North Carolina Central University

SOFTBALL

     HAMPTON, Va. -- North Carolina Central University junior shortstop Asha Sutton headlines a sweep of weekly conference softball honors by the Lady Eagles, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced Monday.
     The other CIAA honorees are rookie hurler Stacey Greene as Pitcher of the Week, rookie utility player Sophia Blue as Defensive Player of the Week, and Lady Eagles head coach Larry Keen as Coach of the Week. 
 

Asha Sutton

Stacey Greene

Sophia Blue

Larry Keen

     Sutton, a native of LaGrange, N.C., was selected as the CIAA Softball Player of the Week after posting a .625 batting average in 10 games last week (Mar. 13-19). She went 20-for-32 at the plate with 18 runs scored, 13 runs batted in, seven doubles, two home runs, four walks and four stolen bases. In the field, Sutton recorded nine assists and 17 putouts.
     During her best performance of the week, Sutton hit 4-for-4, including a double and a home run, with five RBI, and three runs scored at Morris College on March 14.
     Greene, a freshman from Detroit, Mich., was voted as the CIAA Pitcher of the Week after compiling a 3-1 record on the mound with a 2.33 earned run average. She also amassed 20 strikeouts and allowed only four walks.
     Blue, a freshman from Hope Mills, N.C., was named the CIAA Defensive Player of the Week after collecting 13 assists and 17 putouts with only two errors as a utility player, mostly at third base. She also batted .550 (22-for-40) with 12 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
     Keen, now in his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Eagles' softball program, was chosen as the CIAA Coach of the Week after guiding NCCU to a 7-3 week, including doubleheader sweeps of CIAA foes Bowie State and Elizabeth City State, the defending conference champions.
     During last week's 10-game stretch, the Lady Eagles batted .428 and scored 103 runs, while holding opponents to a .294 batting average and just 46 runs scored.
     NCCU (16-13 overall, 6-0 CIAA) returns to action this weekend, hosting Virginia State on Saturday (Mar. 25) and Virginia Union on Sunday (Mar. 26). Both doubleheaders will be held at Hillside High School starting at 1 p.m.

(Photos by Robert Lawson)