Conference Carolinas Release
BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University softball season was cut short due to the national pandemic of COVID-19. Conference Carolinas announced their all-conference team, comprised of seniors from each member school as the Tornado had nine seniors named to the team.
Raven Allender spent three seasons donning the scarlet and navy. In that time, the Clay City, Ind., native posted an ERA of 2.73 while going 8-2 in the circle for the Tornado. She tossed five complete games and amassed 84 and two-thirds innings pitched. During her freshman year, Allender was the pitcher of record in a no-hitter at Converse College, the second no-hitter in program history.
Hattie Campbell joined the Tornado a season ago following a stint at Walters State Community College. Last season the Knoxville, Tenn., native appeared in 41 games and posted a .245 batting average. She also accounted for six doubles, 16 runs batted in and five runs scored last season. This year she appeared in five games and registered one hit.
Bailey Deason was off to a great start to the season, ranking in Conference Carolinas' top 10 in runs (13), home runs (3), walks (14) and on base percentage (.466). The native of Lewisburg, Tenn., also owned a batting average of .316 while ripping three doubles. In her three years on campus, Deason owned a batting average of .222 and laced four doubles and three home runs.
Casey Gilbert was a first team All-Conference Carolinas selection in 2019 as a pitcher. This year she ranked in the league's top 10 in five offensive categories and four pitching categories. At the plate, the Hendersonville, N.C., native ranked fourth in the league with four home runs and eighth with 15 runs scored. In the circle, she led Conference Carolinas in shutouts with two while posting four wins. In her career, Gilbert was a .323 hitter with 16 doubles, five triples, six home runs, 56 runs scored and 36 runs batted in. In the circle, Gilbert owns a 16-9 record with one save and 168 and two-thirds innings pitched with an ERA of 4.86.
Becca Gold appeared in 52 games over her four-year career on campus. In that time, the native of Greensboro, N.C. posted a .214 batting average with two doubles and five runs batted in. Both of those doubles came a season ago to go along with three runs batted in.
Emma Hughes was off to a great start to the season, earning Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Week three times in the first seven weeks. In her final start of the season the Rogersville, Tenn., native tossed her league-leading second shutout of the season as the Tornado defeated Carson-Newman University 3-0. Her six wins ranked second in the conference while she ranked third with an ERA of 1.70 and fourth with a .224 batting average against in 61 and two-thirds innings. Hughes was selected second team all-conference as a freshman as she owns a career ERA of 5.08 in 420 and one-thirds innings. She went 39-23 with one career save while tossing 33 complete games and striking out 305 batters. Hughes also tossed the third no-hitter in program history, coming in 2019 in a win over Milligan College.
Leslie Odom was the Conference Carolinas Softball Championship Most Valuable Player in 2018, leading King to the title and NCAA Regional appearance. She missed the majority of last season due to injury and was working her way back this season, appearing in three games. In 2018, Odom went 18-9 with a 2.18 ERA and 117 strikeouts. In her career, the Morristown, Tenn., native owns a record of 21-12 with a 2.71 ERA in 204 and one-thirds innings pitched while striking out 138 batters.
Danielle Parks was an infielder during her first three years on campus before switching to play center field this year. This season, Parks was hitting .225 with three doubles, nine runs scored and five runs batted in. In her career, the Hampstead, N.C., native played in 111 games, owning a .251 batting average with seven doubles. She also scored 43 runs and drove in 18.
Kaylee Rowland made 23 appearances this season at first base, ripping her first career home run on February 25 in game two against Mars Hill University. In her career, Rowland posted four hits in 30 games, scoring four runs and driving in two.
