BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell University head softball coach Drew
Peterson recently announced the signing of nine high school
players to National-Letters-Of-Intent during the early signing
period.
The Camels signed Brittany Bruce (Lumberton,
N.C./Lumberton), Julia Callicutt (Asheboro,
N.C./Southwestern Randolph), Kailey Farmer
(Durham, N.C./Northern Durham), Stephanie Jones
(Black Mountain, N.C./Charles D. Owen), Ericka
Nesbitt (Salisbury, N.C./East Rowan), Camise
Patterson (Fuquay-Varina, N.C./Fuquay-Varina),
Casey Taylor (Lillington, N.C./Cape Fear Christian
Academy), Kerstine Womack (Broadway, N.C./Western
Harnett), Caroline Womble (Lillington,
N.C./Western Harnett), for the 2011-12 school year.
"It is a very large class with nine players coming to campus in
2011-12," explained Coach Peterson. "I feel that it is a very
athletic class with great overall speed and power. We feel that
these recruits are going to compete right away for playing time and
really go a long way to improving our team athleticism. With this
class we needed to replace an extremely successful group of young
ladies, and the core of our defense through the middle. We are also
bringing in a pitcher to add to that position. The players coming
to campus in 2011-12 are a well-rounded group with strong academic
backgrounds and excellent character. Most of all, my staff and I
will really enjoy seeing this group grow and develop during their
years at Campbell University. I really think this group will be
extremely exciting to watch, and continue to push our softball
program forward. We are very excited about the future of this
program as we set our sites on the post season and getting our team
to Oklahoma for the College World Series."
Brittany Bruce - Shortstop/Third Base - 5'6" - R/R -
Lumberton, N.C. / Lumberton
A three-year softball letterwinner for Lumberton Senior High School
through her junior season...in 2010, she was First Team All-Region,
First Team All-Southeastern Conference and won the team offensive
award...she hit .500 with 34 hits, 15 runs scored, six doubles,
five triples, 15 stolen bases and a home run...as a sophomore she
was Two Rivers First Team All-Conference, Second Team Cape Fear
All-Region...she also won the team's offensive award when she hit
.500 with 32 hits, 29 runs scored, 19 stolen bases, three triples
and seven doubles...in 2008, she put up a .450 batting average with
15 doubles, 27 hits, 22 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, three triples
and a home run...she was also named Robesonian Softball Player of
the Year and First Team Two Rivers All-Conference...during her high
school career she has also lettered in tennis, basketball and
bowling...in 2010 played ASA Nationals 18U and in 2008 played ASA
Nationals 16U...full name is Brittany Amber Bruce...born 11/5/92 in
Lumberton, N.C. ...daughter of Darrell and Heidi Bruce...has two
older siblings, Melissa and Jason...undecided on potential
major.
"Brittany is a talented infielder, and will be in the mix for
playing time right away," Coach Peterson explained. "She is
extremely quick with a strong throwing arm. She also has great
speed and is a special base runner with fantastic instincts.
Brittany has both the ability to hit for power and to bunt for a
hit. She is a focused and intense player on the field with great
enthusiasm for the game."
Julia Callicutt - Pitcher / First Base - 5'9" - R/R -
Asheboro, N.C. / Southwestern Randolph
A three-year softball letterwinner for Southwestern Randolph
through her junior season...has aided her team to 80 wins in her
first three seasons and three MPC Regular Season and Tournament
Titles...her team has finished as the state runner-up in 3A in her
freshman season, and won the North Carolina 3A State title her
sophomore and junior seasons...as a junior, she went 19-4 with 1.60
ERA, while also hitting .356...she was named All-Conference,
All-County and the 3-A Finals MVP as a junior...enters her senior
season with a career record of 28-4 in 196 innings pitched with 199
strikeouts and a 1.39 ERA...also a two-year volleyball
letterwinner... has played travel softball with the Carolina
Knockouts...full name is Julia Newman Callicutt...born 7/2/92 in
Asheboro, N.C. ...daughter of Everett Hoyt and Cynthia K.
Callicutt...has three brothers, Taylor, Trent and Tanner...intends
to major in physical therapy.
"Julia is a finesse pitcher that pitches down in the strike zone
with great movement, change of speeds and command of her
locations," Coach Peterson said. "She is and has been an extremely
successful player in high school. She has the ability to continue
to develop into a power pitcher throughout her career. She also has
a fantastic personality. We are excited to see how successful she
will become during her time at Campbell."
Kailey Farmer - Outfield - 5'9" - R/R - Durham, N.C. /
North Durham
A three-year softball letterwinner for Northern Durham High School
through her junior season...as a junior she led her high school to
the PAC-6 Softball Conference Championship...named the Pac 6
Conference's Player of the Year last season when she hit .532, 10
doubles, three triples, seven home runs, an on-base percentage of
.706, a slugging percentage of 1.151, 38 RBIs and 24 walks...also
named all-conference, all-district and all-state as a junior...set
seven Northern Durham single season offensive records...selected
for the Battle of the Border All-Star Showcase and won the
showcase's home run title...as a sophomore was also an
all-conference, all-district and all-state selection...earned her
high school's MVP award after hitting .471 with 12 doubles, two
triples and three home runs...a Queen of the Diamonds South
Participant...the Mighty Casey Home Run Champion...was PAC 6
All-Conference Honorable Mention as a freshman when she hit
.373...also has been a member of the school's swim team and
letterwinner in each of her four seasons in high school...selected
as team's Most Valuable Swimmer as a junior...also lettered in
volleyball and was named all-conference as a senior... played
travel softball for the N.C. Lady Blues Elite...full name is Kailey
Farmer...born in Durham, N.C. ...daughter of John and Vicki
Farmer...has an older brother, Craig...intends to major in
communications.
"Kailey is a strong, explosive athlete," Coach Peterson stated. "I
anticipate her competing right away for playing time in right
field. Kailey has "scary" power at the plate, and has become a
tremendous ballplayer considering the relatively short amount of
time that she has been playing the game. She has terrific
athleticism and is a quick learner. Kailey has "game changer"
potential and I believe will surprise many when she arrives with
her productivity."
Stephanie Jones - Shortstop / Outfield - 5'4" - R/R - Black
Mountain, N.C. / Charles D. Owen
A three-year letterwinner for Charles D. Owen High School through
her junior season...as a junior was named the Offensive Player and
Western Highlands Conference (WHC) Player of the Year...she also
took home District 8 2A Player of the Year honors and was the 2A
All-State Player of the Year...also named First Team All-Conference
as shortstop...enters her senior season with 17 career home runs
(school-record) and a career batting average 0f .600 (highest in
school history)...in her first three years she has only struck out
a total of 12 times in 267 at bats with 138 hits, 85 RBIs, 88 runs
scored and 31 doubles...in 2009 she was named the District 8 2A
Player of the Year, WHC Player of the Year, 2A All-State Player,
was a member of the All-WHC Softball Team and named Offensive
Player of the Year...in 2008 she was an All-District Player, 2A WHC
Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, a member of the
All-WNC Softball Team...led her team to the State Final Four as
junior and three WHC Championships in her first three
seasons...also lettered in volleyball and basketball...as a
volleyball player she was an All-WHC Player, earned an MVP award
and was 2A State Team Honorable Mention...as a basketball player
was an All-WHC Player...she earned her school's Female Athlete of
the Year Award as both a freshman and junior...played travel
softball for the Carolina Cardinals...full name is Stephanie Leigh
Jones...born 6/24/93 in Asheville, N.C. ...daughter of Steve and
Debbie Jones...has an older brother, Justin...intends to major in
athletic training.
"Stephanie is an outstanding five-tool softball athlete who will
compete both as a shortstop and in the outfield," Coach Peterson
said. "She is simply one of the best hitters coming out of high
school that I have had a chance to recruit, and we feel blessed
that she has chosen to be a part of our softball family. She is a
right-handed power hitter with great bat control, pitch selection,
fantastic speed and is an intense competitor."
Erika Nesbitt - Shortstop - 5'10" - L/R - Salisbury, N.C. /
East Rowan
A three-year softball letterwinner for East Rowan High School
through her junior season...has been her school's offensive MVP in
each of her first three seasons...named Player of the Year as
junior...all-county, all-conference and all-state in each of her
three years...as junior hit .585 with 44 runs scored and 36 stolen
bases...also lettered in basketball...played travel softball with
the Carolina Attitude and has been with them since she was 11 years
old...full name is Ericka Michelle Nesbitt...born on 4/7/1993 in
Salisbury, N.C. ...daughter of Rick Nesbitt and Deb Tomei...has two
younger siblings, Feliz and William Nesbitt...intends to major in
chemistry.
"Erika is a game-stopping slapper, with unexpected power," Peterson
stated. "She is a fabulous and complete shortstop with great
speed, agility, quickness and an incredible throwing arm. She is
going to be an explosive player on both offense and defense, and I
predict that CU fans will be witness to many jaw dropping plays
during Ericka's career."
Camise Patterson - Outfield - 5'3" - R/R - Fuquay-Varina,
N.C. / Fuquay-Varina
A three-year softball letterwinner for Fuquay-Varina High School
through her junior season...a two-time Tri-Nine/Eight
All-Conference Selection...aided team to 2009 Conference and East
Regional Championship...was the first freshman in school history to
hit a home run for the varsity...scored 27 runs and swiped 18 bases
in 2009...also lettered in basketball...as a sophomore was named
"Offensive Player of the Year" and all-conference...as a freshman
was named "Most Improved"...played travel softball for Triangle
Lightning...full name is Camise Angeline Patterson...born 11/6/92
in Raleigh, N.C. ...daughter of Dwayne and Denise Patterson...has a
younger sister, Candace...intends to major in biology, athletic
training or law.
"Camise is a great athlete that will be the mix for immediate
playing time in the outfield," Coach Peterson said. "She is another
five-tool softball athlete, and explosively powerful for her size.
She also has a strong throwing arm and runs well. She can hit for
power, but is also capable of bunting for a hit from the right
side."
Casey Taylor - First Base - 5'8" - R/R - Lillington, N.C. /
Cape Fear Christian Academy
A three-year softball letterwinner for Cape Fear Christian Academy
through her junior season...has aided team to 42-game winning
streak entering her senior season...her team won the NCISSA State
Championship her Sophomore and Junior seasons...has been an
all-conference selection in each of her last two years...was
All-State as freshman...also lettered in basketball...has played
travel softball for the Cape Fear Storm...the Storm were the 2010
ASA NC State Runners-up for 18U...in the fall of 2009 the Purple
went 19-3...the team won the NSA/NSR Early Fall Showcase in 2008,
placed second at the Pony Nationals in 2008, won the 2008 ASA North
Carolina State Tournament and the USSSA World Series (12U)...her
cousin, Olivia
Scarborough, is a pitcher on Campbell's softball team...full
name is Casey Lynn Taylor...born 1/26/93 in Cary, N.C. ...daughter
of Marty and Barbie Taylor...has a twin sister, Ragan...intends to
major in kinesiology.
"Casey is a right-handed hitting first baseman that has a lot of
power potential and is a "slick" fielder." Coach Peterson
explained. "She is an intelligent player and a true student of the
game as well. She will be a great addition to our team."
Kerstine Womack - Outfield/ Catcher - 5'1" - L/R -
Broadway, N.C. / Western Harnett
A
three-year softball letterwinner for Western Harnett through her
junior season...as a junior aided her team to the conference
championship...a three-time all-conference selection...has also
been all-district and all-state in each of her first three
seasons...named team MVP as a sophomore and co-MVP as a
freshman...hit .440 with 39 runs scored, 26 RBIs, 26 stolen bases,
a .480 on-base percentage and a .654 slugging percentage as a
junior...also committed just two errors and fielded at a .974
clip...as a sophomore in 2009, she hit .365 with 14 runs, six RBIs,
11 stolen bases, .979 fielding percentage and a .519 slugging
percentage...a four-year volleyball letterwinner, who earned the
Coaches' Award, Hustle Award and All-Conference during her
career...also a four-year basketball player that earned Coaches'
Award twice...played travel softball for the original Cape Fear
Storm (White)...her club team finished 16thnationally
among 300 teams in 2008 at the 14U Pony Nationals...high school
teammate of fellow recruit Caroline Womble...full name is Beatrice
Kerstine Womack...born in Sanford, N.C. ...daughter of Buck and
Kimberly Womack, who are both Campbell graduates...has a younger
sister, Tess...her great-grandfather, Duncan Wilson, played
football at Campbell in the 1930's...intends to major in elementary
education.
"Kerstine is a very quick slapper who will play primarily in the
outfield," Coach Peterson said. "She possesses great speed,
fantastic base running instincts and is a very competitive young
lady. We are thrilled that she has chosen to be a part of our
softball family, and believe she will contribute as a true "spark
plug" for our roster."
Caroline Womble - Second Base/Shortstop - 5'5"- L/R -
Lillington, N.C. / Western Harnett
A three-year softball letterwinner for Western Harnett through her
junior season...as a junior aided her team to a conference
championship...a three-time Cape Fear Valley All-Conference
selection...has also been an all-region and all-state selection in
each of the last three years...was named the 3A Co-Player of the
Year in 2010...batted .627 as a junior and fielded at a .992
clip...has a career batting average of .495...also lettered in
basketball...as a junior was an all-conference selection, sophomore
year earned title of "Best Defensive Player", as a freshman was
named "Rookie of the Year"... has played travel softball with the
Cape Fear Storm since she was eight years old...high school
teammate of fellow recruit Kerstine Womack...full name is Caroline
Brook Womble...born 10/21/92 in Wake County, N.C. ...daughter of
Thomas and Diane Womble...has a younger sibling,
Millicent...intends to major in business administration.
"Caroline is the third slapper in our recruiting class, but is
truly a "triple threat" slapper," Coach Peterson stated. "She is an
intense second baseman and a great communicator. Caroline is the
kind of kid who wants the ball hit to her with the game on the
line. She is also a fantastic leader, with the rare ability to
challenge teammates while still maintaining their respect."
