Appalachian State
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University softball program signed four to its 2010 team announced head coach Amy Herrington.
ALLIE CASHION (Waxhaw, N.C./Weddington ? OF/INF)
Cashion is a four year letter-winner in softball and basketball and two-year letter-winner in tennis at Weddington High School. She earned softball all-county honors her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons, along with being named to the 4A Southwestern all-conference squad all three years. The outfielder and infielder also earned all- district and all-state accolades her sophomore and junior years and was named her team’s MVP her freshman, sophomore and junior years.
HANNAH DOW (Mattoon, Ill./Heartland CC ? Pitcher/IF)
Dow joins the Apps after a year stint at Heartland Community College. While at Heartland, she was named to the 2008 all-region tournament team, and earned all-conference academic honors. She also helped Heartland to a third place finish in the NJCAA Division II national tournament in the program's first season.While in high school, Dow was a four year letter-winner in softball and basketball, and earned three varsity letters in golf. The pitcher and infielder was an all-conference selection her sophomore, junior and senior seasons and earned the softball golden glove award both her junior and senior years.
LOUISE GIBSON (Birmingham, Ala./Oak Mountain ? Pitcher)
Gibson comes to Appalachian from the Yellowhammer State. The pitcher played in the North vs. South all-star game her junior year, was a member of the Over-The-Mountain softball squad, named 2008 honorable mention in softball for the Birmingham area and also named to the Hoover Tournament all-tournament team.
MEGHAN SMITH (Stafford, Va./Mountain View ? IF)
Smith joins the Mountaineers as a three year letter-winner in softball at Mountain View High School. While at Mountain View she earned first team all-state and all-region honors her junior year as a short stop, she was also named second team all-region her sophomore season. Smith has earned first team all-conference honors throughout high school and was named the 2008 Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year. Smith plays both short stop and third base.
ASU also added Sheridan Phillips to its 2010 team. Phillips is from Greensboro, N.C. where she attended Northwest Guilford High School. During her high school career she was a member of the 2006, 2007 and 2008 4A conference championship teams and was a part of the NC Rockers travel team that won the ASA state title.
Elon
ELON, N.C. ? Head coach Patti Raduenz announces the signing of four student-athletes to the Elon softball team during the 2008 early signing period. Joining the team for the 2009-10 season is catcher Camille Hill, outfielder Tomeka Watson, and infield utility player Morgan Wright, and pitcher/utility player Karin-Andrea Pervell.
Hill joins the Phoenix from Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga. During the summer of 2008, Hill was a member of the GA Knockouts 18 Gold travel club where she also played the outfield in addition to her regular duties as the team’s catcher. As a catcher, she threw out 25-of-32 base runners. Her club team finished third in the Colorado Fireworks tournament during the season. Hill is the daughter of Steve and Karen Hill.
Raduenz on Hill: “Camille is a big arm catcher with a good head for the game and a strong hunger to be challenged to be better. Her personality and leadership behind the plate will drive our pitchers to stay relaxed yet focused. Camille’s athletic build brings a tough physical game behind the plate.”
Hailing from Jackson, Ga., Watson comes to Elon spending four years on the Jackson High School softball team where she was a four-year starter. She was a three-time all-region player and was named to the 4-AAA first-team. While at Jackson, Watson led her team to four straight appearances at the Georgia State Sections and was named Jackson’s Best Offensive Player in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Her team finished 25-5, making it the first time in the history of Jackson fast pitch that a team has finished a season with 25 wins. Watson also was a member of the Atlanta Vipers and the Georgia Elite, making two appearances at Gold Nationals, finishing in the top-13 both times. Watson is the daughter of Tommy and Daphne Watson.
Raduenz on Watson: ?Tomeka is a tremendous athlete that has the potential to be one of the top outfielders in the Southern Conference. Her speed, offensive skills, dedication and competitiveness will be tough for our opponents to match. Tomeka is the complete package, she has a tremendous work ethic and loves to compete.”
Wright, a native of Siler City, N.C., joins Elon after a standout career at Jordan-Matthews High School. In 2008, she helped her team to a second-place conference finish and the conference tournament title. She was also a member of Jordan-Matthews’ 2006 and 2007 conference and conference tournament runner-up teams. For her efforts, Wright was named her teams MVP in 2008 and was named all-conference, all-district and was an all-state honorable mention. In 2007 she was selected to the all-conference team and was an all-district honorable mention. She is the daughter of Tony and Diane Wright.
Raduenz on Wright: “Morgan is a hardnosed local talent who provides power at the plate and great size as a utility player on the infield. Morgan’s desire to improve on a daily basis is rarely seen in young people today.”
Pervell is the final signee for the 2009-10 signing class. She is a utility player who also has played first base and outfield in addition to her pitching duties. Pervell joins the Phoenix after an impressive career at Lewis Palmer High School. The Colorado Springs, Colo. native is a two-time High School and Southern Colorado Player of the Year. She was also named the Freshman of the Year and was an all-state honorable mention in 2005. She holds the Metro 5A League record for lowest ERA with a .55 and the highest batting average with a .625. Pervell led Lewis Palmer to back-to-back undefeated high school championships; including the schools first ever league title in 2006. Pervell was also named to the academic all-state softball team as a junior. She is also a gold medal winner as a member of the Team USA International team, which defeated the Czech Republic National Team 12-6 in the semi-finals. During the game, she registered six strikeouts, allowed nine hits and four walks. As a member of the Colorado Quicksilver 18A squad, she helped the team tie for 12th nationally in the ASA ?A’ nationals. Pervell is the daughter Brad and Sheila Pervell.
Raduenz on Pervell: “Kari is going to be a great addition to our team. She is an extremely confident left-handed pitcher. Defensively Kari brings to us power and on the mound and depth at first base, while also providing in addition, she has the versatility to provide power at the plate offensively.”
Furman
Greenville, S.C. -- Furman head softball coach Dana Jenkins has announced the addition of three student-athletes who inked national letters of intent during November to join the Paladin program for the 2009-2010 academic year.
Emily Boyer (Lakeland, Fla.), Kayla Suskauer (Tampa, Fla.) and Sidney Vlass (Roswell, Ga.) are scheduled to enroll at Furman in the fall of 2009 and join the Paladin roster for the 2010 softball season.
“We are excited about the addition of Emily, Kayla and Sidney and believe they each can be impact players for our program,” said Jenkins. “All three are the type of well rounded and versatile student-athlete that we look for and we are thrilled they are joining the Furman softball family.”
Boyer, a shortstop, posted a .328 batting average during her junior year for head coach Craig Evans at Lakeland High School. She totaled seven doubles on her way to earning team most valuable player honors and honorable mention all-county accolades. A member of the Twilight Twisters summer team, Boyer also attends the Harrison School for the Arts.
Suskauer, a righthanded pitcher, captured MiracleSports AAAAAA All-State third team honors and Tampa Tribune All-Hillsborough Country first team accolades after guiding Plant High School to a 23-5 record and region finals appearance as a junior in the spring of 2008. The hurler fashioned an 11-5 record, including two wins over nationally-ranked Chamberlain High, and 0.94 ERA in the circle while fanning 97 batters. Suskauer also batted .343 at the plate with 14 RBI for head coach Melissa Sigmon’s Panthers.
Vlass played third base and pitched for head coach Melanie Kotler’s Roswell High School squad. She earned first team 6-AAAAA All-Region honors as a senior in the fall of 2008 while helping the Hornets to an 11-16-1 overall record and 6-6 region mark. The righthanded hitter plays summer ball for coach Lloyd Olson and the Riptides.
Furman, which returns all eight position starters and its top two pitchers, opens its 2009 season on February 8, when it hosts Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Georgia Tech in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Pepsi Stadium.
Georgia Southern
STATESBORO, Ga. --- Seven student-athletes have signed a National Letter of Intent and will play softball at Georgia Southern announced head coach Maggie Johnson.
Joining the team next season are: Kayla Brooks, Tabby Douberley, Sara Hinchman, Alexa Lewis, Amy Nagel, Kaitlynn Szczepanski, and Andrea Tarashuk.
“We are thrilled to welcome the 2009 signing class and their families to our Eagle Softball program,” said Johnson. “This group of talented young ladies brings a combination of speed, power, dedication, and love for the game of softball that will enhance our level of competition.”
Brooks, a 5-6 outfielder from Jonesboro, Ga., currently attends Dutchtown High School. She hit .515 as a senior with four home runs, 30 RBI and 30 stolen bases. She recorded an .860 slugging percentage and scored 37 runs. Brooks and the Bulldogs tallied a 45-21-1 record over her sophomore and junior campaigns.
Douberly is a 5-8 first baseman from Clyo, Ga. She earned Best Offensive Player, All-Region and All-State honors as a senior at Effingham County High School after batting .395 with eight homers and 23 RBI. Douberly was a four-year letterwinner and guided the Rebels to a region title in 2008.
Hinchman, a 5-7 outfielder, attends Alexander High School in Douglasville, Ga. She hit .456 last season to lead the Cougars to a 23-10 record and a No. 9 final ranking in the state. Hinchman recorded a .426 average her sophomore season en route to all-county and all-region recognition and a region championship.
Lewis is a 5-6 outfielder from Lawrenceville, Ga. She earned three varsity letters at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga. and was an all-region honoree in 2007. The Eagles finished second in the state in 2006.
Nagel, a 6-0 catcher/first baseman, is a native of Metter, Ga. and attends Metter High School. She is the MHS all-time and single-season leader in home runs and is an all-state and two-time all-region performer. Nagel also lettered in tennis, basketball, track & field and cheerleading.
Szczepanski is a 5-7 outfielder from Chesapeake, Va. She earned first team All-Tidewater, all-region and all-district accolades as a junior after batting .393 with 25 RBI. That followed an all-district sophomore campaign as a sophomore. The Wildcats won the Southeastern District Tournament in 2007.
Tarashuk, a 5-1 utility player from Flemington, N.J., is currently at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. A three-year letterwinner, Tarashuk led the Red Devils to county and conference titles in 2007 and 2008, and made appearances in the state tournament. HCRHS has posted 50 wins in the last two seasons combined, including a 26-2 mark in 2008.
UNC Greensboro
GREENSBORO, NC ? UNC Greensboro’s softball team has signed three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the recent signing period, head coach Jennifer Herzig announced Tuesday.
Chelsea D’Ambrosio, Ally Johnson and Heather Robb will join the Spartans for the 2009-10 school year.
“I am very excited about our 2009 recruiting class and feel that it is a true privilege to welcome Chelsea, Ally, and Heather and their families into the Spartan Softball program,” Herzig said. “All three players will come to UNCG from very competitive high school and/or summer ball programs, and I believe that they will adjust very quickly to the college game after spending the past several years competing against elite teams from all over the nation. Chelsea, Ally, and Heather are all very dynamic players, each bringing different strengths to our program.”
D’Ambrosio, a catcher from Houston, TX, is a two-time all-district and All-Greater Houston selection for coach Robin Rackley at J. Frank Dobie High School. D’Ambrosio was named the squad’s best offensive player in each of the last two seasons, and helped lead the Longhorns to a district championship in 2007 and a co-championship in 2008. Dobie was also the bi-area champion in 2007. D’Ambrosio was also a member of the 10U AFA national championship team, and currently plays for the 18U Texas Storm summer team coached by Carla Newsom and Kelly Bembry.
Johnson, an infielder from Port Orchard, WA, plays for coach Kathy Ballew at South Kitsap High School. A three-year member of the squad, Johnson owns a .480 batting average for Kitsap and was a Kitsap County All-Star in 2007 and 2008. Johnson plays for coach Wayne Miller for the 18U Washington Ladyhawks Gold ? Miller, helping the team to the 18U ASA Gold Nationals in 2008. She also helped the Washington Acers to the 16U ASA “A” Nationals in 2007 and helped the Washington Sudden Impact get there in 2006. Johnson also helped the Sudden Impact reach the 14U ASA “A” Nationals in 2005.
Robb, an infielder from Apex, NC, is an all-state performer for coach Robbie Wray’s Middle Creek High School squad. Robb has also earned all-district and all-county honors twice each and is a three-time all-conference and academic all-conference performer. She was Middle Creek’s offensive MVP in 2008 and was Middle Creek’s winner of the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. Robb holds three single-season school records and helped the Mustangs win the Tri-8 Conference championship in 2008. Middle Creek was also the regional runner-up and finished fourth in the 4A state championships. Robb also plays for the 18U NC Lady Lightning Gold summer team under the direction of coach John Corn.
“In addition to what our three signees will bring to the field athletically, they are all very strong students and people of the highest character,” Herzig said. “I truly think they have the ability to develop into very strong leaders for the future of our program. Not only am I excited to coach them as they grow and succeed over the course of their collegiate careers, I am thrilled to know they will be doing so while wearing Spartan Navy and Gold.”
The Spartans open the 2009 season on Feb. 6 with games against North Florida and South Florida at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament in Tampa, FL.
Samford
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Samford softball head coach Beanie Ketcham and her staff announce three signees for the 2010 season. The Bulldogs have signed Emily Waters out of the West Coast ranks, local standout Jessica Jackson from Trussville, and Brianna Chambers from Covington, Ga.
Waters is a right-handed pitcher who hails from Lake Forest, Calif. The 5'9" signee attends El Toro High School where she has made a significant impact in their softball program. For the 2008 season, she helped lead her team to a number one ranking in Orange County and eventually, the CIF playoffs with an 11-0 record. She was named one of Orange County's top 10 pitchers as well as a top five junior in the county.
The Second Team All-County pick said her most memorable highlight was defeating top-ranked Valencia High School in a 1-0 shutout to end their opponents' 35-game winning streak. Waters plays for the ASA (Amateur Softball of America) California Desperados. She is an accomplished student and a member of the National Honor Society, and plans to major in exercise science.
"I'm so excited to finally be signing," Waters said. "From the time I walked on to the campus, I knew Samford was the perfect school for me. I'm looking forward to playing Division I softball at a high academic school. I'm really excited to leave the "OC bubble" and experience a new atmosphere!"
"We are very excited to sign Emily," Ketcham said. "She is an outstanding pitcher with a lot of big game experience. Orange County is one of the most competitive softball counties in the country. Emily has very good movement and changes speeds well. She is an athletic pitcher with good size and the potential to get stronger and more powerful. She will be a great addition to our team and will help us set a tone in the Southern Conference."
Samford's 2010 local signee is Trussville, Ala., native Jessica Jackson. Jackson is a 5'7" power hitting outfielder out of Hewitt-Trussville High School. Last season, Jackson hit .416 with three home runs and 33 RBI to help her team to the Area 13 title. She led the Huskies with 45 runs, 12 doubles and five triples.
Jackson, who plans to study education at Samford, also played for the ASA 16U Birmingham Vipers, who have put Alabama ASA softball on the national map. The Vipers earned national respect by finishing in the top five at 16U Nationals in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, the 16U Vipers also won the widely coveted Independence Day Tournament Title in Colorado. The tournament plays host to the best of the best every summer during Independence Day weekend.
"I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet a few of the softball players at Samford at a young age while attending clinics on campus," Jackson said. "The question of where I wanted to play softball in college was determined by how amazing the coaches and players seemed to be and now I'll be living out a four-year dream playing softball at Samford University."
"Jessica has been on our radar for a long time, having attended our softball camps over the last several years," Ketcham said. "We have been waiting on this day for a long time and are excited that she will finally become a Samford Bulldog. Jessica brings a level of toughness and commitment that will help us continue to improve as a program. Her "big game" experience while playing on the Vipers is also a positive. We expect her to make an impact in the line up with the potential to hit for power and drive in runs."
Finally, the Bulldogs sign Brianna Chambers, a speedster from Covington, Ga. The 5'2" outfielder attends Eastside High School and is a well-rounded athlete with many honors to show for it. For the past three years, Chambers has been selected to the 4A All-Region teams and was named First Team All-State and Adidas Futures Top 100 recruit last season. In her senior season (Georgia plays high school softball in the fall), Chambers led her team with a .495 batting average, .591 on-base percentage, 33 stolen bases on 36 attempts and hit seven triples to tie for fifth in the all-time Georgia State records.
Chambers helped Eastside High to its best-ever finish of fourth place in the Georgia State tournament. In ASA summer softball, she has come up through the Atlanta Vipers organization, one of the most respected in the state, where she led her team with a .475 batting average in the summer of 2008. She plans to major in sport medicine.
"I am extremely excited to have finally signed," Chambers said, "especially with a school that is as perfect for me as Samford."
"Bri is a speedy, athletic player who slaps from the left side and will play right into our aggressive offense with the ability to apply pressure and deceive defenses with several options at the plate," Ketcham said. "In the outfield, her speed will make an impact, filling some big shoes in graduating All-Conference player, Jessica Owens. Bri's big game experience coming up through the Atlanta Viper's organization will also be a plus as we make our case for a Southern Conference title."
Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ? Chattanooga head softball coach Frank Reed announced Thursday that Ashley Canara of Milton, Ga., Sara Poteat of Thomaston, Ga., and Kasey Tydingco of Fairfield, Calif., have signed national letters of intent with the Lady Mocs.
“We feel that our 2009 class is one of the best that we have signed in awhile,” Reed said. “Our goal for the class was to look really hard for left-handed hitters, and we were able to do that with all three of these young women.”
Canara, a senior at both shortstop and third base at Milton High School, has been a four-year starter for Melanie Mostellar at Milton. She is also a member of the East Cobb Bullets Gold travel ball team with head coach Bo Rush. She will compete for jobs at both second and third base at UTC.
“Ashley is player with a lot of versatility in the infield. We have seen her play second, third, and even shortstop while we were recruiting her. We watched her with the East Cobb Gold team, which is one of the premier teams in the southeast. We feel that she will bring a lot to us offensively.
Poteat, a senior shortstop at Upson-Lee High School is recent recipient of the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. This past season with the Knights, Poteat was a perfect 18 for 18 in stolen bases, which is a school record. Her sophomore year, the infielder was a member of the 4AAAA all-region softball team. Poteat is expected to step in and vie for a spot in the middle infield for the Lady Mocs.
“Sara may be the most versatile player we signed. I can see her playing anywhere for us, except maybe pitcher, and she has even done that. She has a tremendous desire to play and as we have watched her, she has gotten better and better. We are going to look hard to see where she fits with us, but she should be a nice addition to our middle infield.
Tydingco signs with UTC as a player that can play both first base and outfield for the Lady Mocs. She is currently in her senior year at Armijo High School, where she was on the first team all-league team as a sophomore. Tydingco is also a member of the Sorcerer Gold Pete travel ball team with head coach Phil Mumma.
“Kasey is a California kid with a lot of speed that can also hit for power,” said Reed. “She can also play different positions for us. We have seen her play multiple positions in the outfield, as well as first base.”