West Bladen senior Abigail Madden made her earlier commitment to play softball at Belmont Abbey official Friday in a signing ceremony held outdoors (due to COVID-19) on the Lady Knights softball field with her family members, friends, coaches and teammates in attendance.
“I really liked the family and community atmosphere at Belmont Abbey,” said Madden who plans to major in business. “The campus is really pretty, and I am very excited. It is a good place to pursue my career in softball.”
Madden, batted .500 with 8 hits, 2 doubles and a triple as the Lady Knights won 3 of their 4 games before COVID-19 halted the 2020 season. She batted 4-5 with a double and a triple, scored 3 runs and drove in two in a 16-5 victory over Red Springs.
“It was a shame our (2020) season was cut short,” said West Bladen Coach Pam Stephens. “Abigail was truly impressive as soon as she got here and fit right in. She is a very dedicated team player who is willing to do anything to help her team get better and is a hard worker at practice”
“The feeling and support that I get from teammates, and in being part of a team is the most important part of softball,” said Madden who was recruited as a catcher and sees that as her role at Belmont Abbey although she can also play the outfield.
Madden started her high school softball career at Harrells Christian Academy and batted .457 with 16 hits, 16 runs scored and 9 runs batted in during her freshman season. She stole 17 bases in 16 games with a slugging percentage of .500. As a sophomore Madden batted .345 for the Lady Crusaders at HCA.
Abigail is the daughter of Eddie and Dawn Madden and was joined at the signing ceremony by her parents, brothers Elliott and Emory, and sister Jacqueline.
“We will miss her,” said Dawn Madden about Belmont being 3.5 hours away. “But she has a good head on her shoulders, and she will do well there.”
Under first-year Coach Tony Mele Belmont Abbey was 2-2 in the Conference Carolinas when their 2020 season was stopped by the corona virus. In 2019 the Crusaders were 14-6 in conference and 21-22 overall.
About Author
