University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Softball Signs 7 to NLIs
11/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss softball coach Wendy Hogue announced the addition of seven signees Tuesday morning for the 2018 season, including Rebekah DiLavore (Ocala, Fla.), Destini Brown (McComb, Miss.), Reagan Watkins (Daphne, Ala.), Jamie Powell (Petal, Miss.), Karley Nichols (Brandon, Miss.), Alyssa "TaTa" Davis (Philadelphia, Miss.) and Kaley Fruge (Stuttgart, Ark.).
"This group is so athletic," Hogue said. "TaTa, Kaley, Bek and Jamie are all shortstops with the ability to play multiple positions. Destini is a kid with the potential to anchor center field for us for the next four years. Reagan and Karley are both left handed pitchers who hit, and hit for power. They all run well and can get the job done on both sides of the ball. We are very excited about the future of our program and the 2017 class is a major reason for that excitement."
DiLavore helped lead Florida Fire to the 2015 ASA/USA 16U A National Championship, while playing second base and shortstop. In addition, she has hit at least .433 in each of her three years of high school with a best of .605 during the 2015 campaign at Belleview High School.
"Bek is a gem," stated Hogue. "I look for her to be an impact player from day one for us."
Brown is a defensive standout in centerfield from Parklane Academy. In her junior year, Brown was named the 2016 Conference Player of the Year, she competed in the 2016 MAIS All-Star game where she was selected as the MVP. Brown received All-Conference accolades 2013 through 2015 seasons and also received All-State honors all three years in high school.
"What a great young lady Destini is," said Hogue. "Everything you look for in an elite athlete, she has it. She can hit; she can run; she's an excellent defender with great arm strength… As talented as she is, however, she is one of the most humble players you'll ever meet."
Watkins was named a 2015-16 Max Preps Second Team All-American. As a junior at the LAMP School (Montgomery, Ala.), she led the school to a state runner-up finish in Class 4A. Watkins went 26-4 with a 0.74 ERA while striking out 318 hitters in 171 innings. Watkins also hit .429 while earning 25 extra base hits. Both sophomore and junior seasons she was named to Alabama's Class 4A All-State First-Team. Watkins played club ball for the River Region Rebels, where she helped them earn a berth at the 2016 18U ASA/USA A Nationals.
"Reagan is a very talented player who has "that little bit extra," said Hogue. "She not only is a great pitcher from the left side, she's a smart pitcher as well. Her ability to mix speeds, combined with her movement, and depth of knowledge of the game can definitely position her as one of the best to ever wear the black and gold."
Jamie Powell finished her junior season at Petal High School with a batting average of .263 and an on base percentage of .346 that included 60 hits with 52 RBI and 45 runs. In Powell's' junior season, she had 23 RBI, 5 doubles and a home run.
"Jamie is a hometown kid who will instantly make our team better," said Hogue. "The tangibles are there, but it's the intangibles that set Jamie apart from some of the other athletes we've recruited. We're very excited she's chosen to continue her playing career at Southern Miss."
Nichols, from Brandon High Schoo, was a Jackson Clarion Ledger First-Team All-State honoree in her sophomore and junior years. Nichols hit over .500 in both those campaigns. Nichols will be joining her former teammate, Amber Pack, who is currently playing for Southern Miss.
"Karley is such a great player," said Hogue. "Over the years I've seen her play most every position on the field, and she plays them all very well. She's a true utility, and we're very fortunate to have her."
Davis, a three-time State Champion shortstop at Philadelphia High School, had one in fast pitch and two in slow-pitch, and was named the South MVP for both fast-pitch and slow-pitch All Star games. Davis finished her junior year with a .576 batting average in fast-pitch last spring, this includes nine doubles, nine triples, and five homeruns along with 50 runs scored and 38 stolen bases. Davis also had an on-base percentage of .654.
"TaTa is an unbelievable athlete," Hogue, said. "She excels in multiple sports in high school and we are pumped she's decided to focus on softball at the next level. She's a true five-tool athlete and has the ability to do some great things during her time at Southern Miss."
Fruge finished her junior season at Stuttgart High School as one of the nation's leaders in batting average with a .650, slugging percentage with a 1.116 and on base percentage with a .704. Fruge was named to the 2016 All Arkansas Preps Second-Team, has received All-State honors both sophomore and junior year, and is a three-time All-Conference player. Not only is Fruge decorated in softball, but she also has letters in basketball and golf, in which she has All-Conference accolades as well.
"Kaley is one of the fastest kids we've ever had at camp," said Hogue. "She's a fierce competitor who handles the bat well from the left side. With lots of tools in her arsenal, she has the potential to do some really great things for us on both sides of the ball."
Southern Miss begins the 2017 campaign when they take on McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA on Feb. 9. The Golden Eagles host the Black & Gold Invitational at the Softball Complex to open up the 2017 home campaign on Feb. 17-19.
