Cynthia Burroughs signing

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on June 16, 2009 1:47 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- One of Wayne County's most successful softball players will take her game to Wilson County next spring.

Charles B. Aycock standout Cynthia Burroughs has signed a national letter-of-intent to attend Barton College.

"I was interested in staying close to home and Barton just felt right," said Burroughs, a right-handed hurler. "My dad and I had gone up there and watched a game, took a tour of the campus and we both enjoyed it."

Despite winning two state championships at Wayne Christian, Burroughs acknowledged that her recruiting did not really pick up until her senior season with the Golden Falcons.

A midseason game against Wilson Hunt proved to be a pivotal moment in Burroughs' college selection process.

"I had some interest from Peace College and a few schools out of state but Barton was the school that best fit for me," said Burroughs. "After the game at Hunt, coach Sheryl Neff introduced herself and we talked for a while about maybe having an opportunity to play at the next level."

Burroughs' big-game experience added another dimension to head coach Brad Matthews' already talented squad. In Burroughs' starts, the Golden Falcons compiled a 14-3 record. C.B. Aycock advanced to the final four at Walnut Creek in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs.

Standing tall in the clutch is one attribute that Burroughs, an all-Eastern Carolina Conference selection, will bring to the pitcher's circle for the Bulldogs in Conference Carolinas play.

"I think that's the biggest part of my game that will carry over to college," said Burroughs. "I get in the zone and I have another level where I get focused and step it up."

When she is not hurling her signature fastball, Matthews anticipates the Bulldogs finding a spot for Burroughs in the field thanks to her strong offensive game and defensive versatility.

"Cynthia is such a good stick that she will find a way on to the field," said Matthews. "She can play infield and outfield as well as pitch. There aren't many things that she can't do."

Burroughs did point out that one major change from the pitching rubber in Pikeville to the slab in Wilson will be the distance difference. College hurlers throw from 43 feet compared to 40 feet at the high school level.

"I have played in some showcase tournaments and pitched at 43 feet," said Burroughs, the daughter of Nick and Kim Burroughs of Pikeville. "The biggest adjustment is on my drop curve. I throw it at 43 feet and it drops on the plate so I need to figure out the extra three feet."