VIDEO: Leah Sohm Interview

VIDEO: Macey Hughes Interview

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman outfielder Macey Hughes (Corryton, Tenn.) and shortstop Leah Sohm (Knoxville, Tenn.) have been named to the South Atlantic Conference's preseason All-SAC teams, the league office announced Wednesday morning.  

Hughes makes the first team as an outfielder, while Sohm earns second team honors at shortstop. 

Last year, Hughes became the first C-N freshman to receive all-league laurels since Haley Caldwell during the 2018 season.  Hughes hit .367 last year with eight doubles, two triples and four home runs while driving in 26. 

"It is amazing," Hughes said. "I'm really grateful for the honor, but that was last year. I want to do it again this year."

The freshman peaked at the right time heading into conference tournament play.  She tallied hits in nine of her last 11 games, including a seven-game hitting streak from March 27 – April 12.  Hughes had a septet of multi-hit and multi-RBI efforts. 

She tallied a four-hit day at Wingate on March 27 to start her hit streak.  A frequent clutch hitter, Hughes tallied a walk-off RBI single against King in her second career game and a top of the seventh go-ahead home run against the Bulldogs as a part of that four-hit game.

Meanwhile, Sohm wrapped up all-league laurels for the first time in her career last year. The lefty slapper hit .398 for the year with her second and third career triples.  Arguably the fastest player in the conference. Sohm was second in the league with 17 stolen bases in 19 attempts.  A multi-hit machine, Sohm had 11 such days on the year including a quartet of four-hit days. 

"Honestly, I'm blessed to receive this honor," Sohm said. "However, I couldn't have done it without my coaches, teammates and especially God."   

She tied a school record against Limestone (March 10) when she scored five runs in game two against the Saints. She has only made eight errors at short, tied for the second fewest in the league among short stops.  

Sohm was named to the South Atlantic Conference's All-Tournament team. Sohm helped Carson-Newman to a semifinal finish in the conference tournament. The Eagles downed Wingate to open the tournament 7-3 before falling to top-seeded and seventh-ranked Lincoln Memorial 7-2.   The shortstop was 3-for-7 at the plate in the event and got on base 50 percent of the time.  She played error free in the two games.  Sohm started the event with her 12th multi-hit effort of the season before finishing it with a 1-for-4 day against the Railsplitters.  She scored a run against Wingate.

Carson-Newman opens the season Feb. 5 at the Georgia College Invitational in Milledgeville, Ga.