Starmount softball pitcher commits to Chowan

Boonville, NC - Starmount senior Courtney Groce, who has been the Rams’ main softball pitcher since her freshman season, has made a verbal commitment to join Chowan University’s program in 2012.

Chowan competes at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The school is located in Murfreesboro. Chowan softball is coming off a 34-19 record this past spring and advanced to the CIAA championship game.

Groce has been an integral part of Starmount’s recent run of success, which included conference tournament championships in 2009 and 2010. The Rams played in the 2010 state championship series in Raleigh, finishing fourth overall.

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Colonial Heights' Phillingane will play softball at VSU next year

Colonial Heights, VA - For four years there has been one constant on the Colonial Heights softball team - senior pitcher Savannah Phillingane. Over her career, Phillingane has grown into one of the most competitive pitchers in the Central District with her delivery and hard-nosed attitude on the mound.

Next season, the Colonials pitcher will take those talents to Virginia State where she signed on the dotted line of a National Letter of Intent Tuesday to play college softball.

"This makes two players [Caitlin Underhill] in two years that we've seen gone on to play Division II softball, it is really exciting," said Colonial Heights coach Toni Martin. "I think it will be a good fit for her. She can do anything but I think that they might want her as a closer, but she really wants to catch."



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BSU Lady Bulldogs Win Two at Virginia Union 15-1 and 13-5

Senior Catcher, Danielle McClay

RICHMOND, Va. - The Bowie State University Lady Bulldogs won their sixth straight game, improved its season record to 20-16, 14-4 CIAA and swept Virginia Union University 15-1 and 13-5.

In the first game, Virginia Union's Valeria Cantu gave up just three earned runs and the Lady Panthers committed nine errors.

Bowie State rocked VUU pitching for 14 hits in the opener with sophomore Justine Smith (Silver Spring, MD, James Hurbert Blake) leading the Lady Bulldogs with three hits in four plate appearances. Four other BSU players had at least two hits in the first game of the doubleheader.

Freshmen Mariela Hernandez (Del Rio, TX, Los Fresnos) and Renelle Traylor (Hayward, CA, San Lorenzo) shared Bowie State pitching responsibilities going three and two innings respectively. Hernandez improved her season record to 7-5, striking out five.

In the night-cap, VUU's Linnette Johnson also gave up just three earned runs, but the Lady Panthers committed 10 errors.

Freshman Adria Lewis (Cumberland, MD, Fort Hill) tallied two hits in game two and five other BSU players recorded one hit each. Traylor led Bowie State with three RBI in the final game to go along with her fourth homerun of the season. Senior Danielle McClay (Silver Spring, MD, Montgomery Blair) also went deep in the nightcap, marking her fifth homer of the year.

Bowie State will close out the regular season with a non-conference makeup doubleheader, hosting Millersville (Pa.) University at 2 pm., April 19.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE GAME 2 BOX SCORE

By Bowie State Sports Information
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Fayetteville State Broncos sign future stars

Football star makes decision to play for FSU ‎

Manteo, N.C. -- Manteo High School's C. J. Bailey accepted a full scholarship to Fayetteville State University and will play football for the school next year. “I was so excited when I got the news,” Bailey said. “I told my parents, and my mom freaked out and started kissing me and my dad was so proud.” Bailey has played football for the Redskins for four years. As a freshman, he played on the JV team. However, he has been on the varsity team for the past three years. “Football has [always] been my favorite sport,” Bailey said. “I really like scoring touchdowns and getting sacks. I really like the running back position too, I’ve played it for a long time and I get to score.”

“CJ has finished his career with 3,647 yards rushing, 40 touch downs, had a total of 366 tackles, 7 sacks, and 4 fumble recoveries. He has also been All-Conference for the past 2 years and was MVP for the past 2 years. CJ was the Four Rivers conference player of the year this year. All of these things are statistics that show he can play at that level. I think the most important thing is that he is just an all around good kid and a great leader,” head football coach Eddie Twyne said.
Bailey cites dedication and determination as two of the main reasons for how he go to where he is today. “I had to work hard and commit myself to get to the point that I am at,” Bailey said. While attending FSU, Bailey plans pursue a degree in physical education.

During the 2009 season, the 5-11/205 running back had 184 carries for 2,002 yards and 25 touchdowns--a whooping 10.88 yards per carry average. C.J. longest run was 94 yards. On defense, playing at line backer position, C.J. had 55 solo tackles, assisted on 82 others for a 137 season total. On special teams, Bailey averaged 62.8 years on five returns, and had one return of 95 yards. Too say the least, this fellow can play football! CJ lead Manteo High School in 2009 to a 12-1 season record and the second round of the Class 1-A state playoffs.

Tiffany Locklear Signs with Broncos!

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PEMBROKE, N.C. - When it came down for Purnell Swett's High School Tiffany Locklear to chose a college to continue her softball career at, she wanted to find one that felt like a family. Locklear believes she found what she was looking for when she signed a letter of intent to attend Fayetteville State. "They have a good softball program and the coach Miguel Justiniano is easy to get along with," said Locklear. "It felt not only like a softball team, but a family. It's not too far down the road so my family can come support me and watch most of my home games."

Besides the campus' proximity to her home, Locklear was looking for an opportunity to play as a freshman. "There's an opportunity to play there at shortstop," Locklear said. "The coach came to a couple of my games and has assigned me to shortstop. It's right there for me." The senior is currently hitting .424 with a double and 13 runs batted in for the Rams, who are the No. 3 seed out of the Southeastern Conference. Locklear also plays with the Dixie Diamondbacks, a traveling softball team. She hit .408 last summer and helped the team to finish first in four of the eight tournaments the team played in, as well as a third place finish in the World Fastpitch Connection A Class World Series.

Purnell Swett coach James Graves said Locklear has been a pleasure to coach because she puts the team above her personal achievements.

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