VIDEO: Kennady Warder Interview
VIDEO: Syerra Rogers Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – With a new season on the horizon, it is time to take a look at the Carson-Newman softball position groups, starting with the pitchers and catchers.
Behind the plate, the Eagles return two experienced backstops, one of which being senior catcher Kennady Warder. The Harrodsburg, Ky. native provides a wealth of experience, producing 43 starts in 2024. Warder hit .271 last season, driving in 19 runs and mashing three home runs. The senior also added five multi-hit days, while also producing four multi-RBI games.
"I just want to help my team win some ballgames," Warder said. "I want to let them know that we are all in this together and that it is going to take every single one of us to go far this year."
While both catchers will spend time at other positions, Macauley Bailey (Cross Plains, Tenn.) will split reps with Warder behind home plate. The All-SAC second team selection in 2024 replicated her numbers from her freshman of the year campaign in 2023, leading the SAC in RBIs and becoming the only player in consecutive seasons to club 15 home runs. Bailey hit .387 at the plate with 18 multi-RBI efforts.
"We have great teamwork and great communication," Warder said. "We share a lot of experience behind the plate… It helps bringing in newbies too, so we help them build the framework on what is expected in years to come."
Freshman Katey Mathena (Blacksburg, Va.) could see time behind the plate in her first season with C-N. A powerful hitter at Blacksburg High School, Mathena hit over .350 in her career and tallied a career on-base percentage of .450. Her talents helped the Bruins to a River Ridge District championship in 2023, and she could play a role at catcher for the Eagles in 2025.
Returner Bailee Worley (Black Mountain, N.C.) provides more experience to the C-N catching room. In 2024, the junior appeared in 23 games with one start behind the plate and scored seven runs while plating one RBI.
Moving onto the pitchers, C-N's staff is led by Syerra Rogers (Graysville, Tenn.) who pitched 38.1 innings in 2023, recording 12 starts. The senior struck out 40 batters and had a standout performance on February 2nd, throwing 6.1 innings in a seven-strikeout effort at Eckerd. Rogers also spent time in the outfield, hitting .227 at the plate with three doubles and three RBIs. While recording a career-low in innings, Rogers is looking forward to a productive senior season.
"It has been about working hard in the offseason," Rogers said. "I want to be the best I can be for my team this season."
The Eagles' coaching staff made an impactful addition in the offseason, adding former pitcher Emma Frost to the staff to help with the Eagle pitchers. Going into 2025, Rogers believes that Frost has made a large impact in a short amount of time.
"I think she's just someone to look up to," Rogers said. "She's someone you can ask questions to if you don't want to ask anyone else… Anything that I need, she's always there to help."
Another returning arm is junior Riley Sikes (Powell, Tenn.), who missed the 2024 season and took a medical redshirt. In 2023, Sikes was excellent, ranking top 10 nationally in fewest walks, handing out just seven freebies. Sikes dealt 59.2 innings in 2023, producing a 6-1 mark and a 3.52 ERA. She struck out a season-high seven batters against Concord in early February.
"She's worked really hard to come back off of her redshirt year," Rogers said. "She's worked very hard to stay just as good, if not better than what she was before."
Another experienced returning arm is senior Lexi Lacy (Anaheim Hills, Calif.), who produced 21.2 innings of work in 2024, striking out six batters and recording one save in a three-inning outing in a run-rule win over Milligan in mid-April.
The Eagles bring in a couple impactful additions to the pitching staff, one being Mariyn Waterman (Oakdale, Calif.), a transfer from North Alabama. In 2024, Waterman tossed 3.2 innings, appearing in four games. Her standout performance came against Troy, where she allowed two hits and no earned runs over 1.2 innings pitched in a 7-4 win for UNA.
Lastly is freshman Lorelei Spradlin (Blacksburg, Va.), who has impressed leading up to her first season at C-N. In her time at Blacksburg High School, Spradlin tallied 341 strikeouts and a 2.30 ERA, leading to first-team all-district and second-team all-region selections in three of her four seasons with the Bruins.
Position previews will continue on Monday with a peek at the infield with the help of All-SAC infielder and catcher Macauley Bailey.
