Feb. 8, 2008

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Carson-Newman softball team opens its 2008 campaign this weekend as the Lady Eagles host Bluefield State (W. Va.) on Saturday afternoon at the Lady Eagles Softball Complex. First pitch is at 1 p.m.

C-N will travel to Limestone on Sunday to wrap up its opening weekend.

Head Coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield enters her 23rd season at Mossy Creek, and is seeking her 14th South Atlantic Conference title.

Hollifield is 768-238 all-time at C-N, and her Lady Eagles are seeking their fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Her squad returns the key components from a squad that finished 35-16 last year, and went 1-2 in the NCAA South Atlantic Regional.

Whitney Hickam (Knoxville, Tenn.) anchors a lineup that hit .339 as a team a season ago, and averaged 6.5 runs per game. Hickam will likely hit in the third spot in the order, where she hit .394 with 10 home runs a season ago. The senior second-baseman was named third team All-American and second team All-SAC a season ago.

Across the bag from Hickam at shortstop is sophomore Jessie Howard. The Knoxville, Tennessee native led C-N regulars with 73 hits and a .397 average last year. Howard was also one of the nation's best on the base paths, stealing 32 bases on 33 attempts.

Howard, a preseason First Team All-SAC selection, moves to short after starting every game of her freshman season at third base.

Senior Mandy Stevens (Knoxville, Tenn.) will move from shortstop back to third for her final season. She played third base her first two years. The preseason Second Team All-SAC selection batted .355 as a junior with 11 doubles and four home runs.

C-N will platoon at first base. Hollifield has three experienced players that can play the position, including junior Amber Palmer (Kennesaw, Ga.), and sophomores Sara Little (Calhoun, Ga.) and Stephanie Templeton (Ringgold, Ga.).

Palmer has caught the eye of Hollifield heading into her junior season. She has hit the ball in practice much like she did as a freshman, when she hit .318 with six home runs. Her soft hands around the bag will earn her a share of the playing time. She moves back to first after catching for most of 2007.

Little played most of her freshman year on the bag at first. She'll see less time there as a sophomore with changes behind the plate, but will be a big factor as a designated hitter. She hit .321 with nine home runs as a freshman.

Templeton is a preseason First Team All-SAC selection, only as a pitcher, not at first. She was C-N's top starter as a freshman, finishing 20-7 with as ERA of 2.66. She struck out one of every five batter she faced as a freshman, despite fighting through injury.

The Ringgold, Georgia-native will add to the thick of the Lady Eagle batting order as well. She hit .310 as a freshman with 11 doubles and six home runs.

Junior Jessie Armstrong (Olive Branch, Miss.) will give C-N a second experienced pitching option. The preseason Second-Team All-SAC selection was 15-9 a year ago.

Senior pitcher Zoe Heim (Gallatin, Tenn.) could prove to be C-N's biggest addition in the offseason. The Ohio-transfer could start the season opener for the Lady Eagles. She has shown good command and velocity in workouts, and has mixed it up well.

Freshman Brittany Linton (Marietta, Ga.) will appear mostly in relief, and should give the Lady Eagles a fourth reliable arm.

Junior Elisha Collins (Rutledge, Tenn.) will take over the catching duties for Hollifield's squad. Collins gives the Lady Eagles a big bat in the middle of the lineup, and will likely bat cleanup. The junior college-transfer is also expected to provide defensive stability behind the plate.

The outfield for Carson-Newman be as young any in the country. The Lady Eagles will start three freshmen. Emily Hutchins (Hixon, Tenn.), Jesse Kuhlman (Portage, Mich.), and

Whitney Kee (Knoxville, Tenn.) will be the first three Hollifield sends out. Hutchins will patrol centerfield, and Kuhlman and Kee will be in left and right, respectively.

Sophomore Brianne Coon (Orlando, Fla.) and freshman Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.) will give the Lady Eagles valuable depth off the bench.

The Lady Eagles will play one of the SAC's toughest schedules. C-N plays a heavy regional schedule in 2008. The Lady Eagles will face USC Aiken, North Greenville, Limestone, and Anderson. Their biggest challenge will be on Tuesday, as C-N plays hosts to Columbus State for the first time.