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Areas of dense morning fog. Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 64F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..
Clear skies. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: November 15, 2024 @ 8:00 am
Win and they will sign.
Players in Oak Grove’s softball program continues to reap the benefits of playing for an up-and-coming power, with three seniors having signed to continue their careers on the college level earlier this week.
The signing class was highlighted by senior pitcher Mary Peyton Hodge, who is headed to Arizona State, giving the Grizzlies their first Power Four signee. Izzy Lawrence signed with Queens University in Charlotte, another Division I program, and Abby Cruz inked with Tusculum College, a Division II program in Greeneville, Tenn.
Hodge, a sturdy southpaw, is poised for a big senior season this spring after turning in a sensational junior campaign in which the Grizzlies won the 3-A Mid Piedmont Conference championship and advanced to the fourth round of the state playoffs, finishing with a 24-3 record.
Hodge had an 18-2 pitching record with an 0.68 earned run average. In 113⅔ innings pitched, she struck out 199 batters and walked just 16.
The Sun Devils, longtime members of the recently disbanded Pac-12 Conference, now compete in the Big 12 Conference.
Lawrence was a nice complement to Hodge in the pitching circle last season, posting a 6-1 mark with a solid 1.24 ERA. But Lawrence’s offensive production exploded as she batted .600 (tops in the MPC and one of the best in the state) with 36 RBIs.
The Royals converted to Division I three years ago and compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Cruz is a versatile outfielder and bats near the top of Oak Grove’s lineup. She had a .390 average in 2023 with 16 RBIs.
Tusculum is a member of the South Atlantic Conference alongside the likes of Catawba College, Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate, among others.
Hodge, Lawrence and Cruz will be trying to lead the Grizzlies to their third straight conference championship this coming season and another deep run in the postseason. In the past two seasons, Oak Grove is 46-7 with five playoff wins.
“These three girls have set the standard for Oak Grove softball and what it means to be successful,” Oak Grove coach Danielle Diluzio said. “Not only have they helped the program win conference championships and playoff games, they represent the school and community off the field and in the classroom through their hard work. I’m certain these players have great things ahead of them at their universities, but I am proud that they are forever Grizzlies.”
Carlton Hurt is a freelance sports writer and former staff sports reporter for The Dispatch. Reach him at carltonshurt@yahoo.com.
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