Troy University Athletics
Trojans Set to Open Fall Season
9/22/2009 9:15:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala. - As the fall exhibition season falls upon the Troy softball team, nine newcomers will be looking to make an impact for the Trojans' 2010 season. Those nine newcomers, four of them true freshmen, will mix with 11 returners when the Trojans play their first fall game on Wednesday.
"The fall season is very important for us," said head coach Melanie Davis, "especially this year with all of the new faces that we have."
"There is nothing like getting an opportunity to compete against someone else," Davis said, "It also gives us an opportunity to bring some prospects from these junior colleges onto campus."
Here is a brief look at the accomplishments of the new Trojans to this point in their careers.
Kelsey Garner pitched and played first base for two years under coach Maria Winn at Western Nebraska Community College. She was named a first-team All-American, All-District, All-Region as a freshman. Garner was named first-team All-District and All-Region as a sophomore, going 21-8 with 239 K's and a 2.06 ERA during. During her sophomore season, she also batted .352 with eight home runs.
Belinda White attended the Walford School in Adelaide, Australia.
Kortney Cooper played one season under coach Brenda Pena at Pensacola Junior College and also played one year under coach Gene Dews at Wallace Community College. Cooper hit .435 at Wallace CC while earning Academic All-American honors.
She lettered for three years at Dothan High School and for one year at Northview High School. She helped lead her team to the state playoffs during all four years and helped Dothan to the Area Championship in '04-'05.
Heather Marlowe played last season at Southern Union State Community College under coach Brian Pittman where she hit .354 with 20 RBI for the Bison and was an All-League selection. Marlowe was also named second-team All-Central Region.
Marlowe lettered for four years at Kinston High School under coach Janie Wiggins. She led the Bulldogs to a 1A State Championship in 2007 and was a first-team All-State selection as a junior.
Haley Hutchins played one season at Central Alabama CC under coach Greg Shivers where she was a first-team All-District and All-Region pitcher for the Trojans. Hutchins threw 174.1 innings, going 20-5 with 201 strikeouts and just 30 walks, posting a 1.40 ERA. She struck out 17 batters in one game.
She has also lettered for four years at Brookwood High School under coach Bradley Atchenson. She helped lead the Panthers to Area Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008. She holds the school career strikeouts record.
Marcy Sartain played shortstop at Oakman High School under coaches Jeremy Brown and Chris Cummings. She helped lead the Wildcats to a 2A State Championship as a sophomore and a state runner-up as a senior. Sartain was named first-team All-State, All-Area and All-Metro as a senior and as a sophomore. She was honorable mention All-State, first-team All-Area and All-Metro as a junior. She hit .444 with 38 RBI and 30 stolen bases as a senior.
Callie Rawlinson lettered for four years at Lee-Scott Academy under coaches Kevin Eason and Chris George. She played shortstop and third base for the Warriors and helped lead them to a state runner-up as a senior. She was named honorable mention All-State as a junior and senior and first-team All-Area as a senior. As a senior, she hit .393 with 18 RBI and 26 stolen bases. Rawlinson was named to the AISA All-Star Team as a junior and senior and AISA Rookie of the Year as a freshman. She was also a member of the Auburn Dirt Devils that won the 2007 ISA 16U World Series.
Josie Cox lettered for four years at Oak Grove High School where she helped lead the Tigers to the state playoffs in all four years. Cox was a first-team All-State selection at catcher as a senior and first-team All-Metro selection as a designated hitter her senior year. She hit .600 with 42 RBI as a senior and was named ASWA Class 4A Hitter of the Year and Birmingham News West Alabama Hitter of the Year.
Courtney Cherry lettered for four years at Rehobeth High School under coach Summer Chandler. She was named first-team All-State at shortstop as a senior and named second-team All-State as a DH during her junior season. Cherry led the Rebels to the playoffs during all four years, including the state finals as a junior and a senior. As a senior, Cherry hit .420 with 22 stolen bases.
"We are real excited about this year's team," said Daivs, "We have a good core of returners that will have to carry the load until the new players develop."
"The level of talent and work ethic present in these new players is excellent," said Davis, "That work ethic is going to pay off. Some of them will have to step up immediately this fall, while others will develop and make contributions this spring."
Those nine players will mix with the returning Trojans for the first time in front of the home crowd when the Trojans start their fall slate of exhibition games this week. Troy will take on Wallace-Dothan on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Troy Softball Complex. The remaining fall schedule, as well as the Trojans complete roster, can be found at the link above.
