University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Softball Signs Nine on National Signing Day
11/12/2020 2:28:00 PM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Head coach Brian Levin and the Southern Miss softball program received National Letters of Intent from all nine members of the 2021 signing class during the early signing period, which opened on Wednesday, November 11.
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Lorna Agren, Alexis Dittmer, Rycca Hinton, Scout Jennings, Paige Kilgore, Jana Lee, Maddie Moody, Riley Stephens and Natalie Taylor are the nine future Golden Eagles that officially signed to compete for the program.
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Southern Miss Head Softball Coach Brian Levin on the 2021 Signing Class
"I am really fired up about this signing class. It is a class that is the whole package. There is a mix of speed, power, pitching and defense in this group. All of these young ladies have had success playing at elite club levels. I think our fans are going to be impressed with the talent level of these players, but even more so in their character and work ethic. The program has an extremely bright future! SMTTT!"
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Lorna Agren
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OF | Fairhope, Ala. | Baldwin County Virtual Secondary School | Birmingham
Thunderbolts Premier
"I wanted to go to school close to home. People from my hometown have great things to say about Southern Miss. The family-oriented atmosphere and strong sense of community was undeniable from the minute I stepped on campus. The school and team were both so welcoming and after talking with the team, I knew Southern Miss had a program that I could contribute to and grow from."
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Alexis Dittmer
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C | Aurora, Ind. | South Dearborn | Indiana Shockwaves-Perry
"Upon speaking with Coach Levin, it was apparent on the type of culture he wanted to create within the softball program. I knew I wanted to be a part of what he was creating. After visiting campus, the community was noticeably supportive and caring. Southern Miss is a friendly campus and it felt like the right fit academically and athletically."
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Rycca Hinton
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INF/UT | Mobile, Ala. | Faith Academy | Impact Gold Holman Premier
"The first time stepping on campus I felt right at home. The coaches and players made me feel like family as soon as I met them. Southern Miss is a beautiful campus with a variety of majors and an outstanding athletic program."
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Scout Jennings
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OF | Villa Rica, Ga. | Carrollton High School | Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier
"I chose Southern Miss because it felt like somewhere I could call home. The coaches want the team to be a family. On my visit, I specifically remember Coach Levin saying he treats the girls like they are his kids. In addition, the city of Hattiesburg supports the school."
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Paige Kilgore
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P | Houston, Miss. | Houston High School | Impact Gold
"The family atmosphere at Southern Miss made me feel at home the first time I stepped foot on campus. I have always loved USM and the city of Hattiesburg."
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Jana Lee
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 P/INF | Albany, Ga. | Dougherty High School | Thunderbolts
"The University of Southern Mississippi stood out among other universities I considered. The coaching staff, campus diversity and opportunity made the difference. Softball has a magnificent way of proving to me that if we put our all into something, good things will come in return."
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Maddie Moody
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 C/INF | Magee, Miss. | Simpson County Academy | Germantown Red Devils
"I chose USM because I love the close family feel. When I stepped foot on campus, I immediately felt the love from everyone and especially from Coach Levin and Coach Mulvany. My dad and sister attended USM so it means a lot for me to follow in their footsteps and become a Golden Eagle!"
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Riley Stephens
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 INF/OF | Prosper, Texas | Prosper High School | Texas Glory RWB
"The community and family feeling at Southern Miss is welcoming and inviting. As soon as I stepped on campus I felt at home. I genuinely love the environment that the coaches have created, it's like one big family. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to join this family."
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Natalie Taylor
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 INF | Brandon, Miss. | Brandon High School | Impact Gold Premier
"There is a sense of community at Southern Miss that no other college can compare to. I came to every camp growing up and saw how happy all the student-athletes were. They always talked about how welcoming Southern Miss is and how it instantly felt like home. As I grew up, my love for the school and the community gave me a gut feeling that Southern Miss is where I need to be."
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Lorna Agren, Alexis Dittmer, Rycca Hinton, Scout Jennings, Paige Kilgore, Jana Lee, Maddie Moody, Riley Stephens and Natalie Taylor are the nine future Golden Eagles that officially signed to compete for the program.
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Southern Miss Head Softball Coach Brian Levin on the 2021 Signing Class
"I am really fired up about this signing class. It is a class that is the whole package. There is a mix of speed, power, pitching and defense in this group. All of these young ladies have had success playing at elite club levels. I think our fans are going to be impressed with the talent level of these players, but even more so in their character and work ethic. The program has an extremely bright future! SMTTT!"
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Lorna Agren
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OF | Fairhope, Ala. | Baldwin County Virtual Secondary School | Birmingham
Thunderbolts Premier
- 2018 Alabama 7A State Champion
- 2020 Oklahoma City National Champion
- 2020 Atlanta Legacy Champion
- Ranked by Extra Innings Softball as the #107 recruit in 2021
"I wanted to go to school close to home. People from my hometown have great things to say about Southern Miss. The family-oriented atmosphere and strong sense of community was undeniable from the minute I stepped on campus. The school and team were both so welcoming and after talking with the team, I knew Southern Miss had a program that I could contribute to and grow from."
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Alexis Dittmer
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C | Aurora, Ind. | South Dearborn | Indiana Shockwaves-Perry
- 2019 Sectional Champs
- 2019 All-County
- All-Conference 2018
"Upon speaking with Coach Levin, it was apparent on the type of culture he wanted to create within the softball program. I knew I wanted to be a part of what he was creating. After visiting campus, the community was noticeably supportive and caring. Southern Miss is a friendly campus and it felt like the right fit academically and athletically."
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Rycca Hinton
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INF/UT | Mobile, Ala. | Faith Academy | Impact Gold Holman Premier
- 2020 North and South All-Star selection
- 2018 Kiwanis Player of the Week
- Alabama High School All-State Terrific 20
- Ranked by Extra Innings Softball as the #87 recruit in 2021
"The first time stepping on campus I felt right at home. The coaches and players made me feel like family as soon as I met them. Southern Miss is a beautiful campus with a variety of majors and an outstanding athletic program."
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Scout Jennings
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OF | Villa Rica, Ga. | Carrollton High School | Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier
- 2019 Most Valuable Offensive Player
- 2019 All-Region Gold Glove Recipient
- 2019 All-Area Outfielder of The Year
- 2018 Offensive Player of the Year
- 2018 All-Area Sophomore of the Year
- Ranked by Extra Innings Softball as the #52 recruit in 2021 Â
"I chose Southern Miss because it felt like somewhere I could call home. The coaches want the team to be a family. On my visit, I specifically remember Coach Levin saying he treats the girls like they are his kids. In addition, the city of Hattiesburg supports the school."
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Paige Kilgore
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P | Houston, Miss. | Houston High School | Impact Gold
- 4x All-Division selection
- 4x Division Pitcher of the Year
- 4x Daily Journal All-Area Team
- 2020 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year
- 2020 Max Preps "Best Player in Mississippi"
- 2019 Clarion Ledger All-State Team
- 2018 Max Preps Freshman All-American Team
- 2018 Class 3A State Champion
- Ranked by Extra Innings Softball as the #59 recruit in 2021
"The family atmosphere at Southern Miss made me feel at home the first time I stepped foot on campus. I have always loved USM and the city of Hattiesburg."
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Jana Lee
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 P/INF | Albany, Ga. | Dougherty High School | Thunderbolts
- 4x All-Region Selection
- 2x All-Region Pitcher of the Year
- 2020 MaxPreps/NFCA Player of the Week
- All-State recipient
- Ranked by Extra Innings Softball as the #38 recruit in 2021 Â
"The University of Southern Mississippi stood out among other universities I considered. The coaching staff, campus diversity and opportunity made the difference. Softball has a magnificent way of proving to me that if we put our all into something, good things will come in return."
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Maddie Moody
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 C/INF | Magee, Miss. | Simpson County Academy | Germantown Red Devils
- 2020 MAIS All-Star
- 2020 MAIS All-State Selection
- MAIS All-District recipient
- 2x MAIS Class 4A Fastpitch State Champions
"I chose USM because I love the close family feel. When I stepped foot on campus, I immediately felt the love from everyone and especially from Coach Levin and Coach Mulvany. My dad and sister attended USM so it means a lot for me to follow in their footsteps and become a Golden Eagle!"
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Riley Stephens
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 INF/OF | Prosper, Texas | Prosper High School | Texas Glory RWB
- 2x Student Athlete Leadership Team Representative for Softball
- 2x Academic All-State Second Team
- 2x Academic All-District
"The community and family feeling at Southern Miss is welcoming and inviting. As soon as I stepped on campus I felt at home. I genuinely love the environment that the coaches have created, it's like one big family. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to join this family."
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Natalie Taylor
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 INF | Brandon, Miss. | Brandon High School | Impact Gold Premier
- 3x MHSAA 6A All-District Award
- 2019 MHSAA 6A State Champions Runner-up
- 2018 Highest Overhand Velocity-USM Elite Prospects Camp
- Ranked by Extra Innings Softball as the #204 recruit in 2021
"There is a sense of community at Southern Miss that no other college can compare to. I came to every camp growing up and saw how happy all the student-athletes were. They always talked about how welcoming Southern Miss is and how it instantly felt like home. As I grew up, my love for the school and the community gave me a gut feeling that Southern Miss is where I need to be."
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Letter to Softball: Caroline Worrell
Sunday, April 28
Letter to Softball: Hannah Borden
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Letter to Softball: Maria Smith
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