Lee Softball Adds Greek To 2018 Pitching Staff

Erika Greek will join the Lady Flames staff in 2018 as Lee looks to build off a deep 2017 postseason run.

 

Head Coach Emily Russell and the Lee softball team have announced the signing of junior college pitcher Erika Greek.

Greek played the last two seasons at Pensacola State Junior College in Florida after a very successful high school career at Thomas County Central in Thomasville, Ga.

Greek struck out a Georgia High School record 658 batters throughout her career.

She was named Region Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore, junior and senior. She was also all-region each of those years and a First Team All-State selection in her senior year.

At Pensacola State the 5-foot-11 pitcher was a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First Team All-Conference player as a freshman and was a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Extra-Inning Award winner in 2017.  Greek also achieved success in the classroom as she was named First Team All-Academic in 2016 and 2017 and graduated Cum Laude.

"I really liked the coaching staff and the beautiful campus," Greek noted when asked why she chose Lee. "It felt like home to me and somewhere I could be successful."

Other schools interested in the pitcher were Gulf South Conference rivals West Florida, Valdosta State and Shorter along with Saint Leo, Campbell and Division I Kennesaw State.

"We are excited to add Erika to our staff next year. She is a talented pitcher that we think will be very successful in our conference," said Russell. "We feel as do many coaches in softball that there is no more having just two pitchers as a staff.  It is moving more like baseball in having a staff approach. We feel that using a staff this year helped us to have fresh pitchers that were still sharp at the end of season.  Also, the structure of our playoff system means that you could have to play a team six-plus times to get to the World Series.  Over the course of a career that is a lot of looks. We want to give our pitchers and our team every advantage to be successful when they step on the field."

Greek will be studying Early Childhood Education and her career plans include a desire to become a teacher, counselor or take on an administration role in education.

"Erika is a hard worker that has a variety of tools as a pitcher. She will join our staff and help us battle through the rugged GSC schedule and hopefully improve on our post season run this year.  She is a high academic performer as well," concluded Russell.

When asked about her goals for herself and the team next season Greek said, "I want to grow in my faith and as an athlete. I want to learn from my teammates and play as a family while earning a championship ring."