Tracey Lynch finished her fifth year at UNCG as an assistant coach under Janelle Breneman for the 2020 season. A part of the coaching staff that has guided the Spartans to the last three Southern Conference Regular Season Championships (excluding 2020), the 2018 SoCon Tournament Title and a spot in the 2019 SoCon Championship, Lynch works closely with the team’s pitchers and catchers.
The Spartans won 15 of their 22 matchups in 2020 before the season was brought to a sudden halt. In that short time, UNCG grabbed three wins against ACC, including Virginia, Clemson and North Carolina. Freshman Morgan Scott won SoCon Pitcher of the Month for February, and was the conference leader in K/BB (3.93), K/7 (9.2) and total strikeouts (106) for the season. The Spartans' team K/BB of 2.41 and 152 total strikeouts were SoCon bests, while the team's 3.15 ERA and .250 BAA were runner-ups.
Last season the Spartans remained as one of the best pitching staffs in the SoCon. They led the league in strikeouts (351), opposing batting average (.246), least amount of walks allowed (103) and were second in ERA (3.20). Stephanie Bryden earned first-team all-conference honors.
Bryden ranked in the nation 17th in victories (25) and strikeouts (246), 25th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.02) and 45th in strikeouts per seven innings (7.9). She led the SoCon in strikeouts, wins, opposing batting average (.206), was second in batters struck out looking (49) and third in ERA (2.35) and recorded the second-most strikeouts and wins in a single-season in school history.
Freshman catcher Delaney Cumbie was named to the All-SoCon First-Team and All-Freshman Team. Cumbie led the SoCon in on-base percentage (.483) and was second in walks (32) and caught stealing by (12-39), tied for fourth in hit by pitches (eight), sixth in batting average (.338) and slugging percentage (.559), tied for seventh in doubles (10) and eighth in fielding percentage (.986). She ranked in the nation 62nd in on-base percentage and 79th in walks per game (0.62) and tied for the ninth-most walks in a single-season in program history.
In the Spartans’ first ever SoCon Tournament Championship 2018 season, they finished 24th in the nation in ERA (2.07) and led the SoCon in the category as well as opposing batting average (.213). Alicia Bazonski wrapped up her career as a First Team All-SoCon and Second Team NFCA All-Mideast Region Selection after recording a 1.99 ERA and 20-7 record with 115 strikeouts to 68 walks. Hannah Stiltner garnered a spot to the league’s all-freshman team.
Bryden earned second team all-conference and first team all-region (pitcher/utility) honors. With a 16-1 record, Bryden led the SoCon in ERA (1.49) and opposing batting average (.152) and placed in Division I ninth in hits allowed per seven innings (3.66), 17th in strikeouts per seven innings (1.49), 27th in ERA and 37th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.32).
In 2017, the UNCG pitching staff posted a 4.01 team ERA with 25 complete games. Bazonski was a workhorse in the circle after being named the SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Bazonski tallied a 3.32 ERA with a 19-15 record, striking out 113 to just 65 walks. For her efforts, Bazonski garnered a Second Team All-SoCon nod.
Under Lynch's guidance in 2016, UNCG finished with a collective 3.64 earned run average. That average placed the team third in the league. It marked UNCG's lowest team ERA in three seasons. The Spartans had two pitchers earn postseason awards. Bazonski earned All-SoCon Second Team honors, and Bryden was named the league's Freshman of the Year.
Prior to coming to UNCG, Lynch spent two years at Stony Brook, helping the Seawolves claim back-to-back America East Conference Regular Season Championships.
Lynch was responsible for the pitchers and catchers at Stony Brook, helping the Seawolves post 64 wins over the past two years. Under her guidance, Allison Cukrov was named the America East Pitcher of the Year and named to the NFCA All-Region First Team after posting a 23-9 record with a 2.10 ERA in 2015. During her time at Stony Brook, the Seawolves posted a 29-3 record in league play and were 29-7 at home during her tenure.
She is familiar with the SoCon, having worked as an assistant coach with the College of Charleston when the Cougars were members of the SoCon. While at Charleston, Lynch worked with all hitters, infielders and pitchers. Under Lynch's guidance, the pitching staff posted a 2.61 team ERA and a .239 opponent batting average, while helping the Cougars to 37 wins and a second-place finish in the Southern Conference regular season standings.
Prior to College of Charleston, Lynch spent time at the Division II level, working with LIU Post, in Brookville, New York. During her time at LIU Post, Lynch worked with the pitchers and catchers and also assisted with bullpen sessions, situational defense, outfield drills, hitting, and strength and conditioning. In 2011, the pitchers recorded a 1.67 team ERA, which ranked 14th nationally, and helped the Pioneers to a 41-16 record, the East Region Championship and a spot in the College World Series (NCAA Division II). LIU Post finished the year ranked No. 9 in the nation and Lynch, along with the rest of the staff, received the NFCA East Region Coaching Staff of the Year award.
Lynch also has extensive experience with youth softball instruction, having taught the sport to age groups ranging from seven to 18. Lynch previously worked as an instructor at the New York Softball Academy (Brookville, N.Y.) and at the Frozen Ropes Softball/Baseball Facility (Garden City, N.Y.) from 2010-12.
Lynch also managed and taught softball at Ozzie Smith's Sports Academy in Yorktown, Va., and taught speed and agility at 3D Sports, also in Yorktown, in 2009-10.
Lynch played collegiately at Liberty University from 2005-07, before suffering a shoulder injury that ended her college career. After undergoing surgery and the rehabilitation process, Lynch was able to re-take the field in 2008 as the starting catcher of the Competitive Edge International Softball team, which traveled to China to challenge the Chinese Olympic and National teams.
A native of Lancaster, Pa., Lynch earned her bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Liberty University in 2009. She is married to Josh Vernon and mother to Tucker born September 1, 2020.
