VIDEO: Michael Graves Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head softball coach Michael Graves has announced the signing of four student-athletes for the upcoming 2022  season. 

Three transfers from Young Harris and one incoming high school student round out the quartet and bring Carson-Newman's total signing class for 2022 to 10 members.

Emily Harris, Natalie Corbin and Sara King all make their way to Mossy Creek from Young Harris, while Syerra Rogers joins the program from East Hamilton High School. 

Syerra Rogers – 5-4 -  P – R/R - Graysville, Tenn. – East Hamilton - @syerra_rogers

HIGH SCHOOL: Rogers struck out 272 batters in her senior year pitching for Normal Nelson at East Hamilton High School.  At the plate, she hit .426 with 12 home runs.   She also swiped 21 stolen bases en route to helping East Hamilton to a district title. 

PERSONAL: The daughter of Heath and Carol Rogers, she plans to study exercise science at Carson-Newman.  She comes from a softball family, her sister Sydnie plays at Shorter, while another sister Syvana plays at Cleveland State.

Emily Harris – 5-4 -  INF -  L/R – Cumming, Ga. – South Forsyth – Young Harris 

PRIOR TO CARSON-NEWMAN: Hit .374 in her career at Young Harris with 188 games played and 188 games started.  She tallied 249 career hits with 22 doubles and 69 career RBI.  She was a three-time All-Peach Belt Conference selection and earned All-America honors from the NFCA as a freshman.  She was a finalist for the NFCA/Schutt Sports Division II National Freshman of the Year in 2018.  She twice appeared on the NFCA's National Player of the Year Watch List. 

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-time all-region and all-county selection for South Forsyth High School. She earned all-state honors as a senior. 

PERSONAL: The daughter of Chip and Suzette Harris, she is pursuing her Masters of Bussiness Administration. 

Natalie Corbin – 5-4 - OF – L/R – Tybee Island, Ga. – Richmond Hill – Young Harris/Armstrong State

PRIOR TO CARSON-NEWMAN: A 2021 All-Region selection at Young Harris, Corbin batted .347 in 45 games (40 starts) with seven doubles, 12 RBI, .407 slugging percentage and .483 on-base percentage. She was also 24-of-25 in stolen bases. Corbin was ranked first in the Peach Belt in runs per game (1.11), and is tied for first in stolen bases. As a freshman, she played at Armstrong State where the team won the NCAA Division II Southeast Super Region and advanced to the semifinals of the Division II Softball National Championship before the school closed its doors. She batted .339 (58-of-171) with a .351 slugging percentage and a .390 on-base percentage while collecting a pair of doubles and five stolen bases while scoring 31 runs.

HIGH SCHOOL: A Best of Preps selection and All-region honoree while playing at Richmond Hill High School.

PERSONAL:  The daughter of Donna and Gerald Corbin. She is working toward her Masters in Business Administration at Carson-Newman.

Sara King – 5-10 – P – R/R – Cumming, Ga. – North Forsyth – Young Harris/Morehead State - @Sayruhhh34

PRIOR TO CARSON-NEWMAN: In two years at Young Harris, King tallied a 13-4 record in the circle with a 2.49 ERA across 36 appearances and 18 starts. She dealt a three-hit complete-game shutout against Anderson in the 2021 NCAA Southeast Regional.  She struck out 104 in 132.1 innings across her two years at Young Harris.  Before going to Young Harris, she played in 31 games and started five at Morehead State University starting four games as a pitcher and recording 23 strikeouts.

HIGH SCHOOL:  A two-time all-state, all-region and all-county selection for Bud Henderson at North Forsyth, King had a 2.02 ERA. 

PERSONAL: The daughter of Gail and Mike King, she is working on her Masters of Business Administration.