FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University softball coach
Stacey Vallee has announced the addition of junior college pitcher
Cea Knox of Myrtle Beach and freshman catcher-infielder Meghan
Heiser of Sacramento, Calif.
Knox, 5-9, is transferring from USC Salkehatchie, where she played
two seasons for coach Mitch Smith.
This past spring, she posted a 13-11 pitching mark with a 1.74
earned run average as she helped the Lady Indians to their
first-ever winning season (23-21). She struck out 111 batters in
153.1 innings. At the plate, she batted .392 with 24 runs scored,
15 doubles, one home run, 34 runs batted in, and a .455 on-base
percentage.
Knox leaves as the school’s all-time leader in strikeouts and
wins, and during the 2009 campaign she tossed the first no-hitter
in the program’s history. She was recently named to the 2009
ESPN The Magazine® Academic All-District III (College Division)
women's softball team (second team), and was both an All-Region X
selection and a Region X All-Tournament Team pick in 2008. She was
named the school’s Female Athlete of the Year for
2007-08.
Off the field, she served in student government as vice president
this past year.
Knox is also a product of Socastee High School, where she was a
two-time All-State selection and holds the school’s career
home run record.
Heiser, 5-9, is a product of St. Francis College Prep High School,
where she played under the direction of coach Al LoGiudice.
This season she batted .222 with three doubles, two homers, 17
RBIs, and a .300 on-base percentage. Playing behind the plate and
in the infield, she posted a .987 fielding percentage with only two
errors and five passed balls in 25 contests. She was named to
participate in the 2009 Optimist All-Star Game after helping lead
St. Francis to a 14-11 record.
As a junior, she batted .391 with two home runs and eight RBIs and
was named All-League, while also receiving an All-League
Sportsmanship Award.
She also played summer ball for the Capital City Comets Gold
Team.
“Cea brings a great attitude to the program, and she wants to
learn and be a part of a winning tradition,” said Vallee.
“She is coming from a junior college, so she has the
experience that we are always looking for. She is going to be a
true utility player for us, pushing for time on the mound, at
first, and in the outfield. As with most of our pitchers, Cea can
hit for herself and brings some great statistics with her as
well.”
“Meghan will also be a great addition to our program,”
Vallee said. “She is a young lady that is driven to succeed
and wants to learn more. That is the type of player we like to have
at FMU. Meghan will also be bringing with her strong hitting
credentials which will help us perform on the offensive side of the
game. She will be working behind the plate and at first base for
us.”
Knox and Heiser join six players who signed during the early
signing period: infielder Tristan Faile of Lancaster, S.C.,
catcher-outfielder Olivia Ferguson of Roanoke, Va., catcher-first
baseman Annie Hegar of Jefferson, N.C., left-handed pitcher Murphy
McConnell of Milton, Ga., utility player Jamie Ross of Cape Coral,
Fla., and right-handed pitcher Brittany Scoggins of Boiling
Springs, S.C.
Francis Marion finished the 2009 season with a 32-19 record, and
narrowly missed earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II
National Tournament.
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