Spartan Softball Signees Solid This Spring
7/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
July 3, 2009
Spartanburg, S.C. - USC Upstate head softball coach Chris Hawkins has stated that he feels good about the incoming softball players he signed in 2008-09, believing all eight can contribute to the success of the Spartan program in the coming years. While looking at the individual accolades the group achieved this past spring and early summer, Hawkins may be justified in his thinking.
Upstate signed eight student-athletes to become Spartans in the fall, including junior college transfers Haley Sheehan (Graniteville, S.C.) and Alyssa Starkey (Inman, S.C.) from Spartanburg Methodist and Cheyanna Ohlrich (North Bend, Ore.) and Katie Zauner (Canby, Ore.) from the College of Siskiyous, as well as high school standouts Ericka Harris (Piedmont, S.C., Wren HS), Ashley McCurry (Enka, N.C., Enka HS), Blake Meredith (Post Fall, Idaho, Post Falls HS) and Alexis Yohe (Concord, N.C., Northwest Cabarrus HS).
Sheehan and Starkey led SMC to an appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament, leading the Pioneers to a ninth-place finish in May. The pair helped lead SMC to 36 wins and the No. 6 seed in the national tournament, while Sheehan hit .333 in the nationals.
Ohlrich and Zauner led Siskiyous to a No. 1 state ranking and the No. 1 seed in the California JUCO state tournament before settling for an appearance in the state semifinals. Ohlrich was named to the All-Tournament team as Siskiyous finished the season with a 45-3 record.
Harris missed her senior season after suffering a knee injury which required corrective surgery. Despite her absence, Wren advanced to the championship game of the 4A Upper State Championship before losing to eventual state champion Gaffney.
McCurry led Enka into the semifinals of the 3A state tournament in North Carolina. She garnered All-State honors and was named the Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year. She was an all-conference selection and was named all-district.
Meredith earned All-Inland Empire League honors as Post Falls' ace in the circle. She helped lead the Torjans into the Region 5 tournament, just missing a spot in the state tournament.
Yohe led Northwest Cabarrus to an appearance in the 3A state tournament in North Carolina and earned All-State honors. She was named the North Piedmont Conference Player of the Year and earned all-conference honors and all-region honors from the Charlotte Observer. She finished the season with a .389 batting average and a 0.93 ERA with 154 strikeouts.
