The jubilant North Carolina Central softball team transitioned into tourists after winning the first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament championship in program history last Saturday under overcast skies in Norfolk, Va.
Before returning to Bull City with their shiny new and permanent companion, the triumphant Eagles visited Virginia Beach, where the large trophy – sitting in the sand -- was the center of attention as waves from the Atlantic Ocean crashed against the shore.
Players snapped selfies, laughed, smiled and had a blast celebrating their significant accomplishment.
There was more euphoria one day later, when the Eagles learned they would open the NCAA Softball Championship in Athens, Ga., against host and No. 14 seed Georgia on Friday at Jack Turner Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Boston University and Virginia Tech meet at 2 p.m. on the ACC Network.
The first postseason tournament appearance in program history for North Carolina Central represents something deeper and more meaningful. While the Eagles are excited about the opportunity on a national stage, there's a bigger purpose for NCCU that the entire program embraces.
“I think representing HBCU pride in a tournament that lacks representation of softball athletes that look like my teammates, or me is what is so special about representing Central,” junior pitcher Ashanti Eubanks said. “Going to this NCAA Tournament and wearing NCCU across my chest tells little girls who look like me across the world to do what others say you can't, to prove people wrong, and most importantly, do what you love and be yourself. I hope we inspire other young athletes and show what we can do against Georgia and Virginia Tech and Boston University.”
The Eagles are already an inspiration, especially if you understand their journey.
Nothing came easy for North Carolina Central in 2023.
Fueled by the slogan "Every Day Is for May," third-year head coach Cat Tarvin remained an oasis of serenity despite a tough start that featured 13 consecutive setbacks and losses in 20 of their first 22 contests. The adversity strengthened the Eagles, who kept their eyes on the ultimate prize.
“To be a member of the first NCCU NCAA tournament team means everything,” freshman first baseman Takia Nichols said. “I think I can speak for all the freshmen and the rest of my team when I say that it has been a blessing to be a part of such a historic moment. This is not to add to pressure for next year, but instead to encourage us and let us know that it is achievable if we take it one game at a time.”
One major victory was a decisive 10-3 decision over North Carolina State, which proved to everybody that the Eagles had all the ingredients needed for their championship recipe.
Once NCCU found its groove in the MEAC, there was no stopping it. The Eagles ripped off nine straight wins to start conference play. NCCU dropped five of its final six MEAC contests to Baltimore schools, Coppin State and Morgan State.
After earning the No. 3 seed, North Carolina Central won two games on the opening day of the conference tournament. After advancing to the championship game, NCCU lost the first game to Coppin State, 6-5, before winning the second game, 6-2, to claim the title.
“The message going into the second game was we've been here before,” Tarvin, the MEAC Coach of the Year, said. “We lost a game, and we know what it takes to play well and know the energy we need to have quality at-bats. We needed an unshakable peace, which was the takeaway. How do you answer, get back up, and what is your identity? It's a way of empowering them to go and be great in softball and life. They answered. They were in a relaxed state and had more energy in the second game.”
Unshakable peace: the Eagles’ secret sauce.
Beyond the eye-popping offensive numbers, in which NCCU led the MEAC in home runs (40), slugging percentage (.390), walks (156) and runs scored (228) was the unshakable peace that formed the foundation of excellence for the Eagles. The highlights and home runs were fun, but the patience, resilience and confidence unified NCCU during tough times.
“Unshakable peace has meant something special to me after I wasn't doing so hot,” Eubanks said. “Unshakeable peace means not letting your thoughts and past trials keep you down. It means getting back up to fight and not letting the past shake your current peace, and I didn't. My teammates and my coaches will tell you that the end of the conference and MEAC tournament Ashanti is completely different from the beginning of the year, and I think it just shows growth as a player, pitcher, teammate, and athlete.”
Eubanks came up huge in the championship game, when she pitched a complete-game gem to help the Eagles earn the trip to the beach and the NCAA Tournament. She went 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA and 11 strikeouts to highlight NCCU's strong tournament performances during the weekend.
“This team has a special place in my heart,” Eubanks said. “This team represents a family the most out of any past teams here at NCCU. It's not just one moment that shows our connection when we play, but once we started conference play, things just seemed to click.
“I was just off my game for about a good three solid weeks. I wasn't the best mentally, which showed in my pitching, but my teammates were there for me. Specifically, my soul sister Jaylah Barr texted me one day after a bad showing at Howard and told me I am the best no matter what I do on the mound. She reminded me of who I am and what I can do. That's what I love about being in this NCCU softball family.”
Following the conference tournament, sophomore pitcher/designated player Jaden Davis was named the MEAC Most Outstanding Performer for the Eagles. At the same time, junior Morgan Green and Eubanks joined Davis on the MEAC All-Tournament Team.
The Eagles also boast MEAC Rookie of the Year Makiya Graves, who led the conference with 60 hits and was tied for sixth with Nichols in slugging percentage (.353).
Nichols started the scoring in the second inning of the championship game against Coppin State when she slugged a solo home run. For the season, Nichols and Jones tied for the MEAC lead in home runs with nine.
Maegan Garrison was tied for third with eight dingers and led NCCU with 33 runs batted in.
“Unshakable peace is something that our coaches have been preaching to us since the beginning of the season; it's about whether things go your way or not and having the same attitude and approach when it comes down to playing your role,” Nichols said. “The team knew what the mission was, the stage was already set, and at that point, it was all about execution.”
Unshakable peace has guided Tarvin throughout her softball career, first as a player at Kennesaw State and Presbyterian, and then during her coaching career. She's learned important lessons from her late father that has stayed with her, which allowed her to remain calm during the challenging non-conference portion of the schedule.
“My dad always asked me if I was a chicken or an eagle,” Tarvin said. “To be an eagle means to soar over everything no matter what. It's ironic; I am coaching the Eagles now. My goal is to always build and instill in my girls that they are powerful. No matter what the world gives you, there will be good and bad days, so how do you handle them? I am so grateful for this opportunity to coach here at NCCU. Going to the NCAA Tournament is beyond exciting.”
Even more exciting for Tarvin and assistant coach Jaime Hoover is the trip to Athens represents a homecoming of sorts, since they both are from Decatur, which is about a 90-minute drive from Jack Turner Stadium where Tarvin played games, watched contests as a fan and participated in softball camps there.
Now, she arrives in Athens as head coach of a program that she led to the promised land, which is the ultimate reward for Tarvin and a meaningful moment for the entire NCCU community.
“Being able to represent NCCU and the NCCU softball program is an honor and a privilege,” Nichols said. “This season is about 'MAGIC (Making A Greater Individual Commitment);’ it focuses on bringing our best selves every time we step on the field, whether for a game or practice and even in the classroom. Our team motto follows NCCU values of 'Truth and Service,' bringing our efforts to better the community and displaying the standards set by our university and ourselves.”
Rob Knox is an award-winning professional. A member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Hall of Fame, Knox currently serves as the Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity and earned the CSC Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award. Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Communicators (CSC).