North Carolina State University Athletics
Softball Adds Five for 2011
12/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State softball head coach Lisa Navas announced today the signing of five student-athletes to her program in time for the 2010-11 school year. Kayla Cox, Albernice Drayton, Chelsea Hartsell, Leah Jones and Chelsea Tate will all join the Wolfpack as true freshmen next fall.
“I’m so excited to add these student-athletes to our program,” said Navas. "Coach Gunther did a great job establishing this class in a short period of time.”
A senior at East Bay High school under head coach Glenn Rodriguez, Cox was named the 2009 Hillsborough County Pitcher of the Year by the St. Petersburg Times after leading the Indians to a quarterfinal berth in the 6A state playoffs. As a junior she fanned 267 batters total, including 10 or more on 16 occasions. A native of Riverview, Fla., Cox also racked up a season-best 31 K’s in a 13-inning contest and was named third-team all-state for class 6A. Cox also plays with Team Florida Gold, which produced current Wolfpack catcher and 2008 ACC Rookie of the Year Alyssa Allbritten.
“Kayla is a great pitcher and will be a welcomed addition to our staff,” said Navas. “She will contribute for us immediately and help fill the void that Lindsay Campana will leave.”
Drayton, who hails from Aurora, Colo., competes for Dick Horman at Cherokee Trail High School and Joe Lembeck with the Colorado Styxx club program. Spending time at both center field and first base, she hit .469 and slugged .828 as a junior with 21 RBIs, seven doubles, two triples, four home runs and eight stolen bases. Drayton, a highly-touted track and field competitor, has racked up numerous awards including first-team all-conference, honorable mention all-state, All-Skyline Conference, and Aurora Sentinel All-City Team.
“Albernice is one of the top prep outfielders in Colorado,” said Navas. “She has outstanding speed, will add depth to a thin outfielder corps, and should provide a bat for the top of the lineup.”
Hartsell will head east from Midland, N.C., to join the Pack. Playing at Central Cabarrus for head coach Doug Buckwell and the Lady Lightning Gold club team under John Corn, she has spent time at catcher, third base and left field. This past season Hartsell was named MECA 4A All-Conference for the third time. She also helped lead Central Cabarrus to back-to-back conference titles in 2007 and 2008. Next season she will be one of three Central Cabarrus alums on the roster alongside teammates Morgan Peeler and Bethaney Wells, marking the fourth Wolfpacker in program history to have been coached by top-flight N.C. prep coach Monte Sherrill.
“Hartsell will serve as a catcher for us,” said Navas. “She has a great knowledge of the game and gives us great defense. Chelsea is a smart kid and we expect her to continue the tradition of success that we’ve enjoyed from players coming out of Central Cabarrus.”
Jones, out of Stedman, N.C., played shortstop under head coach Jeff McPhail for both Cape Fear High School and the Carolina Wildcats. Last year she led Cumberland County in batting (.494) and doubles (16), while finishing second in RBIs with 33. Jones, named to The Fayetteville Observer’s All-Cape Fear team, helped led her squad to a conference title and the sectional round of 4A state playoffs as a junior. Named all-conference all four years, she was named all-state, all-district and all-region last year.
“Leah is a great hitter,” said Navas. “She plays outstanding first base and will provide us with much-needed depth. She’s a tough competitor that reminds me a lot of former Wolfpacker Shanna Smith.”
A Chandler, Ariz., native, Tate is the first student-athlete from Perry High School to ever sign with a Division I softball program. Aside from playing under head coach Allison Robinson, she has also competed with the Orange County Bat Busters and the Arizona Hotshots Gold on the travel ball circuit. Tate spent her first three years of prep ball at Mission Viejo High School as a starting shortstop, helping her club to league titles in 2007 and 2008, as well as a runner-up finish in 2009. In addition to playing short she can also contribute behind the plate.
“Tate provides us with so much in several different facets of the game with her ability to serve as a catcher, shortstop and in the outfield,” said Navas. “She is a true student of the game.”
NC State softball will begin the 2010 season Feb. 12-14 at the FIU Combat Classic in Miami, Fla.
“I’m so excited to add these student-athletes to our program,” said Navas. "Coach Gunther did a great job establishing this class in a short period of time.”
A senior at East Bay High school under head coach Glenn Rodriguez, Cox was named the 2009 Hillsborough County Pitcher of the Year by the St. Petersburg Times after leading the Indians to a quarterfinal berth in the 6A state playoffs. As a junior she fanned 267 batters total, including 10 or more on 16 occasions. A native of Riverview, Fla., Cox also racked up a season-best 31 K’s in a 13-inning contest and was named third-team all-state for class 6A. Cox also plays with Team Florida Gold, which produced current Wolfpack catcher and 2008 ACC Rookie of the Year Alyssa Allbritten.
“Kayla is a great pitcher and will be a welcomed addition to our staff,” said Navas. “She will contribute for us immediately and help fill the void that Lindsay Campana will leave.”
Drayton, who hails from Aurora, Colo., competes for Dick Horman at Cherokee Trail High School and Joe Lembeck with the Colorado Styxx club program. Spending time at both center field and first base, she hit .469 and slugged .828 as a junior with 21 RBIs, seven doubles, two triples, four home runs and eight stolen bases. Drayton, a highly-touted track and field competitor, has racked up numerous awards including first-team all-conference, honorable mention all-state, All-Skyline Conference, and Aurora Sentinel All-City Team.
“Albernice is one of the top prep outfielders in Colorado,” said Navas. “She has outstanding speed, will add depth to a thin outfielder corps, and should provide a bat for the top of the lineup.”
Hartsell will head east from Midland, N.C., to join the Pack. Playing at Central Cabarrus for head coach Doug Buckwell and the Lady Lightning Gold club team under John Corn, she has spent time at catcher, third base and left field. This past season Hartsell was named MECA 4A All-Conference for the third time. She also helped lead Central Cabarrus to back-to-back conference titles in 2007 and 2008. Next season she will be one of three Central Cabarrus alums on the roster alongside teammates Morgan Peeler and Bethaney Wells, marking the fourth Wolfpacker in program history to have been coached by top-flight N.C. prep coach Monte Sherrill.
“Hartsell will serve as a catcher for us,” said Navas. “She has a great knowledge of the game and gives us great defense. Chelsea is a smart kid and we expect her to continue the tradition of success that we’ve enjoyed from players coming out of Central Cabarrus.”
Jones, out of Stedman, N.C., played shortstop under head coach Jeff McPhail for both Cape Fear High School and the Carolina Wildcats. Last year she led Cumberland County in batting (.494) and doubles (16), while finishing second in RBIs with 33. Jones, named to The Fayetteville Observer’s All-Cape Fear team, helped led her squad to a conference title and the sectional round of 4A state playoffs as a junior. Named all-conference all four years, she was named all-state, all-district and all-region last year.
“Leah is a great hitter,” said Navas. “She plays outstanding first base and will provide us with much-needed depth. She’s a tough competitor that reminds me a lot of former Wolfpacker Shanna Smith.”
A Chandler, Ariz., native, Tate is the first student-athlete from Perry High School to ever sign with a Division I softball program. Aside from playing under head coach Allison Robinson, she has also competed with the Orange County Bat Busters and the Arizona Hotshots Gold on the travel ball circuit. Tate spent her first three years of prep ball at Mission Viejo High School as a starting shortstop, helping her club to league titles in 2007 and 2008, as well as a runner-up finish in 2009. In addition to playing short she can also contribute behind the plate.
“Tate provides us with so much in several different facets of the game with her ability to serve as a catcher, shortstop and in the outfield,” said Navas. “She is a true student of the game.”
NC State softball will begin the 2010 season Feb. 12-14 at the FIU Combat Classic in Miami, Fla.
#BehindThe20 with former Pack Stars Abbie Sims and Renada Davis
Wednesday, April 24
Softball: Players Presser (2/15)
Thursday, February 15
Softball: Coach Leftwich Presser (2/15)
Thursday, February 15
EmpowHER with Aisha Weixlmann #Shorts #NCState #GoPack
Monday, October 16