Grace's Cowart, Bruisers' Boyd to play for ETSU

GPS's Madison Boyd and Grace Academy's Bethany Cowart signed softball scholarship papers with East Tennessee State University in the last few days.

Boyd took a January visit to the Johnson City campus, although she said she had been a few times before because her sister, Ashley, had initially signed with the Buccaneers.

"I just absolutely loved it. The coach is awesome," Boyd said of Brad Irwin, who left his position as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to become ETSU's head coach in July 2010. "He's really the main reason I want to go there, because of the connection I made with him."

Cowart took her visit in August.

"Honestly, I can't think of anything bad about the campus," Cowart said. "I liked everything about it. The coach was great. He was real hospitable when it came to showing me around."

Boyd and Cowart both play center field on their high school teams. They also are summer teammates with the Tennessee Fury organization, with Boyd playing right field.

Boyd is a left-handed batter who hit .420 as a junior with the Bruisers with 11 doubles, three triples, four steals, 24 RBIs and 24 runs scored, despite missing some games early in the season with a bruised knee.

"She may be the toughest out on our team," GPS coach Susan Crownover said. "I can't tell you how many 10-plus-pitch at-bats she's had. She can hit the gaps, and she's still got the speed to beat one out in the infield. She's gone from a slapper to a hitter. She handles her bat in a way that a lot of kids can't do. She's somebody we want up there as much as possible, so she's going to bat in our top three somewhere, and she's a good baserunner on top of that."

Cowart has customarily batted either second or third for the Lady Golden Eagles. Her junior season she hit . 379 and had 10 doubles, four triples, 19 stolen bases, 33 RBIs and 46 runs scored.

"She's definitely a leader on our team," Grace coach Tina Walker said. "She's been instrumental in us making it to the state tournament the last three years. She's like having a coach on the field, and she's one of our best hitters. She can move runners over, or hit for power. We'll really be depending on Beth and our other three seniors to come through this year."

Profiting by his connections to the Chattanooga area, Irwin had signed Soddy-Daisy's Alex Everett and Mariam Wood in this year's freshman class. He said he's excited to be adding these two to the Bucs' program, which also includes GPS graduates in senior Amy Campbell and sophomore Jackie Baird.

"I've watched Maddie play for a long time," Irwin said. "She's a tremendous athlete. That's one thing I've been looking for in building the program is to upgrade our athleticism. She definitely fits that mold. As for Bethany, I feel like her best softball is definitely ahead of her. She runs well, too, and can go get it in the outfield. She's a gap-to-gap line-drive hitter and will be a big part of what we're trying to do offensively here.

"They both come from tremendous families. I know we're getting two great students and great kids, on top of being great softball players."

Boyd said she's considering majoring in physical therapy. Cowart said she's contemplating majoring in education.