Kyler Perdue (Courtesy photo)
Area softball players made big impacts during the past season
Kyler Perdue of Pfeiffer was named the USA South Conference’s Rookie of the Year for softball. Perdue is a Southwestern Randolph graduate.
Perdue, a freshman shortstop, batted .350, starting in all 49 games. She was an all-conference second-team selection.
Pfeiffer produced a 45-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Falcons went 2-2 in the tournament, eliminated in a 6-4 loss to regional host Christopher Newport in Newport News, Va.
Freshman infielder Madison Varner, also a Southwestern Randolph alum, had one hit in three at-bats. She appeared in 33 games as a reserve. Eastern Randolph graduate Madeline Flinchum, also a freshman infielder, came off the bench in 12 games, with one hit in two at-bats.
Greensboro College’s Kelsey Craven, a senior catcher out of Eastern Randolph, also was on the All-USA South second team. Craven batted .341 with 11 doubles and shared the team lead with 32 runs batted in.
Top-seeded Pfeiffer won the USA South Tournament by sweeping visiting Greensboro 4-2 and 3-1 in the best-of-3 finals.
The second-seeded Pride (28-15) entered the title series after winning eight of its last nine games.
Gardner honored for baseball
Greensboro College left fielder Brody Gardner, a sophomore out of Eastern Randolph, was named to the USA South Conference first team as part of a record-setting season.
Gardner, who batted .395, set the single-season school record for hits with 68.
