Notable Alumni

As of 2022 the Carolina Elite SC Organization has helped hundreds of players achieve their dreams to play fastpitch softball at the collegiate level. Below are some of our most successful former players.

Abbey Cheek

NCAA All-American, NFCA Player of the Year, SEC Player of the Year, NPF Rookie of the Year

Abbey Cheek is one of the most talented and successful players to come out of the Carolina Elite Organization. She joined Carolina Elite in 2013 and played for Tony Genovese’s 18u gold team her entire career. It is estimated she hit over 200 homeruns while a part of our organization. Abbey was named the top ranked overall prospect in SC during her senior year at Chapman HS in Inman, SC. At Chapman, she was a triple sport athlete in softball, volleyball, and basketball. She earned All-State honors three times, SCHSL Region Play of the year twice, and HSSR Player of the Year three times.

At Kentucky, Abbey was a four-year starter at third base. She accumulated multiple accolades over her career including SEC Conference All-Freshman team and Freshman of the week her first season with the team. Her sophomore year she led the team in runs scored, homeruns, and RBIs. She became the first Wildcat in program history to hit 20+ homeruns in her first two seasons. Her Junior year she earned SEC Player of the Week honors once before having the best season of her career her Senior year. Her last season as a wildcat she was named a unanimous NCA First-Team All-American, the NFCA National Player of the Year, the SEC Player of the Year, First-Team All-SEC, and named to the SEC All Defensive-team. She currently holds the school record for RBIs (202), runs scored (173), homeruns (61), slugging percentage (.678), and total bases (454). Needless to say, Abbey can hit.

After her playing career ended at Kentucky, she joined the National Professional Fastpitch League and played for the Chicago Bandits. She was named the NPF Rookie of the Year for her success in her first season in the NPF. Abbey spent the 2020 season playing in Japan for Hitachi. She earned the Offensive Award during her lone season with Hitachi.

Currently, Abbey is a private lesson instructor in SC and has been hired as the Limestone College assistant softball coach.

ALAYNIE PAIGE

NCAA All-American, Former Professional Softball Player

Alaynie Paige is another very talented former player of the Carolina Elite Organization. She was a part of the original team that started the organization. From age thirteen to eighteen Alaynie played for Tony Genovese her entire time in a Carolina Elite uniform. At Boiling Springs High School she was a three-time all-state player, a three-time all-region player, four-time all-area player, and much more. Aside from softball, Alaynie also played volleyball.
At USC, Alaynie was a force to be recognized with from the moment she stepped on campus. A four-year starter in the outfield, she was consistently at the top of the line-up for the Gamecocks. Right out the gate as a freshman she started in left-field and hit in the number two spot all 59 names. She saw continued success her next three years especially her Junior year. In her third year with the program she earned first-team All-America honors from the NFCA, was named All-SEC and first-team NFCA All-Southeast Region, and broke multiple school records. Her last season as a Gamecock Alaynie was named to the USA Softball National Player of the Year watchlist and one of thirty candidates for the Senior Class award. The top records she set during her career include tying the all-time home run record (33), second in walks (106), third in runs per game (0.76), most putouts (349), and many more.
After her playing career ended at Carolina in 2016, Alaynie was drafted by the Chicago Bandits, a team in the NPF. The Chicago Bandits were the defending champions of the league at the time.

CHRISTIAN STOKES

Four-year Starter at Kentucky, Former Professional Softball Player

Next up on our notable alumni list is Christian Stokes. Like Abbey Cheek, she played at the University of Kentucky (2013-2016). Before Kentucky she was a six-year letter winner and three-time state champion at Chesterfield High School. She collected numerous accolades during her high school softball career and was even named all-state in volleyball. She was also a strong student academically as she graduated fifth in her class of 124 students. Her time in the Carolina Elite organization is the same as Alaynie’s. Dana Fusetti described her as, “The hardest thrower In the state of South Carolina and an amazing leader.”

At Kentucky, Christian was a four-year starter in their middle infield. She is known as one of the best shortstops in Kentucky’s history of the program. Her fielding percentage was almost perfect each year she played and was known to come up clutch on offense, especially in the post-season. Some of her accomplishments in a Kentucky uniform include SEC Freshman of the Week (2013), SEC All-Tournament Team (2014), SEC Academic Honor Roll (2013, 2014), and All-SEC Defensive team (2016).

After Christian’s days at Kentucky ended, she was drafted 26th overall in the NPF Draft by the Scrapyard Dawgs.