VIDEO: Macey Hughes Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first in a three-part series breaking down Carson-Newman softball's positions for the 2023 season. This feature works through the infield with assistance from second-team All-SAC first baseman Macey Hughes.
Carson-Newman must contend with the loss of two All-American middle infielders in shortstop Leah Sohm and second baseman Emily Harris. However, Carson-Newman returns two starters and brings in a key transfer to sandwich around newcomers.
Hughes has started 87 games in her career, splitting time between first and the outfield – she has earned all-conference honors at both spots. However, one of the top hitters in C-N history appears to be headed for a more permanent home at first.
Hughes was eighth in the country with 64 RBI last season. Hughes had five games last year with at least four RBI and three with five or more. Hughes was 11 RBI away from Brittany Hefner's (2013) school and SAC record 75 RBI for a single season. Hughes had the fourth most RBI in a single season in school history.
Hughes hit 14 home runs in 2022, she had the 17th double-digit home run season in school history and was tied for third in school history for a single season with Elayna Siebert (2015).
The sophomore hit .403 with 16 doubles, two triples and 14 blasts. She also stole five bases.
Hughes was named SAC Player of the Week on Feb. 26. Hughes' prodigious slugging gives her the first SAC Player of the Week honor of her career and the first for an Eagle since Shannon Smith was recognized on March 16, 2021. The Gibbs product was 5-for-13 at the plate last week with 13 RBI in a 4-0 week for the program.
The other returning starter in the infield is Hayden Dye, who shimmies to short from third base.
"Hayden is really good," Hughes said. "Her bats good, so she has to be in the lineup. She has a strong arm so she makes sense moving to shortstop."
A fearsome hitter as a freshman, Dye hit .314 for the year while starting all 53 games for C-N - the vast majority of which came at third base. Dye drove in 47 runs, the second most among freshmen in the South Atlantic Conference in 22. She had 15 doubles, three triples and six home runs. Dye had 16 multi-hit efforts, including five, three-hit games. She drove in multiple runs 15 times, highlighted by a four-RBI day against Lander (2/26). Dye matched a single-game school record when she bashed three doubles against Florida Tech (2/6).
Carmen Holt (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) has one career start at second base. The All-SAC designated player will add veteran leadership to that position.
"Carmen has proven she deserves a spot on the field," Hughes said. "She's always giving effort and is certainly capable both at the plate and in the field."
After appearing in just 10 games in her first three seasons at C-N, Holt cemented herself as an all-conference designated player. The senior hit .294 last year with seven doubles and a triple while driving in 27 runs. She had 12 multi-hit games last season, including her first three-hit day against UVA Wise (March 22) – a day in which she also drove in four runs for the first time in her career.
Eastern Connecticut State transfer and NFCA DIII All-American Brooke Matyasovsky (Orange, Conn.) will shore up third.
"She's so fast," Hughes said. "We learned that pretty quick trying to bunt against her. She's got a great bat, glove and attitude to the field."
She earned first-team NFCA DIII All-America at the At-Large-Utility/DP position and was one of 15 finalists for National Player-of-the-Year. She earned first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors after starting all 36 games played batting 3rd or 4th. She hit .450 in 120 at-bats including a 10-game hitting streak and was ECSU's team leader in home runs (15), RBIs (48), total bases (121), and slugging percentage (.933).
Carson-Newman will also count on freshmen Abbi Martin and Alaina Smith.
"Abbi is quick with her feat and her hands," Hughes said. "She's also got a good bat for being smaller. Alaina can play just about anywhere and has such a strong go-getter attitude. I love being around both of them."
A career .414 batter in her high school career, Martin is Etowah's all-time leader in hits and at-bats. She earned first team all-state honors in her junior year and was a three-time sportswriters first team selection for Etowah County. She made the Gadsden Messenger's first team three times. In her CoVID-shortened sophomore season, she led her team in hits, batting average, on-base percentage, triples and fielding percentage. In 2018, she reset Etowah's single-season record for stolen bases. She was a High School Heisman award winner in 2021. A basketball player and volleyball player, Martin earned all-area honors for both those sports in 2021, 2020 and 2019. She helped Etowah to a third place finish at the state tournament in 2021 as well as a 4A area championship that year.
Smith hit .500 in high school with 32 RBI and a .713 on-base percentage. She was a two-time all-district selection and earned all-stte and all-tournament honors as a junior.
Carson-Newman softball's position previews continue Friday with the outfield.
