HICKORY, N.C. — Catawba Valley Community College softball player Courtney Dean signed Wednesday afternoon to continue her collegiate career at Spartanburg Methodist College during a ceremony held at the Tarlton Complex.
Dean is the second Red Hawk softball player to sign with a four-year college or university this season, joining teammate Gionna Merhtens, who signed with Norfolk State earlier this month. Dean is the fifth CVCC softball player all time to move on to a four-year college or university, following Merhtens, Kameron Bolick (Erskine), Grace Andrews (Carolina University) and Jillian Jones (UVA Wise).
A native of Duncan, South Carolina, Dean will also continue her career just a short drive from home when she joins the Pioneers.
"CVCC pushed me to be able to play at the next level and helped me to continue to play softball," Dean said. "Now, I'll be able to be live at home and go to college. It's only 20 minutes away. It's really exciting to be able to see family and to be able to continue to play."
Dean has appeared in 73 career games for CVCC this season, totaling 58 hits, 37 runs, 30 RBIs, seven doubles, one triple and six stolen bases. She currently has a .293 batting average, .398 on-base percentage and .338 slugging percentage.
This spring, Dean is hitting .308 with 32 hits, 18 runs, 14 RBIs, two doubles and one triple in 36 games. She's posted a .395 on-base percentage and .346 slugging percentage.
"It's been fun," Dean said of playing softball at CVCC. "There have been lots of ups and downs with games, but off the field it's been so much fun meeting new people and making so many memories."
CVCC head softball coach Mickey Bolick said Dean's growth and consistency has made a lasting impact on the program.
"Courtney has been steady for us from the moment she arrived," Bolick said. "She works hard, competes every day and has earned this opportunity. Spartanburg Methodist is getting a dependable player and an even better teammate."
Dean and the Red Hawk softball team compete on Thursday in the first round of the Region 10 tournament, which is being held at Big League Camp in Marion, N.C. against Cleveland at 1 p.m.
Wednesday's signing is something that Dean said will give herself and her teammates a much-needed boost of confidence heading into postseason play.
"Towards the end of the season, we've really worked hard," she said. "We've gotten better as the season has gone on. Now that we are at the end, we just need to push each other as hard as we can and hope for the best."