Southern Miss Softball Signs Five
11/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Southern Miss Softball Signs Five
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? Southern Miss softball coach Gay McNutt announced the signing of five future Lady Eagles to national letters of intent for the 2002-03 school year. Three come from Texas, one is from Florida and one is from Maryland.
?We are so excited about this year?s recruiting class,? stated McNutt who is beginning her second year leading the two-time Conference USA champions. ?Kenya Peters, Channika Gant, Felicia Gonzales and Kristie Martin all played very big roles in the tremendous success that Southern Miss softball has enjoyed during their outstanding careers. However, we believe that we have definitely filled the shoes of this very talented group of seniors.?
Ashley Brenan (Fr., 3B/2B, Spring, Texas), Charity Butler (Fr., SS/Utility, Pensacola, Fla.), Ashley Davis (Fr., SS, Chesapeake City, Md.), Jessica Huerta (Fr., SS, Pearland, Texas) and Danielle Wymer (Fr., P/1B, Houston, Texas) make up the list of signees for the Lady Eagles in the early signing period.
?All five are capable of playing more than one position and possess super potential for power at the plate,? continued McNutt. ?We are looking for great things from the ?Fab Five.? Southern Miss softball will be in great shape for the next several years.?
Last season?s Lady Eagles finished the year 46-21, claiming their second-straight C-USA title and third-straight appearance in the NCAA Regionals. Southern Miss has made some impressive accomplishments since the reinstatement of the softball program in 1999, including trips to the Women?s College World Series in 1999 and 2000.
The 2002 Southern Miss softball season begins on Feb. 12, with a home doubleheader against McNeese State beginning at 5 p.m. The spring slate features appearances at three invitational tournaments, potentially 15 games against Southeastern Conference opponents, four scheduled games against Big 12 opponents and over 20 games against teams that made the NCAA Regionals last season, including a possible matchup against 2001 national-champion Arizona.
The following are comments McNutt makes on each newcomer:
Ashley Brenan, Fr., Third Base/Second Base, Spring, Texas (Klein Oak High School)
?Ashley is a tremendous athlete. She swings the bat very well and has potential to be a great power hitter. She has super hands and a great arm. She is very versatile and can play just about any position in the infield. We look for her to come in and start for us either at third, second or first. Ashley is the total package.?
Charity Butler, Fr., Shortstop/Utility, Pensacola, Fla. (Tate High School)
?Charity is a very driven young lady with great fundamentals. She has a super attitude, and we are looking for her to push for a starting role somewhere on the field. Charity has outstanding hitting mechanics and potential. We are looking for her to make an immediate impact on our program both as a player and a leader.?
Ashley Davis, Fr., Shortstop, Chesapeake City, Md. (Bohemia Manor High School)
?Ashley has some big shoes to fill but is very capable of doing just that. She has great fundamentals and will be expected to come in and push for the starting role at shortstop. She has a great deal of power at the plate with the potential to hit the long ball. We are looking for big things from her in the next four years.?
Jessica Huerta, Fr., Shortstop, Pearland, Texas (Pearland High School)
?We are looking for Jessica to come in and make things happen. She is a very versatile player with a great deal of talent. We think she will also push for the starting shortstop position or possibly a spot in the outfield. Jessica loves the game and plays with a lot of heart. She has great hands and range.?
Danielle Wymer, Fr., Pitcher/First Base, Houston, Texas (Langham Creek High School)
?Danielle is a young pitcher with a great deal of talent. We are looking for her to fill some very big shoes on our pitching staff. As she develops and gets stronger, she will be capable of winning many games for us. When not pitching, she will work at first base due to her great defensive fundamentals and potential at the plate. Danielle is a right-handed pitcher but hits left with some power.?