VIDEO: Leah Sohm Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the final part in a three-part series breaking down Carson-Newman softball's position groups for 2021. This feature showcases the infield with assistance from senior shortstop Leah Sohm (Knoxville, Tenn.).
The Eagles will contend with the loss of first baseman Taylor Scott, who completed her degree in May and moved on to PT School. Scott started 168 games at the position and wrapped up her C-N career with the third most chances (1058), putouts (988) and double-plays (34) turned in school history.
While Scott moves on, the Eagles added a graduate transfer for the position in North Alabama's Katie Eakes (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.).
"It was sad that we lost Taylor," Sohm said. "Her height was amazing because of my tendency to sling it high. Katie Eakes has filled in well for her. Her scoops are incredible. Her bat is crazy. She doesn't even have to swing all the way through, it's just going over the fence. She brings an energy that I've not seen, it's just fun playing with her."
Eakes stood out in her sophomore campaign at UNA; she played in 33 games with 13 starts in 2018 - batting .415 on the year with 22 hits, including two doubles and four home runs. She posted a .679 slugging percentage. A total of 10 of her hits, including two of her home runs were pinch hits, including a two-run homer on March 24 against Spring Hill.
Eakes is the lone newcomer among the projected starters that include Sohm at short, Keeley Quillen (Gate City, Va.) at second and Shannon Smith (Channahon, Ill.) at third.
"We've all played together so we have this unreal connection in the infield," Sohm said. "Keeley is like a mom, she just calms everything down. Shannon is a wild child. She get the job done effortlessly. Whatever gets hit to her side, I know she's going to have it."
In 18 games in a CoVID-19 shortened season, Sohm logged 18 starts at shortstop and hit .400 for the year. She amassed 16 hits and 10 walks, the most on the team as a speedy lefty slapper. Sohm led the team with 12 stolen bases in 13 attempts. Sohm had a quintet of multi-hit games, including a 3-for-3 effort at North Greenville (2/25).
An extra-base hitting machine in her debut season at Carson-Newman. Quillen hit .214 on the year but led the team in triples and home runs. Of her nine hits on the year, six were for extra bases (four home runs and two triples). The Eagles second baseman also got hit by a pitch 10 times. Quillen exploded onto the scene with a two-home run performance in a loss to Young Harris.
Smith sparked her freshman season as an everyday starter at third base. Two weeks into her Carson-Newman career, she earned state player of the week honors from the Tennessee Sportswriters Association. Smith batted .500 (7-for-14) with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBI and four runs scored in helping the Eagles to a 3-1 record at the Bearcat/Fleet Invitational that weekend. For the year, Smith hit .403 with eight doubles and two home runs across 25 hits. She drove in 16 and slugged .629. She had a whopping nine multi-hit days before the season came to a close.
"I've learned and the whole group has learned that we can't take this for granted," Sohm said. "Yes we understand that it's softball and our grades are more important, but the game goes by so fast as a whole that fact has brought us closer together because we understand that it can go away in a blink of an eye."
The Eagles have depth in the infield with Mary Vandergriff (Chattanooga, Tenn.) backing up the middle infielders and Haley Schultz (Powell, Tenn.) as well as King transfer Hattie Campbell (Knoxville, Tenn.). Campbell was an all-Conference Carolinas selection for the Tornado.
Madelyn Gillett (Howell, Mich.) and Carmen Holt (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) both add depth and experience while Kylan Dickerson (Grand Junction, Colo.) is the lone freshman newcomer to the position grouping.
Carson-Newman opens the year Feb. 5 at the Charger Chillout.
