Erica Meguiar, a 2009 graduate of Logan County High School, had a solid freshman season in NAIA softball, but next year when she goes behind the plate,
it will be as an NCAA Division I athlete.
A summary of the University of the Cumberlands 2010 season on the school's website called Meguiar a "freshman sensation." The standout catcher will not
be playing for the Patriots the next three years, however. Instead she is transferring to Murray State University where she will become the first NCAA
softball player from either LCHS or Russellville High School.
Murray State is entering its second year of softball. Coach Jay Pyron's team got off to a good start in 2010, finishing 22-29 overall and 11-11 in the
Oho Valley Conference. The Lady Racers lost 6-3 to Tennessee Tech in the tournament. "To make the conference tournament as a first-year team is a
credit to our players. It is not the ultimate goal that we were looking for, but it is something that we recognize as a special achievement for us,"
said Pyron, who previously coached in the Atlantic Coast Conference as an assistant at North Carolina State.
Meguiar was recruited by Pyron as a high school senior, but by the time that she decided not to go so far from home to play for fellow LCHS graduate
Brad Husskisson in Georgia, no more scholarships were available at Murray. She opted for The University of the Cumberlands, an NAIA school in
Williamsburg, Ky.
Meguiar started 38 of The Cumberlands' 45 games as a freshman and played in three others. Many catchers sit out one of the games of a doubleheader, but
she was too valuable to the team to be idle. She was credited with 32 hits in 116 at bats (.276), including three home runs and six doubles. Only two
players who started 35 or more games hit for a higher average. She scored 19 runs, which means she ran for herself. She had 10 RBIs and 47 total bases
for a .405 slugging percentage, one of only three players with a power average over .400.. Meguiar walked eight times and had a .323 on base
percentage. She also defied the catcher stereotpye by stealing a pair of bases in three attempts.
The University of the Cumberlands finished with a 21-24 record, 13-15 in the conference. Their games were so even that the opposition scored only three
more runs than did the Patriots.
On defense she was credited with 185 put-outs (second on the team) and 11 assists in 205 chances, making 9 errors for a .956 fielding percenage. She
threw out three baserunners. She was charged with catcher's interference only once all season.
Other Meguiar stats include 13 passed balls and 30 strikeouts at the plate herself.
The Lady Racers relied on two freshmen catchers this spring. Ellyn Troup of California had a good year at the plate, hitting .296 with 4 homers among
her 42 hits. She was credited with 28 RBIs and had a .415 slugging percentage. She gave up 8 passed balls and threw out 5 of 26 basestealers. Playing
both first base and catcher, she had a .980 fielding average. England, who was the first baseman when she wasn't catching, batted .232 with 32 hits and
21 RBIs. She had 16 passed balls and a 923 fielding average while throwing out 7 of 57 basestealers.
Murray tried four other catchers, who gave up 83 stolen bases in 95 attempts.
Meguiar enjoyed her year at the University of the Cumberlands. One of the hardest things to do was inform Coach Angie Dean that she would noit be
returning. Dean made it clear she was thrilled to sign a catcher of Meguiar's capabilities when she came to Auburn in 2009 for the official ceremony.
With Meguiar and Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year Brittany Lovelace returning, the Patriots appeared to have three bright years ahead of them.
Todd Stinson of the Total Fitness Center in Bowling Green, who is Meguiar's hitting coach, reminded Coach Pyron of the former Lady Cougar catcher while
he was helping connect Murray State and Greenwood star Ali Hart, the Lady Racers' prize freshman recruit. Hart and Meguiar are former summer ball
teammates and will room together at Murray.
Hart is the sister of two-time All-Star major league baseball player Corey Hart of the Milwaukee Brewers, who recently signed an impressive new
contract with the National League team. He has become a staunch supporter of Murray State softball. "I think we can get Brewers' tickets whenever we
need them," laughs Meguiar's dad Eric, who says the shorter trip to Murray along with the games the Lady Racers will play nearby in Nashville,
Clarksville and other NCAA cities also made the transfer appealing.
One of the best memories for the Meguiars of Erica's year at The Cumberlands was that her great-grandmother, Jessie Meguiar, got to see her play in
Williamsburg. Mrs. Meguiar died in late July at age 95.