MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee softball coach Sue Nevar announced the signing of Covington, Tenn., native Tobie Joy and Silver Creek, Ga., native Kaycee Popham to national letters-of-intent, the fifth and sixth signees for the Blue Raiders for the 2009 season.
Joy has been a three-year standout for coach Martha Lawler at Covington High School, earning All-State honors the last two seasons and District 14-AA MVP accolades three straight years. She was also voted the Commercial Appeal Best of Preps Player of the Year as a junior and has been an All-Metro selection three straight seasons.
CHS has won three straight district, regional and sectional titles, advancing to the state tournament the last two years. They were the AA runner-up in 2006 and placed third in 2007.
Joy tossed 111 innings, striking out 165 and posting a 0.80 ERA with a 16-2 record as a freshman. In 2006 she was 27-7, working 229.2 inning and compiling 251 strikeouts and a 1.07 ERA.
Last season the righthander struck out 245 in 214 innings of work, posting a 0.39 ERA and a 27-6 record. Her high school totals heading into her senior season are 70-15 with a 0.77 ERA, 46 shutouts and 661 strikeouts in 554 innings of work. She is the daughter of Buckie and Elaine Joy.
"Tobie has carried Covington to the state tournament the past two years, quite literally," Nevar said. "She pitches every state tournament game, leads off at the plate and is a terror on the base paths. She only knows one speeds and that's all-out. She is primarily a pitcher but we will also explore her playing second base."
Popham just completed her senior season at Rockmart High School in Rockmart, Ga., batting .478 with three home runs and 38 RBIs in helping her team to the Class AA state sectionals. She was named Co-Player of the Year by the Rome News-Tribune after posting 18 doubles and a .717 slugging percentage as a third baseman for RHS.
Popham was voted Honorable Mention All-State this season as well as All-Area. She was an All-Area selection as a junior and Honorable Mention All-Area as a freshman for coach Steve Luke. She is the daughter of Kurt and Heidi Popham.
"Kaycee is a strong, steady corner player who can play first or third base without missing a beat and will be needed to fill holes at each position. She has had extensive experience in both high school and travel ball. We will look to Kaycee to provide a needed RBI punch to our lineup with her strong bat," Nevar said.
Middle Tennessee has four other signees this fall: Mt. Juliet, Tenn., product Shelby Barrett; Ocoee, Tenn., native Lauren Whaley; Phoenix, Ariz., native Caty Jutson and Riverside, Calif., product Natalie Ysais.
Mail to a friend
Print this article
Share on Facebook
