The 2008 Meredith College softball season was an exciting year that marked a lot of “firsts” in the program’s history. Head Coach Robert Luckadoo came to Meredith in late January from his assistant coach’s position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to become the program’s full-time head coach. Luckadoo took over a softball program that had struggled in the previous four seasons, and had not seen double-digit victories for a season since 2003. The 2008 season also marked Meredith’s entry into the nationally renowned and extremely competitive NCAA Division III USA South Athletic Conference. This is the first conference membership in the history of the college. 

Highlighting the 2008 softball season were many team and individual statistics that give a glimpse into an extremely bright future for the Meredith softball program. The team finished the season with 10 wins overall and four wins in the USA South. This season marked the first time since 2003 that the program had seen double digit victories and saw the first USA South conference win in a doubleheader split with N.C. Wesleyan.  Conference wins also included a sweep of Mary Baldwin College and split with Ferrum College to tally four USA South victories for the season. 

Offensive production, and specifically the team’s new hitting program, was a key focus upon Luckadoo’s arrival in January 2008.  After struggling offensively for the past three seasons, 2008 proved to be one of Meredith College softball’s best offensive years on record.  The 2008 team broke many statistical offensive records including the Meredith single season record for home runs (24), seven different individuals hitting home runs in a season and finishing the season ranked 40th in the nation out of 386 teams in home runs per game. Prior to this year, the team had only hit one homerun in the previous two seasons combined.

Team members continued to leave their marks on the Meredith, USA South, and NCAA record books as many individual offensive and defensive records were crushed in 2008.  Freshman Arielle Stout led the charge in rewriting both the offensive and defensive categories. Offensively, the freshman utility player tied the conference lead in home runs with nine during the regular season and 11 overall for the year. Stout finished third in the conference in slugging percentage (.770) and third in the conference in RBIs (45).  She finished the season ranked 42nd  in the nation in homeruns/game, 26th in the nation in RBIs and 60th  in the nation in slugging percentage out of nearly 6,000 NCAA Division III softball players. 

Freshman Becki Roebock led the conference in on base percentage and had a team-high batting average of .411. She also had five doubles and three triples. Amber Littesy, McKenzie Caskey and Beth Sprinkle provided offensive “pop” at the plate as well, and combined for 11 home runs, 10 doubles and one triple.  The trio also accounted for 42 of the team’s 138 RBIs for the season. Freshmen Dana Higgins and Val Sherrer combined for eight doubles, one triple, two home runs and 21 RBIs during the 2008 campaign. 

Defensively, pitcher Arielle Stout led the conference in strikeouts per game, averaging over 13Ks per game.  She also broke the USA South Conference Record for strikeouts for a single game (which stood at 16) with 17 strikeouts against Lycoming (Pa.) on March 15, 2008.  She recorded seven games with double-digit strikeouts including two games tying the previous conference record with 16 strikeouts, and two with 15 strikeouts.  Stout was named either rookie of the week or rookie pitcher of the week three different times during the season.  Both Roebock and Stout were named to USA South All-Conference teams for their 2008 offensive and defensive performances.

The 2009 Avenging Angels look poised to continue their assault on the USA South Conference record books, returning six starters from last season’s squad and adding recruits at several key positions, including pitcher and catcher. Taking the circle this year for the Angels will be freshman standout Jordan Smith. This Fuquay-Varina, N.C. native is expected to make an immediate positive impact to the team’s pitching staff, after leading her high school team to the fourth round of the NCHSAA  4A playoffs in 2008.  Returners to the Avenging Angels pitching staff are sophomores Arielle Stout, Val Sherrer and Becki Roebock.  All three now have a full season of collegiate pitching experience under their belts and are expected to make significant contributions in the circle this season. 

Completing the battery for the team this year, the Avenging Angels are expected to start with a new face behind the plate this season.  Freshman Patricia Davis is expected to see time both behind the plate and in the field.  Davis brings a tremendous amount of catching experience to the Angels’ squad as an excellent starting catcher for East Carteret High School.  Davis is sure to also add extra homerun power to the Angels already strong offensive lineup, after hitting four round trippers in her senior high school season.

The Angels have great depth and experience in the outfield this season. Senior Toni Tricarico, three year starter and captain for the team, is expected to anchor q position in the grass for the team this season. Tricarico has the experience, leadership abilities and softball skills to take this young Avenging Angel team the distance in 2009.  Coach Luckadoo knows that strong leadership from the upper classmen and returners is extremely important at the collegiate level of play. 

“With a young team like we will be putting on the field this season, leadership from our upper classmen will be one of the keys to our success in 2009,” said Luckadoo.

New additions to the outfield include Duplin County native, freshmen Logan Hill, and sophomore Kate Moye from Pamlico County.  Freshman Olivia Izze is expected to contibute as a utility player and provide depth at catcher.

Returning to the Avenging Angels’ infield are sophomore short stop Dana Higgins, sophomore third base Val Sherrer and sophomore first base Becki Roebock.  Sophomore Arielle Stout is expected to see time at second base when not in the circle.  Freshman recruit Jordan Zachmeyer, a Raleigh, N.C. native, and true utility player for the Angels this year, will see time at second and third base as Sherrer and Stout rotate into the circle in relief.  The offensive combination of the sophomore infield of Roebock, Stout, Sherrer and Higgins last year combined for 20 doubles, six triples, 13 homeruns and 76 RBIs.  The foursome is expected to continue right where they left off in the upcoming 2009 season.

“I am extremely excited about our team in 2009.  We have an outstanding group of returners from last season and have added talented recruits at several key positions who will be able to step in and contribute immediately,” said Luckadoo. “This group of student athletes is the hardest working team that I have ever coached. Their focus, their commitment and their dedication to our softball team and to this program’s success is incredible.  This group of players exemplifies all the positive attributes of what being a Meredith College student athlete is all about.  They make me proud to be a part of this program.”

The Avenging Angels open up their 40 game season on February 6, 2009, at home hosting NCAA Division II, Lees-McRae.