Troy University Athletics
Troy Softball Signs Three for 2010
12/1/2008 6:00:00 AM | Softball
TROY ? With the 2009 season just a few short months away, the Troy Trojans Softball program is already laying the groundwork for their 2010 season.
The Trojans signed three players during the early signing period, head coach Melanie Davis announced on Monday.
Courtney Cherry (Dothan, Ala.), Josie Cox (Bessemer, Ala.) and Callie Rawlinson (Auburn, Ala.) all inked with the Trojans and will enroll for the 2009-10 school year.
"I am extremely excited about the three members that make up our most recent signing class because they are not only from Alabama, but from our region of the state. The three possess tremendous athletic ability and are hard workers both on the field and in the class room. Additionally, they each come from great families,” head coach Melanie Davis said. “When you have each of those components you can't help but be excited about what they bring to the future of a program. There is no doubt in my mind and in each athlete's mind that Troy University was the perfect fit for them.”
A local talent, Courtney Cherry comes to Troy by way of Rehobeth High School, where she has been the starting shortstop since her eighth grade year. She has twice been named the Wiregrass Athletic Conference Player of the Year (2007 and 2008) and was named to the Dothan Eagle Super 12 in 2006 and 2008.
She has been recognized as an all-state performer for the last three seasons and was named the Super 12 Player of the Year in 2007.
In the last three years at Rehobeth, Cherry has hit a tepid .455 (181-of-398) with 22 homers, while also stealing 102 bases. As a junior, she hit .392 (71-of-181) with eight homers, 54 runs batted in and 38 stolen bases. But she also posted 44 singles, 16 doubles and three triples.
She helped Rehobeth to a 110-30-1 record the last three years with two berths in the second round of sub-state and a state tournament appearance last year.
“Courtney is literally capable of playing almost every position on the field. Her offensive prowess and natural swing made her one of the most highly recruited players in Southeast Alabama in recent memory. Her passion and love for the game put her in a special category to all those who have watched her play over her career,” Davis said.
Josie Cox joins the Trojans following a solid three-year career at Oak Grove High School in Oak Grove, Ala. There she posted the highest batting average on her team the last three years with a batting average of .400 and more than 40 home runs. For her efforts she has been named All-County after each season.
Last summer with her travel team, Cox hit a blistering .434 with 11 home runs in five tournaments.
“One of the needs for this class was a catcher and we found that in Josie. She has the tools to make an excellent battery player for us and even more importantly she possesses tremendous natural power, which is obviously not something that can be taught,” Davis said.
Local of sorts, Callie Rawlinson joins the Trojans from Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn, Ala. Rawlinson was named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association AISA All-State team following her junior season in 2008 and to the AISA All-Star team.
In addition to the state honors, she was named as an All-Area performer at third base following the last two seasons and her defensive skills have earned her Lee-Scott's Golden Glove award two consecutive years.. On the travel ball side, she was a member of the ISA World Series Champs in 2006, the U16 Dirt Devils.
“Callie is an extremely versatile player which was also something we were looking for in this class. She has excellent hands and has the chance to challenge for playing time and starting time and numerous positions. She also brings the speed commodity with her to our team,” she said.
The Trojans open up their 2009 season on February 6-8 in Chattanooga, Tenn. at a tournament hosted by UT-Chattanooga.
