The Patriot ladies softball season has come to an end as they finished up the season with an overall record of 24-28; winning 10 and dropping seven in conference play. Cumberlands will be retiring five of its best softball players to graduation including: Melanie Downey (Lexington, KY), Sabrina McCullough (Georgetown, KY), Marie Vickers (Knoxville, TN), Erin Clancy (Powell, TN), and Ashley Rismiller (Maryville, TN). However, key returnees and new recruits will try to balance out the Patriot team.

Several honors were earned by these ladies. The first were at the Mid-South Conference tournament where several ladies grabbed All-Conference recognition. Capturing first team honors were: senior Sabrina McCullough, catcher; sophomore Whitney Piar ( Lancaster, OH), pitcher; and senior Ashley Rismiller, pitcher. Named to the honorable mention team were: senior Melanie Downey, outfield; and junior Kim Catoe ( Chattanooga, TN), outfield. The Patriots grabbed some off the field honors with Maggie Callis (Van Lear, KY), Kim Catoe, Erin Clancy, Sabrina McCullough, and Jessica Taulbee (Greenville, SC) being named to the Academic All-Conference team. Honors were also gained at the NAIA Region XI Tournament where Sabrina McCullough and Whitney Piar made first team honors, while Ashley Rismiller received honorable mention honors.

Several team and individual records were broken this season. As a team, the Patriot ladies broke the runs scored record (150, 2001-2002) with 173 runs scored. They also broke the doubles (50, 2001-2002), triples (5, 2001-2002 & 2004-2005), and homeruns (17, 2004-2005) records with 62 doubles, 13 triples, and 19 homeruns. The Patriot ladies also broke the runs batted in record (135, 2003-2004) with 154 runs batted in. On top of that, they broke the stolen bases record (48, 2003-2004) with a mounding 72 stolen bases. Team pitching records were also broken. Team ERA (2.72, 2004-2005) was broken with a stellar 2.30 ERA. Strike Outs (174, 2003-2004) were also broken with 342 total strike outs on the season.

Senior catcher, Sabrina McCullough ( Georgetown, KY) broke the doubles record (10, Amanda Walton) and her own runs batted in record (28) with 11 doubles and 33 runs batted in. Senior centerfielder, Melanie Downey (Lexington, KY) broke her own runs scored record (34), triples record (2, several players), and her own stolen base record (15 of 16 attempts) with 41 runs scored, 6 triples, and 20 of 23 attempts on stolen bases. Senior pitcher and designated player, Ashley Rismiller ( Maryville, TN) broke the walks record (15, Crystal Cowden) with 20 walks on the season. Sophomore pitcher, Whitney Piar ( Lancaster, OH) broke her own ERA record (1.94) and the shutout record (2, Michelle Stump) with an ERA of 1.58 for the season and a total of 6 shutouts.

The Patriots also made NAIA history this year at the NAIA Region XI Tournament. The Patriots battled it out with Mid-South Conference foe Campbellsville University for 16 innings in their second game at the tournament. This game was the second longest softball game in NAIA history.

The Patriots earned themselves a spot at the NAIA Region XI Tournament by being runner-ups to Campbellsville University, who won the regular season championship. In the first round of the tournament, the Patriots were defeated by Trevecca Nazarene University, then came back and battled it out again with Campbellsville University for the 2-0 win, only to be defeated by Martin Methodist.

The Patriots came off of an excellent 2005 season, only to have an even better 2006 season. Their record may not reflect their accomplishments this season, but it is evident from the honors gained and records broken how great the season really was for the ladies. The Patriot ladies are looking forward to the 2007 season, which is set to begin early next spring.

2005 Season Wrap-Up