Spartans Softball Signs Chewning To End '09 Recruiting Class
6/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
June 11, 2008
Spartanburg, S.C. - After winning a share of the A-Sun regular season championship in its first season in the conference and NCAA Division I, USC Upstate head softball coach Chris Hawkins hit the road in recruiting with the hopes of keeping the Spartans in a position to battle for future championships. Hawkins wrapped up recruiting for the 2009 season by signing Crislyn Chewning to a national letter of intent.
Chewning becomes the 10th player to sign with the Spartans for the upcoming season. Hawkins signed five student-athletes during the fall early signing period and five this spring.
"Crislyn is a very good softball player and a strong student in the classroom," said Hawkins. "We had a very good year this year performing on the field by winning a conference championship and performing in the classroom with 16 of our players earning A-Sun All-Academic honors. Crislyn will be a strong addition to both facets of our program and I feel fortunate to be able to get a player of her caliber."
Chewning comes to Upstate after spending the first two years of her collegiate career as an outfielder for the College of Siskiyous in Northern California. Siskiyous was the top ranked junior college program in California and advanced to the semifinals of the winner's bracket in the state finals in May. She had a tremendous season in 2008, earning North Player of the Year in California. She finished the regular season with a .452 batting average to lead the Eagles to a 49-3 record and the Golden Valley Conference championship. She also tallied 14 doubles, six triples and four home runs with 30 RBIs and 60 runs scored. She ranked fourth in the state with 75 hits and 60 runs. She earned NFCA JC All-America honors as well as being named all-state, all-conference and the MVP of the Golden Valley Conference. She was also named Siskiyous' Athlete of the Year.
Chewning had a solid season as a freshman in 2007. She hit .364 with 39 RBIs, seven doubles and two home runs en route to being named all-conference. She ranked fifth in the state with 59 runs scored, fourth with nine triples and third with 30 walks. She helped lead Siskiyous to a 48-4 record, the Golden Valley Conference championship and an appearance in the state tournament as the No. 2 ranked junior college team in Northern California.
A native of Willamina Ore., Chewning was a standout player on the Willamina High School team for four years. She was an all-state and all-conference selection as a senior, leading the team to the second round of the state playoffs. She hit .563 with an .862 slugging percentage and a .563 on base percentage her senior year. She also collected 29 hits with nine doubles, four triples and three home runs. She drove in 20 runs and stole 35 bases. She was highly decorated at her school, earning Willamina Athlete of the Year and Female Student of the Year honors her senior year. In addition to softball, she was a four-year letterwinner in basketball and volleyball.
Chewning joins Sydney Bartha (Fr., OF, Vaughn, Ontario), Emily Campbell (Fr., C, Easley, S.C.), Erin Campbell (Fr., OF, Easley, S.C.), Monica Hall (Jr., Ceres, Calif.), Amber Hamilton (Fr., P, Atlanta, Ga.), Janna Lewis (Fr., SS, Charlotte, N.C.), Katelyn Molkenthin (Fr., OF, Valrico, Fla.), Dani Taylor (Fr., UTL, Simpsonville, S.C.) and Rebecca Williams (Fr., C, Simpsonville, S.C.) as signees for the upcoming season.
