VIDEO: Natalie Corbin Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first part in a three-part series breaking down Carson-Newman softball's positions for the 2022 season.  This part features the outfield with the assistance of Natalie Corbin. 

With the graduations of all-conference performers Lacie Rinus and Haley Caldwell, Carson-Newman only brings back one starter in the outfield – SieAnna Cameron (Friendsville, Tenn.) – as Macey Hughes is projected to make the move from right to first base. 

However, Corbin comes to Mossy Creek after a prolific career at Young Harris as a graduate transfer to provide an instant infusion of experience in the outfield. 

"My leadership and working with a lot of different players throughout my career should help," Corbin said. "I can work with different personalities and relate to them."

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.

Corbin has actually been around the game long enough thanks to bonus CoVID years and injuries that she played against C-N assistant Kristen Toppel for that Armstrong State team in 2017. 

She will join Cameron to provide ample starting experience in the outfield. 

"SieAnna has a lot of natural talent," Corbin said. "She's got a good arm and covers a lot of ground.  She has a good bat and that's always a good thing to have."

A 30-game starter in the outfield for Carson-Newman last year, Cameron hit .333 with 24 hits in 72 at bats.  She scored 19 runs and had a pair of doubles with three RBI.  Cameron had seven multi-hit efforts on the year.  She had a pair of four-game hitting streaks.  

While, more than likely to move to the infield, Hughes provided All-Conference caliber outfielding for the Eagles last season. 

"Macey is just a hard worker," Corbin said. "She is always in the cage and going to earn her spot on the field."

Hughes becomes 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.  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.

Joining the outfield for the first time in their careers will be Mary Vandergriff (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Boo Sturgill (New Boston, Ohio). 

"They all are capable and hit well," Corbin said. "They're new to the outfield, so they are still learning.  But they all work hard, so that's all that really matters."

Vandergriff was injured last year but appeared in 13 games with four starts in a CoVID-shortened 2020 freshman season.  She hit .263 for the year with five hits, a double and four RBI. 

Meanwhile, Sturgill  hit .530 with 10 home runs and 24 doubles for Wheelersburg High School in Ohio.  She was a first team all-conference choice as a freshman in addition to earning district player of the year and all-state honors. 

Grace Laws (Palmersville, Tenn.), Mari Robbins (Sweetwater, Tenn.) and Madison Levi (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) are all expected to provide depth and experience for the position.

Carson-Newman softball's position previews continue Tuesday with the infield.