VIDEO: Haley Caldwell Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the second part in a three-part series chronicling Carson-Newman softball's positions for 2020. This feature breaks down the outfield with assistance from junior Haley Caldwell.
Carson-Newman brings back starting experience at all three outfield positions with All-American Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) in left, Caldwell (Kenova, W.Va.) in right and Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Valerie Seay (Cross Plains, Tenn.) splitting time in center depending on whether or not Rinus is pitching.
"Experience is such a big deal for us," Caldwell said. "When I started, I was nervous. For us, that experience is a calming factor and hopefully something we can bring to help our newcomers grow. Where we've been together so long, that experience helps us work well together."
The returners combined for 26 home runs a year ago and batted .354 as a group.
Rinus ranked second on the team with her .379 batting average. She roped nine doubles, hit four triples and drilled five home runs en route to driving in 28 on the 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.
Last year Fiessinger earned All-America honors from the D2CCA and NFCA and was named the Southeast Region Player of the Year.
Fiessinger was a hitting machine for Carson-Newman. She finished the year as the SAC's regular season batting champion with a .442 average and finished the year with a .424 average. It's the 18th highest single-season batting average in program history. She slugged .818 to become the fourth Eagle all-time to slug better than .800 for a year. She finished with the third-highest slugging percentage in program history to Brittany Hefner and Bre Lockett.
Fiessinger racked up 15 multi-hit efforts. She had a septet of three-hit days. The junior drove in five runs in a win over Tusculum, the second most in her career and tied for the 10th most for a single-game in program history. The Benton, Ky.-native had six-multi-RBI days and was the team leader with 11 home runs. Fiesssinger saw a 15-game hitting streak, the sixth longest in program history, come to an end in the first game of the Southeast Regionals. The junior didn't go back-to-back games this year without a hit. Her batting average never dipped below .404 on the year. With 17 doubles, Fiessinger ranked 35th in the nation in two-baggers. Her 17 doubles are tied for the 10th most in single-season history at Carson-Newman.
Caldwell finished the year second on the team with nine home runs and 27 RBI. The power-hitting outfielder tallied 41 hits in 125 at-bats with nine doubles. Caldwell picked up right where she left off from her freshman season and extended a hitting streak out to 11 games to open up the year.
She raked in 11 multi-hit efforts and seven multi-RBI games. She produced the fith and sixth three-hit games of her career against Mars Hill (4/16) and Newberry (4/22). She matched a career high with a four-RBI day in the SAC tournament title game against Anderson. Of the final six games of the year that Caldwell recorded a hit, five of those efforts went down as multi-hit days.
Seay started all but three games for Carson-Newman at either third or second base. A frequent flex player, Seay was 12-for-61 at the plate with five doubles, a triple and an inside the park home run against Converse (2/9). Seay tallied the first multi-hit efforts of her career against the Valkyries and again six days later against Claflin (2/16). She had two multi-RBI efforts, tallying those against Georgia College (2/2) and Converse.
C-N returns a slew of experience in the outfield while combining depth with freshman.
"The freshmen give us more depth and speed," Caldwell said. "Later in the game, we can change stuff up and put a new defense out there when it's needed. That's an invaluable tool."
Among the returners, Madison Mathis (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Grace Laws (Palmersville, Tenn.) and Sarah Knight (Seymour, Tenn.) suited up for the Eagles last year. Carson-Newman adds in freshmen Rachel Kay (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Karissa Schnitz (Smiths, Ala.) and Madison Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.).
Kay played for former Eagle Lisa Rogers Gray at Chattanooga Christian School where she hit .461 with nine doubles, five home runs and 44 RBI for the Chargers. She helped the Chargers to a state tournament berth and a fourth place finish at the AA state tournament as a junior.
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 to 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.
Carson-Newman softball's position previews wrap up Wednesday with the infield and assistance from Taylor Scott.
