The Mount Vernon Nazarene
University women’s fastpitch softball team
has added two important recruits to the
team’s roster for the 2010 season with the
addition of high school teammates Morgan
Coburn and Kelsey Berryman, who have decided
to further their education and continue
their softball careers at MVNU.
Coburn,
a pitcher/outfielder/second baseman, from
Fairfield, Ohio, received the Coaches 110
percent Award as a senior as well as earning
a spot on the Greater Miami Conference
All-Academic Team. In 2007, she was named
the Most Valuable Player of the Mason
Invitational. She has also played for both
the Dayton Yellow Jackets and the Cincy
Magic summer teams.
Off the softball diamond, Coburn has been
involved in student government, Fellowship
of Christian Athletes, yearbook, Young Life,
student athletic training, principal’s
cabinet, Coalition for a Safe and Drug-free
Fairfield, the Springdale Church of the
Nazarene youth Group, and serving as a
volunteer at Fairfield East Elementary
School. She is a member of National Honor
Society and received the J. Kyle Braid
Leadership Award.
"MVNU is a school where I felt very
comfortable to be myself,” said Coburn of
her college choice. "There are four very
important things in my life - my faith,
education, softball, and my family and
friends. At MVNU, the faith base the school
has is very important to me. The education
program is very strong, which is what I will
be studying this fall. I also felt very
comfortable with the softball team - it just
felt right. It is not often that you get to
play softball with a coach and team that
loves Jesus like I do. I will also be able
to make life-long friendships at MVNU. I
know I will be challenged in all four areas
and will definitely succeed.”
Berryman,
a catcher/outfielder/first baseman from
Fairfield, was a Greater Miami Conference
Second Team pick as a junior as she was also
named the GMC Offensive Player of the Year
and her team’s Rookie of the Year. In
addition, she received her team’s
Dedication-Pride-Tradition Award. She was
among the GMC leaders in hitting, home runs,
and RBI as well. She played one summer with
the Cincy Magic and one summer for the
Bustos Ultimates.
Berryman is also very active off the
softball field. The four-year honor roll
student was a two-year recipient of the GMC
All Academic Award as well as being a
three-time winner of the A Average Award.
She also received the J. Kyle Braid Award
and was twice selected as the Teacher
Academy Student of the Month as well as
being involved in Fellowship of Christian
Athletes and Spanish Club.
"There were many reasons for choosing to
attend MVNU,” reflected Berryman. "The
Christian-based campus drew me in very
quickly. I have heard many positive things
about MVNU. My campus visit was wonderful
and everyone was welcoming. Another reason
is because I know several people who have
either attended MVNU or who are planning to
attend in the fall.
"Morgan and Kelsey are great additions to
our team,” said MVNU head coach Jeana Howald.
"Morgan is an athletic pitcher who can also
play other positions, while Kelsey will add
depth to our outfield. They come from a good
program and that should help them get
acclimated to the college game.”
MVNU is an NAIA school that competes in
the American Mideast Conference. The Lady
Cougars posted a 22-17 overall record in
2009, and the program has an all-time mark
of 573-387-2 in the 25 years of the
program’s history. The team also advanced to
the championship game of the AMC Tournament
in 2009 to come just one step away from
qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament
for the second straight year.