VIDEO: KaraLynne Levi Interview
ROCK HILL, S.C. – A trio of Carson-Newman seniors have been lauded by the South Atlantic Conference with preseason All-South Atlantic Conference honors, the league office announced Tuesday.
Catcher KaraLynne Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), utility pitcher Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and outfielder Haley Caldwell (Kenova, W.Va.) have all be recognized.
"We're just so grateful to be here," Levi said. "And to have this opportunity and second chance. I can't help but try to take advantage and run with it. CoVID isn't really a blessing, but it really has been a bit of a blessing for me. Lacie and I prayed a lot about returning. It just made sense for both of us to. I get to come back, play and also be in the education department at a graduate level, which is one of the best around."
Levi was a CoSIDA Academic All-American last year. Levi was hitting .463 in 2020 before the season came to an early close. She had eight doubles and two bombs with 25 RBI. In her Carson-Newman career, she ranks first in SAC flys with 10 and second in times hit by a pitch with 54. She also has the second best fielding percentage (.996), second most chances (1089) and second most putouts (990). She was riding a five-game multi-hit streak when the season was cut short and had three games with at least four RBI.
Give it up for 3⃣ @cnsball All-@sac_athletics honorees.
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) January 26, 2021
✅ Catcher @Karalynne_levi
✅ Utility @LacieRinus
✅ Outfielder @haleyc_14 pic.twitter.com/osrOnilNC5
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). In the circle, Rinus accrued a 6-2 record with a 2.90 ERA. She struck out 29 with a .266 batting average against.
She will be looking to return to the All-America form of her freshman and sophomore seasons. Rinus ranks fifth in Carson-Newman history in career strikeouts with 554.
Finally, Caldwell 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.
All three of Carson-Newman's all-conference players will be on display at the Charger Chillout starting Feb. 5 in Huntsville, Ala.
2021 South Atlantic Conference Softball Preseason All-Conference
All-SAC First Team
OF – Savannah Moorefield, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – McKenzie Barneycastle, Newberry
OF – Chloe Pelham, Coker
1B – Haley Simonds, Newberry
2B – Ty-Kella Goins, Lincoln Memorial
SS – Talon LaClair, Lenoir-Rhyne
3B – Hannah Towery, Newberry
3B - Kaylee Jones, UVA Wise
DP – Kayson Boatner, Anderson
UTL – Aubrey Reep, Wingate
C – Kylee Leonhardt, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Morgan Beeler, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Isabelle Mullen, Coker
All-SAC Second Team
OF – Haley Caldwell, Carson-Newman
OF – Anna Alloway, Tusculum
OF – Sam Hogan, Wingate
1B – Alexis Grampp, Tusculum
2B – Brittney Franse, Tusculum
SS – Sierra Hucklebee, Lincoln Memorial
3B – Emma Webb, Lincoln Memorial
DP – McKenzie McCullen, Queens
UTL – Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman
C – KaraLynne Levi, Carson-Newman
P – Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – McKenna Falwell, Virginia-Wise
