VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves has announced the addition of three student-athletes for the 2020 season.
Graves brings in Wilmington University transfer and right-handed pitcher Makayla McCarthy, Walters State transfer Keeley Quillen and former Siegel Star Madison Levi.
McCarthy was a two-time first-team NFCA All-East region selection at pitcher for the Wildcats. As a sophomore, she posted an 18-6 record with a 2.19 ERA and 128 punchouts in 134.0 innings pitched. The ERA and punchouts both ranked third in the CACC. She allowed 106 hits, 43 earned runs, and 46 walks.
The utility-pitcher also finished with 35 hits on the season, including six doubles, one triple, and two homeruns for 29 RBI. In her 114 at bats, she finished with a batting average of .307, with an on-base percentage of .374, and a slugging percentage of .430.
As a freshman, she was named CACC Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-CACC. She was a three-time pitcher of the week selection. She appeared in 33 games starting in 23 en route to posting a win-loss record of 18-10 with 23 complete games and five shutouts. In 194.2 innings pitched, she gave up 141 hits, 70 runs, 47 earned runs, 44 walks, 211 K's, and a 1.69 ERA..
McCarthy finished first in the CACC with the 211 strikeouts and was second in the league with her ERA of 1.69. Offensively, she had 135 plate appearances, collecting 47 hits. She led the team in doubles with 13, recorded one triple and led the team with six homeruns on the season. Her 34 RBI were second on the team. She wrapped up her freshman season with a .348 batting average.
Quillen makes the move to Mossy Creek after two years at Walters State. She wrapped up her sophomore season with the Senators toting a .426 batting average with 14 home runs and 43 RBI. She led the TCCAA in home runs and slugging percentage. She was top 10 in the league in all offensive categories en route to first-team all-conference honors. Quillen ranked 59th on FloSoftball's "JUCO Hot 100 sophomores" list.
In high school at Gate City, she hit over .400 in her junior and senior seasons while hammering a GCHS record with 15 dingers. She was a three-time all-region and all-conference selection. She earned all-state honors as a junior.
The daughter of Bobby and Katie Quillen, she plans to study education at Carson-Newman.
Levi will be a fourth generation athlete for Carson-Newman. Her older sister KaraLynne has been Carson-Newman's starting catcher the last three years. She follows in the footsteps of her great grandfather James Newman (football), grandfather Michael Levi (baseball) and father Jon Levi (football).
She helped Siegel a pair of appearances in the state title game as a freshman and senior. She helped guide the Stars to regional and sectional titles her junior year.
The daughter of Jon and Kristi Levi, she plans to study sociology at Carson-Newman. In high school, she was a member of the Beta Club, Beta Epsilon and Spanish National Honors Association.