University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Hogue Inks First Signing Class at Southern Miss
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - First-year head coach Wendy Hogue announced the signing of five players to national letters of intent (NLI) to play softball at Southern Miss. The 2016 signing class consists of Tori Dew (Stonewall, Miss.), Brielle Grubbs (Fayetteville, Ga.), Samantha Papp (Hattiesburg, Miss.), Sydney Pollock (Windermere, Fla.) and Kamryn Vanlandingham (Hazlehurst, Miss.).
"We are very excited about the 2015 signees," Hogue said of her first Golden Eagle signing class. "The former coaching staff did most of the work in securing the incoming freshmen. All I had to do was seal the deal. We have a good mix of speed and power coming to the team and are expecting an immediate impact from this class."
Dew is a junior college transfer from Jones County Junior College. She was named the 2014 NJCAA Division II Softball Player of the Year, as well as, being tabbed First Team NJCAA Division II All-American, All-NJCAA Division II All-Tournament Team and First Team All-Region 23. She helped JCJC post a 52-6 record (a single season school record for wins in a season), finishing as runner up in the National Tournament and ranked No. 2 in the final poll of the season. Dew hit .602 on the year, going 103-for-171 with 83 runs scored, 27 doubles, 20 home runs and 104 RBI. She earned the MACJC "Triple Crown," barely missing out on the national version. Dew led the nation with in batting average, runs batted in and finishing tied for second in home runs. She ended her rookie campaign second nationally with a 1.111 slugging percentage, a .665 on-base percentage and was third with 27 doubles. In high school, Dew was a standout at Quitman High School, leading the Panthers to the state playoffs all four years. Dew was named First Team All-State as a senior and earned First Team All-District accolades all four years and was selected as a MAC All-Star in 2012. She also played soccer, earning First Team All-District honors (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) and Team MVP (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014). In the classroom, Dew was an honor student.
"We are very fortunate to have Tori on board for the next two years," stated Hogue. "Obviously her numbers speak for themselves. What they don't show, however, is the quality person she is. She is going to be to an asset for our program on and off the field."
Grubbs lettered at Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Ga. She helped the Wildcats to a second place finish in the State Playoffs as a freshman and a third place finish as a sophomore. Grubbs was named First Team All-Region as a sophomore and junior, while earning Second Team accolades as a freshman. She was named the 2012 Stephanie Philips Award winner. She played club ball with the Georgia Impact (2008) and Atlanta Vipers (2009-14), winning a National Championship with the Atlanta Vipers at the 2012 Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) Nationals. Grubbs finished 2-for-3 in the National Championship game, scoring the game-winning run.
"Brielle has an excellent high school and summer ball resume," commented Hogue. "She is someone I look forward to watching grow and develop over the next four years."
Papp is a local product who played at Oak Grove High School. She helped the Warriors to a 69-20 (.775) record in three years and led Oak Grove HS to a 2013 MHSAA Fastpitch 6A State Championship as a sophomore, helping the Warriors to a 29-5 (.853) overall record. Papp directed Oak Grove HS to the 2010 and 2013 MHSAA Fastpitch 6A South State Championships. She was named First Team All-State (2013, 2014), First Team All-District (2012, 2013, 2014), First Team All-Area (2012, 2013, 2014), as well as earning the 2014 Pine Belt Sports Player of the Year award. In addition, she received the 2013 High School Sports in Mississippi Hitter of the Year. She was named to the 2014 MAC Fastpitch All-Star Team and 2013 MHSAA 6A All-State Tournament Team. In her first three years, Papp batted .426 (155-for-364) with 81 runs scored, 28 doubles, seven triples, 17 home runs, 132 RBI and nine stolen bases. Off the field, Papp is a member of the National Honor Society and a 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Student. "We are expecting great things from Samantha," Hogue said of the Hattiesburg native. "She is someone I've followed for years. She's a local player who bleeds black and gold. She has the ability to play multiple positions but catching will be her main role for us."
Pollock, whose sister Arielle is a current Southern Miss outfielder, started her high school career at West Orange HS before transferring to Windermere Preparatory HS. She helped the Lakers advance to the District Semifinals as a junior. Pollock was named First Team All-District as a sophomore and junior. She was selected Team Captain (2012, 2013, 2014), Foundation Academy HS All-Tournament Team (2013, 2014), Windermere Prep Female Athlete of the Year (2013-14) and All-District First Team All-Star in the outfield (2013, 2014). As a junior, Pollock hit .676 (48-for-71) with 42 runs, 19 doubles, 10 triples, four home runs, 40 RBI and 36 stolen bases. As a sophomore, she batted .569 (29-for-51) with 30 runs, 10 doubles, five triples, three home runs, 29 RBI and 24 stolen bases. In her rookie campaign, Pollock recorded a .583 (28-for-48) batting average with 24 runs, eight doubles, three triples, two home runs, 25 RBI and 20 stolen bases. Pollock set the single-season records in batting average and stolen bases as a junior. In addition, she played club softball with the Windermere Wildfire (2008-14), winning the Florida State Championship in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Pollock was also a member of the varsity cheerleading squad and an All-District performer on the track and field team.
"Sydney is such a great kid," stated Hogue. "She fell in love with Southern Miss softball when her sister became a part of the team a couple of years ago. We are excited to see what she will do in the Southern Miss outfield."
Vanlandingham lettered at Copiah Academy in Gallman, Miss. She helped the Colonels to the MAIS State Championship in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Vanlandingham led Copiah Academy to a 148-22 (.870) record in four years. She was named First Team All-District (2012, 2013, 2014) and Second Team in 2011. In her career, Vanlandingham boasted a .460 batting average, going 213-for-463 with 195 runs scored, 64 doubles, 10 triples, 12 home runs, 161 RBI and 30 stolen bases. As a senior, she hit .479 (56-for-117) with 50 runs, 15 doubles, four triples, a home run, 37 RBI and six stolen bases. She was named MAIS All-Star (2014) and All-Tournament Team (2012, 2013, 2014). Vanlandingham was tabbed Most Valuable Defensive Player (2013), Most Valuable Offensive Player (2011, 2012) and Most Versatile Player (2010). In addition, Vanlandingham also played basketball, earning First Team All-District honors and Team MVP accolades. In the classroom, Vanlandingham was an honor student and member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and Student Government.
"Kamryn is another player I've watched for years," remarked Hogue. "She is very versatile and has all the tools necessary to be a great player for us here at Southern Miss in the years to come."
The quintet are set to join the team during the fall of 2015. However, Bailey Stokes, who signed her grant-in aid with Southern Miss on Oct. 16, will enroll in classes at Southern Miss this spring. Stokes has the honor of being Hogue's first Division I signee.
Stokes was named 2014 First Team All-MACJC and First Team NJCAA Division II All-Region 23. She helped Jones County JC post a 52-6 record, finishing as runner up in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament and ranked No. 2 in the final poll. Stokes hit .380 on the year, going 63-for-166 with 22 runs scored, 19 doubles, 10 home runs and 63 RBI. Stokes prepped at Madison Central High School in Madison, Miss. She helped the Jaguars to four consecutive State Championship appearances and three State Titles (2010, 2011, 2012) and a Runner-Up finish (2013), as well as, winning the District Championship in 2012 and 2013. Stokes was named Team MVP and earned the Leadership Award as a senior. She led the Jaguars to a 109-22 (.832) record in four years. In the classroom, Stokes was an honor student and was named a Mississippi Eminent Scholar.
"I can't tell you how excited I am to have Bailey on board for the spring," said Hogue of her first Southern Miss recruit. "Not only is she a quality player, but a leader as well. The fact that she prepped at Madison Central and won a state and regional championship at JCJC proves that she knows what it takes to win. She will have the opportunity to step in and make an immediate impact."
Southern Miss softball returns to the diamond on Friday, Feb. 6 as the Golden Eagles take part in the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. The Black and Gold make their home debut on Friday, Feb. 20 against in-state foe Mississippi Valley State.
