Campbell Softball Inks Seven Student-Athletes During Early Signing Period

BUIES CREEK, N.C.-Campbell University softball head coach Drew Peterson announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play for the Fighting Camels beginning with the 2008 season.
Mary Cline, Melissa Elks, Lizzie Goldbach, Katie Hinton, Keeli Michael, Kendal McDowell and Amanda Miller all inked with the Fighting Camels during the early signing period.
"We are really excited about this group of young ladies and are really looking forward to having them on campus next year," Peterson said. "I believe this class can best be characterized as athletic, intelligent, competitive and filled with student athletes of noble character. We sought young ladies who wanted to excel in the classroom and set a great example on campus and on the field. We were searching for players who could run and make difficult plays under stressful situations in line with our tradition of outstanding defense."
Cline, a 5-foot-7 catcher and outfielder, preps at Southern Alamance High School in Burlington, N.C. where she has been a part of three conference championship teams and a North Carolina 3A State Championship team, which came in her freshman season. She is a career .560 hitter with a .722 on-base percentage.
Last season, Cline was named All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Region and named to the All-Tournament Team of her conference tournament. Her sophomore season, she was named First Team All-Region as well as All-Conference and All-Tournament again. Playing for the varsity squad her freshman season she was named Honorable Mention All-Region.
"Mary is a terrific catcher, who can run, throws with velocity, hits for power and is athletic enough to play in the outfield," Peterson said. "She is a terrific competitor and possesses leadership skills that will prove to be a significant plus for our future."
Elks hails from The Woodlands, Texas where she attends The Woodlands High School. The 5-foot-1 outfielder hit .338 with 7 RBIs, stole 8 bases and had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage last season en route to All-District, All-Academic District and Best Defensive Outfielder honors. The Highlanders finished 29-7 last season placing second in the district and advancing to the Regional Quarterfinals. She was named Best Defensive Player following her sophomore season when her team went 28-2 and won the district.
A 5-foot-5 outfielder and catcher, Goldbach is a Chapel Hill, N.C. native where she preps at Chapel Hill High School. The Tigers finished 14-9 and tied for second in the conference last season behind her .391 batting average, 24 runs scored and perfect 1.000 field percentage. Goldbach was named All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State following last season and All-Conference following her sophomore season. In 2004, the Tigers went 22-3 winning the regular season and conference championship advancing to the state tournament for the first time in school history.
"Both Melissa and Lizzie have stellar outfield skills to go along with a speed game style on offense," Peterson said. "They will close in very quickly on balls requiring great range by a fielder, and will put significant pressure on an infield. With their left-handed slapping, gap hitting and base stealing, they will be responsible for a lot of runs in the coming years."
Hinton, a 5-foot-1 infielder and outfielder, is a College Station, Texas native where she preps at A&M Consolidated High School. She was named First Team All-District last season after helping the Tigers to their third-consecutive District 13-5A Championship, as well as the Area Championship and a trip to the regional semifinals. She hit .333 with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run, 12 RBIs and posted a .412 on-base percentage and .455 slugging percentage.
Michael joins the Fighting Camels from North Davidson High School in Lexington, N.C. where she was named All-State and All-Conference last season after helping lead the Black Knights to the North Carolina 4A State Championship Game, as well as a regular season and conference tournament championship. The 5-foot-1 Welcome, N.C. native was also awarded All-Conference honors following her sophomore season after hitting .309 with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage at second base.
"Both Katie and Keeli have explosive speed which will again create havoc with their ability to slap and hit line drives into the gap from the left side," Peterson said. "I believe our large outfield will prove to be a source for many triples (and maybe a few inside the park homers) by these ladies, as well as the other speed players from this class. Katie and Keeli will be very exciting to watch on defense with their sell out style of play."
McDowell, a 5-foot-5 Rising Sun, Md. native, preps at Rising Sun High School where she was named All-County for the second-consecutive year after hitting .421 as a junior. She was named Rookie of the Year her freshman season for the Tigers.
"Kendal played for the Maryland Legends team that won the 18U Pony Nationals this past summer, where she was the spark of their offense," Peterson said. "She is a very productive gap hitter and constant stolen base threat. She is also a game changer on defense with significant range, intelligence and a potently accurate throwing arm."
Miller, a local product from nearby Dunn, N.C., preps at Triton High School where she is a three-time All-Conference, All-Academic and Best All-Around Player honoree. The 5-foot-7 infielder is a career .485 hitter and pitched the first-ever perfect game and no-hitter in Triton history. She is a Wendy's High School Heisman nominee after throwing three career no-hitters.
"Amanda posses a fantastic glove and throwing arm, and will provide significant depth to the left side of our infield," Peterson said. "She can make all of the plays and throw from all angles. Offensively she is a potential power threat for our line up, and we look forward to seeing how she will develop with her great work ethic."
Last season, the Camels posted the most wins since 1996 and advanced to the Atlantic Sun Tournament for the first time since 1999. Head coach Drew Peterson was named Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year, while two Camels received all-conference honors.