VIDEO: Haley Caldwell Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the second in a three-part series chronicling Carson-Newman softball's position groups for 2021. This feature breaks down the outfield with assistance from Haley Caldwell (Kenova, W.Va.).
Carson-Newman's outfield will be without the services of two-time All-American Abby Fiessinger who graduated and moved on to teaching in her home county's school system.
Fiessinger takes with her a .400 career batting average, 146 hits, 45 doubles and 29 home runs.
However, Caldwell, Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Valerie Seay (Cross Plain, Tenn.) all have starting experience along C-N's last line of defense.
"It was a bad day all around seeing our seniors have to go through that," Caldwell said. "The extra year wasn't certain at the time. We tried to get on the field when we could with gyms and our hitting facility closed. Trying to get hitting and lifting in was challenging through the summer."
Caldwelll started all 18 games for the Eagles in the outfield en route to hitting .383 for the year. Caldwell hammered six extra-base knocks in her 23 hits on the year en route to slugging .533. Caldwell had a four-game stretch between double headers against Mars Hill and Tusculum where she logged four straight multi-hit days.
She also had a quartet of multi-RBI days, topping out at four against Lander (2/15). She had a trio of three-hit days against the Bearcats, Lions and Pioneers. Carson-Newman was 6-0 when she turned in a multi-hit day on the year.
Carson-Newman's primary flex player and centerfielder, Seay appeared in 15 games with starts in 10. She scored two runs on the year and played error free in the outfield with one assist in 11 total chances.
When Rinus wasn't pitching, she played center for the Eagles. In a CoVID-19 shortened season, Rinus hit .224 with 11 hits, a double and 11 RBI. She tallied a trio of multi-hit performances, including a 2-for-4 day with three RBI in the season opener against Converse (2/3).
"It's good that we can show that we've done it," Caldwell said. "It's nice that we know what to do and to communicate what's expected of those newcomers."
The Eagles expect a pair of freshman to make an impact in the outfield in SieAnna Cameron (Friendsville, Tenn.) and Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.).
A two-sport athlete from Alcoa where she played soccer in addition to her exploits on the softball diamond, Cameron hit .521, .541 and .519 her final three years with the Tornados with 42 stolen bases and 14 home runs. She made all-state as a junior and was named offensive player of the year en route to helping Alcoa to a district title.
Meanwhile, Hughes played for Carson-Newman legend Carol Zachary Mitchell at Gibbs High School where she helped the Eagles to a state title her freshman year and region titles as a sophomore and junior. In her high school career, she hit .421 with a .510 on-base, 155 RBI and 24 home runs. She was named a freshman All-American by MaxPreps. She was named all-district three times and all-state as a sophomore.
"Speed is the big thing in our outfield that we've lacked in the past," Caldwell said. "That's a big thing that she and the rest of our freshmen bring to the table. That and arm strength."
The Eagles also have veteran depth in the outfield with the returns of Grace Laws (Palmersville, Tenn.), Madison Mathis (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Sarah Knight (Seymour, Tenn.), Rachel Kay (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Madison Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Karissa Schnitz (Smiths, Ala.).
Addison Lowe (Sweetwater, Tenn.) could also factor in the mix as a freshman.
Carson-Newman's position previews wrap up Saturday with the infield.
