ALL-AREA -- Burroughs earns third straight softball player-of-the-year award

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on June 15, 2014 12:14 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Emily Burke remembers the day she held Meredith Burroughs, then a baby, in her arms when the future Charles B. Aycock slugger came home from the hospital.

She remembers Burroughs hitting a home run -- over the fence -- as a seven-year-old. The round-trippers kept coming on the Golden Falcons' home diamond, including plenty during Burke's two years on the coaching staff.

The N.C. State signee graduated as North Carolina's career leader in home runs. And for the third straight year, she is the News-Argus All-Area softball player-of-the-year.

Burroughs batted .543, swatted nine home runs and drew 40-plus walks during Aycock's march to the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state championship series.

"This year isn't the first year teams haven't pitched to me," Burroughs said. "I tried to be selective at the plate and tried not to get in a habit of chasing pitches that were out of the zone."

Since pitchers weren't going to let Burroughs beat them, she bounced around in the lineup. She ended the season as the lead-off hitter -- a spot usually ill-suited for a power hitter like herself. She took the change in stride and was content getting on base for her teammates to drive her in.

A lot of players' frustrations build when teams aren't allowing them to take the bat off of their shoulders.

Not Burroughs.

"I feel like I saw myself grow as a leader," Burroughs said. "I always tried to be a good influence on the younger girls and keep a positive attitude no matter what the circumstances were."

Dedicated to the game and a year-round travel-ball player, Burroughs tirelessly works on her own time to improve her game. She'd have a bad day at practice, drive to another field and work on things until she got them right.

Burroughs has certainly left her mark on the CBA program. But awards -- conference player-of-the-year, All-American recognition as a sophomore and state champion -- hold little meaning. Even the wins and losses doesn't raise an eyebrow.

"I'm most proud of the life-long friendships I've made and the community support that has followed the team each year," Burroughs said. "Of course the regional titles and a state championship are special to me, but the friendships and memories I've made with the girls and the coaches have meant the most."