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We continue our list of the Top 15 Softball Stories of 2020, which will run through December 31st when we’ll present our No. 1 story of the year.
Here are the previous stories (clink on link to read):
- #15… NCAA Allows College Athletes to Be Compensated for “Their Name, Image & Likeness”
- #14… The Emotional Tribute for Texas Tech Signee Jaycee Hamlin
We’ve surveyed the softball community and talked internally as well to come up with what were the most impactful and relevant stories of the year pertaining to the world of fastpitch softball.
Where applicable, we are providing the text to the original articles and/or references when the story first happened.
- Click Here to see the Top 15 Stories of 2019
- Click Here to see the Top 15 Stories of 2018
Today’s story… #13: Almost a year after the softball community was devastated by the death of popular softball star Geri Ann Glasco in a car accident, the news was eerily similar as two USC Union teammates were killed when a drunk driver crossed into their lane. Two other teammates were injured and, once accident, we were all reminded how life can be so fragile, even for those great athletes who are in the prime of their careers…
To provide comments, insights or thoughts, email: [email protected].
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The following articles published on Extra Inning Softball around this tragic accident are listed in chronological order…
College Tragedy: Two USC Union Softball Players Killed in Friday Night Car Accident
Originally published Feb. 8, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
The softball world has suffered another tragedy as two players for the University of South Carolina Union softball team were killed in a Friday night vehicular accident.
The Union Times reported that a two-vehicle collision killed two USC Union student-athletes Friday night that occurred at approximately 10:12 pm EST when a car travelling north on SC 295 (Southport Road) in Spartanburg County crossed the center lane and collided head-on with a southbound car.
The vehicle that crossed the center lane, a 2012 Toyota truck allegedly driven by a person who was under the influence of alcohol, killed two Lady Bantams softball players, while two others were hospitalized with serious injuries.
They were identified by the Spartanburg County Coroner as Mia Stokes, 18, of Batsam Trail, Charlotte, NC and Grace Revels, 20, of Charlotte Highway, Lancaster. Clevenger said that Stokes was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 10:30 p.m. while Revels was pronounced dead at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center at 10:50 p.m. after being transported for treatment.
The school announced the tragedy via social media Saturday morning:
Our campus is saddened to share the news with our community that four of our Lady Bantams were involved in a head on collision Friday evening. The crash left two seriously hurt and two were fatally injured.
— USC Union (@uscunion) February 8, 2020
According to the Times, “In wake of the tragedy, USC Union has announced that grief counselors will be on campus Monday to counsel students.”
WYFF, the local NBC affiliate, shared the news also.
“Our campus and community is absolutely devastated and heartbroken over this news,” said Annie Smith, the school’s marketing and development director.
Here is a recent Facebook post from the school spotlighting Revels:
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College News: USC Union Raising Funds for Scoreboard to Honor Fallen Players Grace Revels & Mia Stokes… & How We Can Help
Originally published Feb. 20, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
On Friday, February 7, 2020, two members of the University of South Carolina-Union softball team, sophomore catcher Grace Revels, and freshman third baseman Mia Stokes, were killed in a car crash in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The Lady Bantams softball program announced this week that it is raising funds for a new scoreboard honoring the two players as well as name the softball field in their memory.
Those wishing to make a donation of any size can do so by Clicking HERE
Grace (20), from Lancaster, South Carolina, was an NJCAA 1st Team All-Region pick last year and was planning on studying Special Education. Mia (18), from Charlotte, North Carolina and whose twin sister, Mallory, and another teammate, Devyn Royce, were injured in the accident, was looking to major in Physical Therapy.
Mallory broke her arm in two places and needed surgery while Devyn, daughter of head coach William Royce and the driver of the car, received a serious concussion and badly sprained wrist. Both are recovering from their injuries.
Coach Royce gave more details on the loss of his two players and the plans for the scoreboard:
“On February 7, 2020, Grace Revels and Mia Stokes lost their lives in a tragic accident and became our Angels in the Infield. In honoring their legacy as USCU softball players, we will be naming our softball field after these two amazing players. On behalf of the USC Union Athletic department, the field will be named The Revels-Stokes Field.”
“In celebrating this honor,” the coach continued, “we have designed a 9.5 foot by 20 foot score board which will honor Grace and Mia. In addition, we are retiring of the jerseys numbers #1 and #22. The numbers will be placed in memoriam on the outfield fence. The USC Union Athletic department is asking for donations to help this honor become a reality.”
The Stokes family issued the following statement today:
“Our family would like to thank everyone who has prayed for us and supported us through this difficult time. We are grateful that the school and softball program at USC Union would honor the lives of our daughter, Mia Stokes, and her teammate and friend, Grace Revels, by naming their field, The Revels-Stokes Field. We want people to remember Mia and Grace for their love for the sport of softball and the impact they had on the lives of all who met them.”
To watch a touching WBTV news piece on Mia and her family, Click HERE
On behalf of our staff at Extra Inning Softball, we strongly encourage those in the softball community to make a donation of any size to this great cause. We’d also like to thank Leah O’Brien Amico for her help with providing information for this article.
— Brentt Eads, President & Executive Editor
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Softball News: Driver Charged Thursday with DUI in Car Accident That Killed Two USC Union Players; Injured Players Give Emotional Statements Friday in Court
Originally published Mar. 7, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
On Thursday, the man who was driving the car that crossed the center line and struck a car carrying four USC Union softball players on February 7, killing two and injured two others, was formally charged on Thursday with driving under the influence (DUI).
Troopers with the South Carolina Highway Patrol said Yuriy Karpik (23) was charged with two counts of felony DUI involving death, felony DUI with great bodily injury and having an open container.
During a court hearing on Friday, Karpik admitted he had an open wine bottle in his car and had been drinking before the accident that took the lives of Lady Bantam players Mia Stokes (18) and Grace Revels (20).
Mia’s twin sister, Mallory Stokes, suffered injuries to her arm which needed surgery, and Devyn Royce, who was driving the car that was struck by Karpik’s vehicle and is the daughter of USC Union softball head coach William Royce, suffered a serious concussion and wrist injury.
Click HERE to read how USC Union is raising funds for a scoreboard honoring Grace Revels and Mia Stoke
Mallory and Devyn spoke at the hearing and, in emotional statements, asked that the judge not to grant a bond for Karpik.
As reported by Dal Kalsi of FOX Carolina: “Mallory told the court Mia was not only her twin, but also her best friend, and she did not know how she would live without her.
“Half of my soul was tragically taken from us. She died a horrific death that she did not deserve,” Mallory Stokes said in court. “Unlike him (Karpik), Mia always chose to follow the rules. She respected authority and she respected the law.”
“I have absolutely no idea how to live without Mia,” she continued. “He stole the other part of me that night and didn’t have to … He has made a horrible, horrible choice and deserves to face a horrible, horrible consequence.”
Devyn Royce also asked the judge to keep Karpik behind bars and the judge stated that a circuit court judge will make the decision in the future about granting a bond.
Here is the FOX Carolina video report:
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WSPA 7News also reported on the court hearing and filed this segment: