VIDEO: KaraLynne Levi Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first part in a three-part series chronicling the Eagles' positions for 2020. Senior catcher KaraLynne Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) breaks down Carson-Newman's pitchers and catchers.
The year will be the last with Levi behind the plate and Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) in the circle.
The pair has started a combined 297 games between the two of them with Levi making 151 behind the plate. Rinus has started 146 games in the field and 85 in the circle.
"It's only fitting that we started together and we'll end together," Levi said. "Ever since we've been 10 years old we've been playing together. Hopefully we can go out on a high note together. I expect Lacie to do nothing short of what she did her freshman and sophomore years. Lacie dominates. That's what she does."
Levi, a preseason All-SAC selection, once again featured prominently among the top defensive catchers in the South Atlantic Conference and the Southeast Region. Levi was the only player in the league with more than 150 chances and without an error. She only issued one passed ball on the year.
She has only given up six stolen bases on the year, the fewest in the league among catchers. That comes while catching a third of runners stealing against her, the second highest percentage in the conference. At the plate, Levi led Carson-Newman in RBI with 38. She also has a team-best seven game-winning RBI.
She was third on the team in home runs with eight. Levi also had a quintet of doubles and a triple. She had nine multi-hit efforts and eight multi-RBI days. Levi has been hit by a pitch a whopping 47 times in her career. That's the second most in school history and the 22nd most in NCAA history. Levi reset her career high for RBI driving in four against Queens (4/27) in the South Atlantic Conference tournament.
Rinus, as a pitcher, tallied an 11-4 record with a 3.10 ERA. She has 62 strikeouts against 24 walks on the year and has gone a complete game 10 times. She fanned a season-high eight in a home contest with Coker. Regardless of position, she has played error-free softball this year. Rinus has picked up 16 multi-hit efforts and eight multi-RBI efforts on the year. She matched a career high with a four-hit day in the SAC title game against Anderson.
She has 525 strikeouts in her career, a total that ranks fifth in C-N's all-time annals.
In addition to Rinus, the Eagles bring in Wilmington transfer Makayla McCarthy (El Cajon, Calif.) and return relief pitcher Morgen Baker-Celis (Kentfield, Calif.).
"The big thing is doing lots of bullpens," Levi said. "I want to know all three of our pitchers inside and out. It's just a process of getting to know all of them."
Baker-Celis appeared in four games with one start in her first year at Mossy Creek. Baker-Celis was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. She fired 0.1 innings of relief work in the circle. She faced one batter and got an out against Mars Hill.
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.
"Makayla will throw it hard and spin it. She's good with her locations," Levi said. "The biggest thing is she brings winning experience. Morgen is different from our other two pitchers. She has more movement and is very precise with where she pitches it."
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.
Carson-Newman's position previews continue Monday with a glimpse at the Eagles' outfield with assistance from Haley Caldwell.
