Thursday, February 11, 2010

MACON, Ga. – As the 2010 NCAA Division I Softball season approaches, the Atlantic Sun Conference takes a look at each team leading up to the start of the season. Today, the series ends in Buies Creek, N.C. with last season’s regular-season and tournament champions, Campbell.

Overview
The two-time Atlantic Sun Conference champion Campbell Camels return six starters, four pitchers and 13 of 18 letterwinners from the 2009 season. The Camels recorded an overall mark of 38-16 and an A-Sun tally of 16-4, good for a first-place finish in the league. Head coach Drew Peterson enters his ninth season with the Camels, having amassed an overall record of 268-266-1 while at Campbell. Coach Peterson earned the 2009 Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year and broke the CU career softball victory mark during the 2009 season. This season, the Camels will look to make their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. At the 2009 A-Sun Championships in DeLand, Fla., Campbell defeated league foe Mercer, 1-0 in the first championship-deciding game since 2004 decided by a single run. Last season at the Eakes Athletic Complex, the Camels tallied a home record of 11-2.

Top Returners
Reigning A-Sun Pitcher of the Year Brittany Stanley keys the Camels’ hopes for a three-peat in 2010. Stanley posted a 19-5 record with 1.79 ERA in 2009. The West Lafayette, Ind. native then went 4-0 in the conference tournament to capture the tournament MVP honors for the second time in as many seasons.

Robin Leathers looks to providing the power this season, following the graduation of Karlie Love. The top hitter joined Stanley on the 2010 Preseason All-Conference Team. Leathers hit 15 home runs in 2009 to rank second on the team and 25th nationally. The Tucson, Ariz. native also set the school class record for juniors at Campbell with her 15 home runs.

Closer Katie Woodcock also figures to play a pivotal role for the team. Woodcock tied for the national lead in saves with six and struck out 27 in 21 relief appearances with a 2.36 ERA out of the pen. The Oshawa, Ontario native also earned Academic All-Conference accolades in 2009.

Newcomers
Campbell’s softball team welcomes in newcomers Brittany Arnn, Sarah Forgacs and Sarah Ling. Arnn expects to compete for playing time as a left-handed pitcher in the rotation and at first base. Forgacs brings a speed element to the middle infield and the corner outfield positions. Ling, a natural hitter, is capable of playing the corner infield spots and in the outfield. The Camels also will welcome back catcher Amanda Cline. Cline missed last season with an injury and joined the team again in the fall.

Schedule
The schedule includes three regular-season tournaments, six games against 2009 NCAA Tournament qualifiers and a total of 26 home games at the Eakes Athletic Complex.

The Camels start the season at home this year with back-to-back non-conference doubleheaders against UNC Wilmington on Thursday and Longwood on Saturday.

CU then hits the road to participate in the Gator Invitational with five games from Feb. 19-20. East Carolina, Florida, Marshall and Kansas join Campbell in the field, held in Gainesville, Fla. Florida played for the College World Series title last season against Washington, while the rest of the field is composed of teams that regularly contend for spots in the NCAA Tournament.

Campbell continues the road trip and plays against South Carolina on Tuesday, Feb. 23, before making a stop in Charleston, S.C. to take on College of Charleston for two games on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Camels will then have a quick return home to the Eakes Athletic Complex on Tuesday, March 2 with a pair of games against St. Bonaventure, before playing in their second tournament of the season.

The LSU Tournament in Baton Rouge, La. features an impressive field with Campbell slated to take on Evansville and LSU on March 5, South Alabama and Syracuse on Saturday, March 6 and Evansville again on Sunday, March 7. Another two games at home follow with CU taking on in-state rival N.C. State in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 10. The trip for the Wolfpack marks the first since 2007.

The Camels head to the Tennessee Tournament from March 13-14 in Knoxville, Tenn. The tournament field includes Liberty, Tennessee and Tennessee Tech.

CU then returns home for two games against Hampton on Tuesday, March 16, before going on the road and playing doubleheaders against Winston Salem State (March 19) and North Carolina Central (March 20). The Camels will return home for a pair of games on Tuesday, March 23 against Charleston Southern, before beginning conference play and defense of the regular season and conference tournament title the team earned last season.

Campbell starts Atlantic Sun play on the road in Georgia with doubleheaders against Kennesaw State (March 26) and Mercer (March 27). CU continues the road swing, but gets out of league play, for a pair of games against North Carolina in Chapel Hill (March 31). The Tar Heels and Camels have locked up in postseason play in each of the last seasons.

Campbell then makes the jaunt down to the state of Florida for the second time this season with conference doubleheaders against both FGCU (April 8) and Stetson (April 10). CU returns home to play 14 of the final 16 regular season games at the Eakes Athletic Complex from April 14-May 8.

Non-conference in-state rival Elon comes visiting for a pair of games on Wednesday, April 14. The Camels host conference doubleheaders against UNF (April 16) and Jacksonville (April 17). ETSU comes to Buies Creek for two games on Thursday, April 22. Lipscomb arrives on Saturday, April 24.

The Camels briefly step out of league play and away from home with a doubleheader against Charleston Southern in Charleston, S.C. on Tuesday, April 27. CU will then finish the regular season by hosting conference double dips against Belmont (May 1) and USC Upstate (May 8).

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11 Days of Atlantic Sun Softball Schedule
Jan. 28 – Belmont
Jan. 29 – Stetson
Feb. 1 – ETSU
Feb. 2 – Kennesaw State
Feb. 3 – Jacksonville
Feb. 4 – UNF
Feb. 5 – USC Upstate
Feb. 8 – Mercer
Feb. 9 – Lipscomb
Feb. 10 – FGCU
Feb. 11 – Campbell