BHC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF YEAR: Eden Muncy completes stellar career with state title at Rye Cove (2024)

Eden Muncy was able to relax for a moment and gather her thoughts as she found sanctuary in the shade of the dugout located along the first-base line at Botetourt Sports Complex on the sun-soaked Saturday afternoon. The resolute right-hander from Rye Cove was about to play the final game of her high school career in the VHSL Class 1 state finals against an archrival that recently had her number.

In those tension-filled minutes prior to the first pitch in Troutville, Virginia, the ace with the reliable riseball raised a question to Rye Cove coach Nick Hood, the only other occupant of the team’s quarters at the time.

“She asked me if I was nervous,” Hood recalled with a laugh. “I found this funny because she was getting ready to pitch her last high school game in the state championship game and she was asking me if I’m nervous.”

It was typical Muncy, and it provided the second-year boss of the Eagles with more proof that his steadfast senior was raring and ready to go.

“Eden has a different mindset than lots of players,” Hood said. “Nothing much bothers her. She never gets too up or too down, so pressure never really gets to her.”

Showing more verve than nerves, Muncy proceeded to craft a masterpiece in tossing a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts as Rye Cove earned a 5-0 win over Eastside to grab state gold for the first time in program history. Oh yeah, she also happened to score the go-ahead run.

The Eagles improved on a state runner-up finish from the year before, avenged four losses to a foe that had beaten them for the Cumberland District and Region 1D crowns and was a fitting finale for Muncy as she capped a four-year run in which she racked up more than 1,000 career strikeouts.

The final 2024 stats for the soon-to-be East Tennessee State University freshman included a 21-3 record in the circle, a 0.934 ERA, 283 strikeouts and 39 walks in 142 1/3 innings of work.

As the leadoff hitter, she put together a slash line of .457/.528/.739 with four home runs, 29 stolen bases and 39 runs scored.

To the victor go the spoils they say as Muncy earned Bristol Herald Courier player of the year honors.

“Not only did she perform on the field,” said Rye Cove senior catcher Gracie Turner. “But she also led in the dugout.”

Turner was at the receiving end of Muncy’s final gem in a Rye Cove uniform and it was a dandy.

Eastside had pinned three losses on Muncy including the L a week and a half earlier in the regional finals.

“We could have gone into that game thinking that we were already beat, or we could have gone in thinking they’ve not seen the best of us,” Muncy said. “So, we pumped ourselves up and went in strong-minded.”

Muncy knew she had to mix things up a bit.

“They know everything I’m able to throw,” Muncy said. “So, in those games I had to really focus on throwing everything to my best ability.”

After a skull session with pitching coach Mark Byington, she added more changeups to her offerings.

“Mark and I have a special relationship and he has built me into the player I am,” Muncy said. “He has always told me since the day I started taking lessons from him that you have to have swag when playing the game. That swag is what builds confidence and gives me the ability to play relaxed and forcefully.”

Wearing her customized Mizuno glove that is brown on the outside and white in the inside with “Muncy” embroidered on the outside finger, Muncy had a firm grip on things.

She talked to herself out loud a couple of times to keep from overthinking and prevent any doubts from creeping in.

If she threw a pitch that didn’t hit a spot, she would shake it off by reaching down and dragging her hand through the dirt as is her routine

She gave up a double to superstar slugger Taylor Clay nine pitches into the game but would not yield another hit until Maddie Compton’s fifth-inning single.

“She never lost control,” said Rye Cove third baseman Maddy Wood. “She stayed focused and didn’t let the stress or importance of the game get in her head.”

Rye Cove scored all five of its runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Muncy began that scoring surge by swinging her 33-inch Louisville Slugger LXT and smacking a one-out double and later scoring on Gracie Turner’s tiebreaking RBI single off Eastside pitcher Emma Sartin.

“The look in her eye when she was on deck in the sixth inning,” Hood said. “I have seen that look of determination in her eyes a few times. I was 100 percent confident that she was getting on base one way or another to get the scoring going.”

Muncy allowed a single and plunked a batter in the sixth inning to give the Spartans a glimmer of hope before ending the penultimate frame with consecutive strikeouts.

After issuing her first walk of the game in the seventh, Muncy wasn’t bothered.

The clincher was a K of Haley Day with fittingly – a riseball.

“Her riseball blows everyone’s mind,” Wood said.

Muncy certainly made a statement in Rye Cove’s three state tournament games.

In a 5-1 state quarterfinal win over Auburn, Muncy struck out 16 in spinning a three-hitter.

Auburn had won the previous four VHSL Class 1 state championships and had beaten the Cove, 1-0, in the 2023 finals.

“From our dugout I would say she might very well be the most competitive, tenacious player we have faced in our run of state championships,” said Auburn coach Tim Smoot. “I don’t know her personally, but you can see it in the look in her eyes when the game is on. As with any state championship team it takes a pitcher of her caliber to win. She obviously was that for Rye Cove.”

She followed up the usurping of Auburn with another 16-strikeout, three-hit triumph in an 8-1 semifinal win over Region 1A champion Rappahannock County.

Here’s the math: In 21 state tourney innings, Muncy struck out 44, surrendered nine hits and only two runs (one of which was unearned) crossed the plate against her.

“We have said for the last two years to be ‘Locked In’ and there was no doubt she was for those three games,” said teammate Olivia Edwards. “She was focused on getting us back to where we were last year and trying to win that last game this time and embraced the role a pitcher takes on in those must-win games.”

Muncy was surrounded by well-wishers and inquisitive media members following the game and enjoyed the long bus ride back to Scott County that nobody wanted to end.

“When we got back on the bus it was crazy. Everyone was singing and soaking up the feeling of being a state champion. It was a much different ride than last season’s when we lost,” Muncy said. “It really sunk in when I started seeing it all over social media on the bus ride back home and when we got back to Duffield and the whole town was there to welcome us back home.”

Muncy began her prep career at Thomas Walker and pitched for the Pioneers for two seasons prior to transferring to Rye Cove.

“God has really blessed me tremendously and I couldn’t be more thankful,” Muncy said. “I’m thankful for the coaching from Thomas Walker and from Rye Cove, the support of both teams has let me have the best high school softball experience and helped me to be able to get to ETSU.”

Muncy pitched well in some Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Games since that state title win.

She’s vacationed at the beach in New Bern, North Carolina, once already and plans to go again soon to partake in some swimming, fishing, and jet skiing.

Muncy moves into her dorm at ETSU in Johnson City, Tennessee, on Aug. 21 as she will pitch for the Buccaneers of the NCAA Division I Southern Conference.

She’s already been going through East Tennessee State’s offseason workout regimen and is taking a summer-school class at Mountain Empire Community College.

“I am very excited about going to play ball and meeting all my new teammates, but the schooling part has me a little nervous,” Muncy said. “I am wanting to go into the dental hygiene program, but it’s the most competitive program at ETSU.”

Nerves?

She certainly conquered anxiety with an iron will back on June 8.

“She took it to another level that day,” Edwards said.

***

All-BHC Softball Team

Player of Year: Eden Muncy, Rye Cove

Coach of Year: Allison Shortt, Wise County Central

P-Carly Compton, Tennessee High; Eden Muncy, Rye Cove

C-Gracie Turner, Rye Cove

1B-Emma Sartin, Eastside

2B-Kaleyn Dales, Wise County Central

3B-Chloe Calton, Lee High

SS-Addie Wilhoit, Tennessee High

OF-Madison Bowery, John Battle; Jada Jordan, Eastside; Eden Wallace, John Battle

DH-Taylor Clay, Eastside

UTIL-Makenzie Gillenwater, Twin Springs