Slain Softball Star's Teammates Devastated

Friends and teammates of South Jersey softball star Nicole Ayres are "just numb" after hearing she was stabbed to death.

"She was a great personality, and she worked very, very hard, Rich Janofsky, her coach at Deptford High, told the Courier Post.

Ayres' body was found Monday morning near some soccer fields in Southampton. She'd been stabbled multiple times in the head, neck and back.

Stephen Headley is the suspect. Sources tell NBC Philadelphia that police believe the two met around 3 a.m. Monday at a Wawa in Medford, New Jersey, but are not saying why or what relationship the two may have had, if any.

Headley will be charged with murder when he gets out of the hospital. He was hit by a truck Monday when he ran from his mom's house on foot. A neighbor told the Philadelphia Daily News that Headley, 28, went to visit his mother and grandmother hours after allegedly dumping Ayres body. He took off, the neighbor said, because after confessing to his mother about the murder, his mom called police.

Ayres, 22 was from Westville, N.J. She played varsity for Deptford High. "She was without a doubt the best pitcher I ever had," Janofsky told the Philadelphia Daily News. "She worked so hard, helped all the people around her. . .It's just terrible what happened."

Ayres went on to pitch at Fordham University where she was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2007. She played one more year before leaving the team.

"We are absolutely stunned to hear about Nicole. It’s a sad day for us and the players who knew her. Our prayers and thoughts go out to her family and friends in this extremely difficult time," said Fordham softball head coach Bridget Orchard.

Ayres was recently enrolled at Rutgers-Camden where she was studying sociology and expecting to play for their softball team.

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