're very poised. They don't play like freshmen and that makes me a happy coach."
Webster had 13 punchouts last year against the Tornado in a game against King - that total is the fourth high all-time in C-N history.
Carson-Newman has won seven consecutive against King, but has done so in narrow fashion. Five of those wins have been decided by three runs or less. The other two came in a sweep for the Eagles in 2015 at King, 8-0 and 7-2.
King was picked sixth in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll, a spot behind C-N's last opponent, North Greenville. The Eagles are 32-6 against the league the last four years.
The Tornado started out the season with a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Bellarmine Knights. The Tornado fell by scores of 7-4 and 11-4. Offense wasn't an issue for King on the day. It pounded out 21 hits, including six for extra bases in the two losses.
"They are swinging the bat well," Kazee-Hollified said. "They pounded out a bunch of hits against Bellarmine. We know we'll have to pitch effectively, especially toning down how many walks we allow. I'd love for us to play a game without errors too."
Michaela Morris, Hannah Devotie, Hannah Riddle, Danielle Parks and Summer Hayes all pounded out multiple hits for King through the opening weekend.
First pitch from Bristol is set for 1 p.m. Follow @cnathletics on Twitter for live updates for the games.
