University of the Cumberlands starts season with No. 22 ranking in the NAIA
Lead Summary
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University of the Cumberlands-
In the 2022 NAIA Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll, University of the Cumberlands is ranked #22 with 139 points, marking the first time they are in the top 25 to start a season in the fastpitch era. This is the second-highest ranking in program history, with the team earning #21 during the season in 2021.
Last season, UC finished with a 41-16 overall season record and just missing out on postseason play. They set numerous program records as a team and for individuals.
The team also had the most Mid-South Conference honorees in the program's history with eight, including five First Team with Talli Burgess, Emily Jasper, Meryn Livingston, Maddie Sickau, and Hailey Wood. The Second Team All-Conference winners were Emily Bryant, Katie Cheeseman, and Kaiti White. These eight helped make UC a strong team in 2021 and will look to make an even bigger impact as they are all returning for the 2022 campaign.
[Editor’s note: Kaiti White of Hillsboro is a former Fairfield High School standout, holding multiple Lady Lions softball records.]
Not only does Cumberlands return all eight of their All-Conference players, but they also bring in a combination of youth and experience for the upcoming year. Joining the Patriots are seven transfers and six freshmen.
Of the new faces, both Paxton Hoop and Carly Oliver come in as All-Conference recipients bringing UC's total to ten All-Conference student athletes. Hoop competed at Ave Maria for two seasons where she had a batting average in 2021 of .378 to pick up First Team All-Conference Sun honors.
Oliver had a standout 2021 season for the Georgetown Tigers, earning MSC First Team honors and was an All-Region recipient. She helped lead the Tigers to a second-place finish in the MSC Tournament for a spot in the NAIA Postseason.
UC also brought in the arm of Morgan Radford from Bradley University where she notched 28 appearances with 19 starts for 89 innings pitched, leading the Braves over her two seasons. She will be a part of a full staff of eight pitchers at UC this year.
Cumberlands is one of four Mid-South teams ranked in the top-25 poll and set at the third-highest. Campbellsville leads the way at #10, followed by 15th-ranked Freed-Hardeman and behind UC in 23rd place is Lindsey Wilson.
The Patriots open up their season in one month on Feb. 12 in Lawrenceville, Ga. for the Grizzly Open. Their first opponent is Thomas University, with first pitch slated for 12:30 p.m.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow UC on Twitter - @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameDay, Instagram - @UCPatriots, YouTube – Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.
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Last season, UC finished with a 41-16 overall season record and just missing out on postseason play. They set numerous program records as a team and for individuals.
The team also had the most Mid-South Conference honorees in the program's history with eight, including five First Team with Talli Burgess, Emily Jasper, Meryn Livingston, Maddie Sickau, and Hailey Wood. The Second Team All-Conference winners were Emily Bryant, Katie Cheeseman, and Kaiti White. These eight helped make UC a strong team in 2021 and will look to make an even bigger impact as they are all returning for the 2022 campaign.
[Editor’s note: Kaiti White of Hillsboro is a former Fairfield High School standout, holding multiple Lady Lions softball records.]
Not only does Cumberlands return all eight of their All-Conference players, but they also bring in a combination of youth and experience for the upcoming year. Joining the Patriots are seven transfers and six freshmen.
Of the new faces, both Paxton Hoop and Carly Oliver come in as All-Conference recipients bringing UC's total to ten All-Conference student athletes. Hoop competed at Ave Maria for two seasons where she had a batting average in 2021 of .378 to pick up First Team All-Conference Sun honors.
Oliver had a standout 2021 season for the Georgetown Tigers, earning MSC First Team honors and was an All-Region recipient. She helped lead the Tigers to a second-place finish in the MSC Tournament for a spot in the NAIA Postseason.
UC also brought in the arm of Morgan Radford from Bradley University where she notched 28 appearances with 19 starts for 89 innings pitched, leading the Braves over her two seasons. She will be a part of a full staff of eight pitchers at UC this year.
Cumberlands is one of four Mid-South teams ranked in the top-25 poll and set at the third-highest. Campbellsville leads the way at #10, followed by 15th-ranked Freed-Hardeman and behind UC in 23rd place is Lindsey Wilson.
The Patriots open up their season in one month on Feb. 12 in Lawrenceville, Ga. for the Grizzly Open. Their first opponent is Thomas University, with first pitch slated for 12:30 p.m.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow UC on Twitter - @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameDay, Instagram - @UCPatriots, YouTube – Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.
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