Toni Paisley

Classroom

Paisley graduated in May 2010 with a degree in social work and a 3.53 GPA. She is now pursuing a second bachelor’s degree. During her years at East Carolina, Paisley has been a four-time C-USA Commissioner’s honor roll selection and was named to the 2010 Conference USA All-Academic team. Following the spring 2010 semester, Paisley made the East Carolina Chancellor’s List after posting a 4.0 GPA. That semester, she also completed an internship as a case manager with Pitt County Schools, working with students who were on legal probation and whose goals were to have perfect attendance and graduate from high school. In the future, she would like to pursue a master’s degree in criminal justice and work either as an officer helping criminals become productive members of society or as a criminal counselor, which could lead to becoming a detective.

Character

As one of the team’s top players, Paisley is placed in a leadership role. She continually strives to live up to those expectations and support her teammates both on and off the field. Paisley tries to carry the team with a positive attitude and work ethic. As a senior, she understands the importance of making the most of every day and each practice. She is frequently referred to by head coach Tracey Kee as the hardest worker and most competitive person Kee has ever coached. Kee notes that Paisley finishes every conditioning drill first on the team and is consistently fine-tuning her skills from pitch to pitch. That edge and intensity rubs off on Paisley’s teammates, making the team stronger. As a sophomore, in the spring of 2008, Paisley suffered an arm injury that cost her all but seven games of the season. She tirelessly worked and rehabbed over the next eight months, rebounding to become the 2009 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year and C-USA co-Female Athlete of the Year. Her dedication to come back stronger than ever was a great example to all those in the program of what can happen when one works hard each day.

Community

A source of pride for the entire East Carolina softball team is its extensive community involvement. Paisley has averaged nearly 20 hours of community service each fall since arriving on campus in 2006. Most recently she helped the Pirates run softball clinics in the fall of 2010. Paisley and the rest of her teammates took part in the ECU Athletic Department’s canned food drive to help area residents in need. The squad collected and donated 1,280 cans, surpassing its total from the previous year and contributing more than any other team on campus. Players also volunteer at the annual December Reindeer Dash for Cash 5K and 10-mile races. The Reindeer Dash for Cash events are held in memory of Capt. Christopher S. Cash, Sr., an East Carolina graduate who died in 2004 while serving his country in Iraq, and to raise money for scholarships given annually in his name. Paisley participated in the 5K race each during each of her years at ECU, pacing the 2010 team and finishing second in her age group (20-24 years old) with a time of 23 minutes, 36 seconds.

Competition

Paisley has become one of the most decorated athletes in East Carolina program history. Last year she was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America third team. She also repeated as a Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region team member, Conference USA Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-C-USA selection. After going 3-0 and striking out 20 while leading the Pirates to their first league tournament title, Paisley was named Most Valuable Player of the Conference USA tournament. For the year, Paisley recorded 22 solo shutouts, the second-highest total in the nation. She finished the year ranked fourth in the NCAA in earned run average (1.09), 10th in strikeouts (East Carolina single-season record 356), 11th in hits allowed per seven innings (3.89), 14th in victories and 30th in strikeouts per seven innings (9).