Carson-Newman Softball Position Previews: The Outfield

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Posted: Jan 27, 2023

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the second in a three-part series breaking down Carson-Newman softball's positions for the 2023 season. This feature works through the outfield with assistance from second-team All-SAC centerfielder SieAnna Cameron.

Gone is all-region outfielder Natalie Corbin, but Carson-Newman still manages to chuck out an outfield that has three players who have earned all-league honors in Cameron, Mary Vandergriff and ETSU transfer Lilly Holston.

Cameron was an all-region selection after a season that has been hampered by a wrist injury which caused her to miss two and a half weeks of action. Even with that, Cameron had the fifth-highest batting average in the league, hitting .401 with 55 hits. She also stroked eight doubles and legged out five triples.

"I'm focused on the little things," Cameron said. "I want to know where the ball goes when I get a specific pitch and have an understanding of how to approach the specific pitches I'm going to see this season."

Carson-Newman was 21-1 last year when Cameron scores a run. She hit safely in 16 consecutive games this season to match the fifth-longest hitting streak in program history. All told she has 14 multi-hit efforts and seven multi-RBI games.

Cameron will take over for Corbin in centerfield while Vandergriff and Holston anchor the corners of the outfield.

"I really think we work well together," Cameron said. "Mary is always going to bring a good attitude. Lilly has a bit of an extra drive because she is new. We all three have good arms and have been making sure where we put the ball is where it needs to be for our catchers and infielders. We work together well."

In SAC matchups, Vandergriff hit .391 with six doubles and three home runs, including a walk-off blast against Mars Hill. The sophomore from Soddy Daisy, Tenn. set a career high against Lenoir-Rhyne when she produced her first three-hit day. She also drove in a season-best three runs against the 23rd-ranked Bears. Overall, Vandergriff hit .316 with 11 two-base hits and three home runs. She had a team-leading seven sacrifice bunts.

In 2021, Holton was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team when she appeared and started in 34 games on the season. The Powell product led the Bucs in batting average (.347), slugging percentage (.505) and on-base percentage (.449) and finished the year with 33 hits and 18 runs, while also finishing second on the squad in RBIs with 19. She had 10 extra-base hits, including seven doubles and two long balls.

Behind that trio, Carson-Newman has loads of veteran experience between Syerra Rogers, Mari Robbins and Madison Levi.

"They are all great and make us work harder because they are all pushing for our spots," Cameron said. "That makes our practices great. We know we have to earn our spots because of their work."

Carson-Newman also adds in freshman Brooke Taylor to the mix, a two-sport star at Hardin Valley Academy.

Taylor ran track and also played softball. She is a 13-time all-state performer on the track, with laurels in the long jump. triple jump, 60 meters, 4x100 relay and 4x200 relay. On the softball diamond, she was a two-time all-state and all-district selection. As a junior, she hit .532 with 26 RBI and 46 runs scored to go with 15 stolen bases and 59 hits. She followed that up as a senior batting .471 with 33 hits and 12 RBI.

"Brooke Taylor is a freshman from Hardin Valley," Cameron said. "She's quick and has a good arm. I really want to take her under my wing and teach her up a little bit as a centerfielder."

Carson-Newman softball's position previews continue Sunday with the pitchers and catchers.