Meghan Gregg is SEC Player of the Year

Pike County’s Meghan Gregg earned a top SEC honor for softball when she was named Player of the Year recently. As a junior at the University of Tennessee, she plays shortstop and leads the team in batting average (.448), home runs (11), RBI (71) and slugging percentage (.814). Her batting average, RBI total and slugging percentage also lead the conference, along with her doubles (18) and total bases (118).In addition to having top offensive stats, she has an incredible .980 fielding percentage, 1.000 in SEC play. Just as important as the impressive statistics she has amassed is her impact on other players on her team. Megan Geer, Gregg’s teammate, said she helps keep the team grounded.’She’s done a great job this year of controlling the atmosphere on the field and keeping everyone stable and bringing that calming presence,’ Geer said. ‘If things start to go awry, then she brings everyone back together.’She started playing 8U softball at the Pike recreation department and was honored as the 2016 Grand Marshall of the annual Pike County Christmas Parade to encourage other young athletes to go after their dreams. Gregg was a standout player at Flint River Academy for four years. She was the recipient of the 2014 Gatorade Softball Player of the Year for the state of Georgia and helped the school earn four region titles and three state championships. She earned a scholarship to play for the University of Tennessee and became team captain as a sophomore. Gregg started as a freshman for the Vols and played every game of her first season at short shop, leading the team with 18 multi-hit games and 16 multi-RBI games. She helped lead the team to the Women’s College World Series last year and has contributed to placing her team in the No. 3 seed in this year’s SEC softball tournament. This season, Gregg was also named All-SEC first team and made the all-defensive team. She’s the fifth player in UT history to receive the top player honor. The last was shortstop Madison Shipman in 2014.Meghan Gregg is the daughter of Brad and Kathy Gregg of Hollonville and she has an older brother, Stuart Gregg. Story contributed to by Dan Fleser of the Knoxville News Sentinel.