JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman softball has signed nine student-athletes for the 2013 season, head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield announced Wednesday.
East Tennessee products Brittany Hefner (Morristown, Tenn.), Kelli Hensley (Knoxville, Tenn.), and Katie Brown (Maryville, Tenn.), along with Katie Sims (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.), Braleigh Angel (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Hayley Burnette (Rossville, Ga.) and Brenna Nation (Chickamauga, Ga.), all from the Chattanooga area have signed to play with the Lady Eagles next season. Kimberly Wilkinson (Warren Co., Tenn.) and Kalyn Davis (Danville, Ky.) complete the 2012 signing class.
Hefner is the lone transfer in the group, joining Hollifield's program after two seasons at the junior college level. The rest of the class comes to Mossy Creek on the heels of successful high school careers, many of which are still earning awards following their senior seasons.
The Lady Eagles were 34-22 in 2012 and finished third in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament. C-N must replace pitcher Mary Shealy, who had over 100 career wins, as well as All-SAC centerfielder Cassidy Skeen and two-year starter Kim Whaley.
2012 C-N Softball Signees
Braleigh Angel - Oufielder – Chattanooga, Tenn./Baylor School
Angel joins the Lady Eagles after helping Baylor School to a state championship in 2011. She was twice named Best of the Preps during her career at Baylor School and was a two-sport athlete, also playing volleyball.
Katie Brown - Outfielder – Maryville, Tenn./Heritage High School
Brown was a two-sport standout at Heritage High School outside of Maryville, Tenn. The centerfielder and slap-hitter was named all-district her junior year and earned All-District Tournament honors. She was also named Player of the Week by Blount Today and was a four-year varsity starter. She graduated with a 3.9 GPA as an honors student and earned HHS' English Honors Award.
Hayley Burnette – Catcher – Rossville, Ga./Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School
Burnette is an All-State selection and a two-time All-Region selection after leading her Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School to three-straight regional titles and three finishes, including a runner-up finish in the Georgia State Tournament. She was named Region Defensive Player of the Year as a junior from her catcher spot.
Kalyn Davis – Pitcher – Danville, Ky./Boyle Co.
Davis joins the Lady Eagles as a three-time all-district and a two-time all-region selection at Boyle County High School in Danville, Ky…As a junior, she earned Kentucky All-State Honorable Mention honors.
Brittany Hefner – Shortstop – Morristown, Tenn./Walters State C.C.
Hefner transfers to C-N after playing the last two seasons at Walters State Community College…She was named Tennessee Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year and NJCAA Second Team All-American…She also earned NJCAA National Player of the Week honors and was named first team All-TJCAA…At Morristown West High School she was an All-Lakeway Area and All-District Tournament performer.
Kelli Hensley – Outfielder – Knoxville, Tenn./Karns
Hensley signs with the Lady Eagles after being named All-State as a sophomore and twice being named to the Knoxville News Sentinel's All-Prep Xtra team following her sophomore and junior seasons…A four-time All-District selection, she led Karns to district and regional titles in each of the last three seasons…She was named Karns' Academic Athlete of the Year for 2011.
Brenna Nation – Pitcher – Chickamauga, Ga./Gordon Lee High School
Pitched her Gordon Lee High School squad to back-to-back state championships in 2010 and 2011 and was named Georgia's Class A Pitcher of the Year…A two-time all-state selection, she helped her Gordon Lee squad capture four-straight region titles and was named Best of Preps by the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Katie Sims – Pitcher – Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Baylor School
Sims is another state championship pitcher to sign with C-N…She led Baylor School to the 2011 D-II State Championship and was named Tennessee D-II All-East Middle Region during her junior year…A two-sport athlete at Baylor, she was also a member of the volleyball team.
Kimberly Wilkinson – Shortstop - Warren County High School
A two-time All-District 6-AAA Defensive Player of the Year selection heading into her senior year, Wilkinson comes to C-N as a two-sport start at Warren County High School…She was named 6-AAA All-District as a sophomore and junior…In basketball, she was a three-time All-District selection and scored over 1,500 career points…In the classroom, she was a "Top 10 Percent' honoree and a National Honor Society member.
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