Charley Cox

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 26, 2015 1:44 PM

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PRINCETON -- Charley Cox considered retiring her bat, gloves and cleats once Princeton played its final softball game this season.

The recruiting process became too frantic.

Then Cox had second thoughts.

"It's been wild and I've considered not playing, but I feel like I can handle it now and I don't want it to end yet," said Cox, who signed with Meredith College earlier this week.

A three-sport letterman with a competitive edge, Cox began her softball career as a 10-year-old with the Wayne County Hurricanes. Once some of those players graduated from high school, she joined the Lady Blues out of Siler City.

That's when the recruiting pace picked up.

Cox talked to numerous coaches, played in weekend tournaments and exchanged emails with recruiters on a regular basis. Toward the end of her sophomore season, she intensified her search as her appetite increased to play on the collegiate level.

She considered the University of Mount Olive.

But Meredith beckoned.

"I toured the campus last year and loved it, and when I started talking to some of the other players who went there, they were talking about the class size, how small it is," Cox said. "It reminded me of Princeton ... pushed me there. Education comes first, so that's what I'm excited about."

Cox stepped into varsity competition midway through her freshman year when a teammate endured a season-ending injury. She played second base as a sophomore, but moved to center field as a junior.

She's in the outfield this season.

During her three-plus years in varsity play, Cox has helped lead the Bulldogs to three Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season championships. Princeton reached the N.C. High School Athletic Association eastern regional championship series a year ago.

This past November, Cox and her Princeton teammates claimed the NCHSAA 1-A volleyball title -- the first-ever state championship for any girls' sport in school history. She was named the game's most outstanding player.

"I feel like I'm a natural-born leader," Cox said. "Even though I'm coming as a freshman, I'm not going to try to take over because I want to learn the ropes. I want to bring whatever I can to the team to help them be successful."

Meredith finished 15-19 overall, including a 9-15 worksheet against USA South Athletic Conference opposition this season. The team loses just one senior to graduation and is projected to return 16 players with just one senior on the roster in 2016.

"They are losing an infielder, so that's where I'm hoping to playing time at (next season)," Cox said. "What I like about softball is each person gets to show what they can do at their spot ... each can bring something different to the team. You can't do it all by yourself."

Cox may pursue a degree in biology, and possibly enter the education field so she can coach.

Until then, there is one piece of unfinished business. More experienced and wiser, the Bulldogs have their sights set on advancing past the regional this season.

"We have the heart and drive," Cox said.

Spoken like a true leader.