North Carolina Central University

SOFTBALL

     PETERSBURG, VA -- North Carolina Central University sophomore pitcher Clarisse Steans was announced as the 2005 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Softball Player of the Year Thursday night during a conference awards event in Petersburg, Virginia, host of the CIAA Spring Sports Championships.
     Steans, who was selected as the CIAA Softball Rookie of the Year in 2004, took home the league's top honor after leading the conference with 23 victories and 168 strikeouts during the regular season - both are also single-season records at NCCU.
     A native of Macon, Georgia, Steans pitched all 233 innings for the CIAA Western Division champion Lady Eagles, holding opponents to a .269 batting average and an earned run average of 3.52.
     Steans was joined on the All-CIAA First Team by sophomore shortstop Asha Sutton (LaGrange, NC) and junior left fielder Candace Spruill (Raleigh, NC). Junior Jameka Little (Kinston, NC) earned All-CIAA Second Team recognition as a designated hitter.
     Sutton, who topped the league with 61 hits and 58 runs scored, posted a .492 batting average with team-highs of 17 doubles and nine triples to go along with 32 runs batted in. Spruill had a .309 batting average with 31 runs scored and 29 runs batted in. Little hit for a .329 batting average with 28 runs scored and 22 RBI.