July 24, 2017
RSU
Softball Announces Signing Class
CLAREMORE,
Okla. The Rogers State softball team announced the addition
of 10 student-athletes for the 2018 season, a signing class including
two NCAA Division I transfers, one NCAA Division II transfer and
seven high school graduates.
The class
includes Alex Brake (Joplin, Mo.), Rylee
DeLozier (Collinsville, Okla.), Allie McFetridge (Fullerton,
Calif.), Andrea Morales (El Paso, Texas), Tailee Reding (Kansas,
Okla.), Sierra Skaggs (Bixby, Okla.), Merissa Smith (Tahlequah,
Okla.), Katy Taylor (Owasso, Okla.), Brooke Tyler (Coweta, Okla.),
and AJ (Alyssa) Waggnor (Verdigris, Okla.)
After being
named the fourth head coach in program history in April 2016,
head softball coach Andrea Vaughan vastly improved the program
in 2017. The Hillcats saw an 11-win increase in 2017 to a 28-24
record that included two eight-game winning streaks, the two longest
winning streaks since 2013.
Vaughan, along
with first-year assistant coaches Kerry Hallman and Malori Moss,
enhanced the team at the plate and in the circle. RSU scored 112
more runs in 2017 as the offense became one of the most potent
in the Heartland Conference with 304 runs scored. Home runs more
than tripled to 50 in 2017 to help produce 272 RBIs. The team's
batting average rose by 14 points to .304 and the slugging percentage
increased to .472, more than 100 points higher than 2016.
The team's
improvements were just as impressive in the circle as the pitching
staff's earned run average dropped by almost 2.5 runs per game
from 2016 to 2017, falling to a 3.5 earned run average in the
2017 season.
With the strong
recruiting class, the Hillcats look to continue to improve under
the guidance of Vaughan and her coaching staff.
Brake joins
the RSU softball program after one season at NCAA Division I University
of Tennessee. The pitcher from Joplin, Missouri made three appearances
in the circle at Tennessee, earning a 1-0 record. Brake started
her collegiate career with two record-breaking seasons at Labette
(Kan.) Community College. She became the first-ever two-time NJCAA
Division II National Pitcher of the Year and was a two-time NJCAA
and NFCA First Team All-American. Brake led Labette CC to back-to-back
fifth-place finishes at the NJCAA National Tournament and threw
a no-hitter in a national tournament game. For her two year career,
she totaled school records in strikeouts with 597 and innings
pitched at 430.1 innings. Brake tallied 47 wins with a 1.64 earned
run average in two seasons. As a sophomore, her 303 strikeouts
ranked 12th all-time in a single season in NJCAA Division II.
Before her college career, she played three seasons at Webb City
High School.
Taylor comes
to College Hill after two seasons at NCAA Division I University
of Iowa. The shortstop from Owasso, Oklahoma started 68 games
in the infield in two years at Iowa. During her sophomore season,
Taylor started in 44 games and had 29 hits with 15 runs. She collected
60 putouts and 69 assists. As a junior, she started in 24 games
with 42 putouts and 44 assists. Taylor played her freshman season
at Labette (Kan.) Community College. She led the nation in stolen
bases with 89 and was first on the team in hits (76), doubles
(10), triples (three), walks (21), batting average (.435) and
on base percentage (.485). The Cardinals went 38-16 and finished
fifth at the NJCAA National Tournament. In her high school career,
Taylor helped the Owasso Rams to two regional championships and
a runner-up finish in the state tournament.
Skaggs transfers
to RSU from East Central University. The pitcher made 10 starts
and 23 appearances in her freshman season at ECU. Skaggs totaled
a 6-5 record with a 2.95 earned run average. She finished with
78.1 innings pitched, including three complete games and 23 strikeouts.
In her prep career at Bixby High School, Skaggs earned all-state
honors for both fast pitch and slow pitch as a senior along with
being named all-district for two seasons. She was an Academic
All-Conference selection all four years at Bixby.
Morales joins
the Hillcats from Parkland High School in El Paso, Texas. The
pitcher and infielder registered 76 wins, more than 1,000 strikeouts,
19 home runs, 130 RBIs and scored 103 runs in her four-year prep
career. Parkland won three 2-5A Bi-District Championships in her
career. As a junior, Morales finished 27-2 in the circle with
a 3.16 earned run average. In 202 innings, she posted 339 strikeouts.
Morales was named the 2-5A El Paso Times Pitcher of the Year and
the All-District MVP along with being all-state. At the plate,
she totaled 54 hits, 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 46 RBIs. Morales
picked RSU over interested from NCAA Division I programs UTEP
and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Reding comes
to the Hill from Kansas High School in Kansas, Oklahoma. The pitcher
and outfielder was a four-year letterwinner for the Comets. She
hit over .400 in all four seasons, going .472 with 59 hits, 14
doubles, five triples and two home runs in her senior season.
As a pitcher, Reding totaled a 12-3 record with a 1.30 earned
run average and 94 strikeouts in 116.2 innings as a senior. She
was the Big 8 Conference Pitcher of the Year as the Comets won
the conference championship and districts. An all-state and all-region
selection, she pitched eight-straight shutouts, including a perfect
game. In her junior season, Reding led the Comets to the state
quarterfinals with a 22-4 record in the circle and a 1.75 earned
run average. She was named the team MVP and all-conference.
McFetridge
joins the program from Fullerton, California, the longest traveling
new Hillcat, after completing her prep career at Troy High School.
The pitcher and infielder posted a .357 average with 46 hits in
her senior season. McFetridge registered 12 home runs and 30 RBIs
in the season. For her stellar campaign, she was named Freeway
All-League and the Offensive Player of the Year.
Tyler comes
to RSU from Coweta High School in nearby Coweta, Oklahoma. As
a senior, the Tigers advanced to state after winning the regional
championship for the second time in Tyler's career. She was named
all-district and all-region while hitting .407 with 54 hits and
12 doubles as an outfielder. In her junior season, she totaled
42 hits, three doubles and two triples on her way to earning all-district
and All-VYPE. Tyler made it to the state tournament as a sophomore
with a performance of 47 hits, three doubles and a .416 average
from the plate. She was selected All-Tulsa Metro Honorable Mention
and all-district honorable mention.
Smith joins
the navy and red softball program from Sequoyah High School in
Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The catcher and infielder led her team to
the state semifinals as a senior. Hitting .578 with 13 doubles,
11 triples, six home runs and 60 RBIs, Smith was named the Sequoyah
Team MVP and Muskogee All-Phoenix. Her junior season was just
as impressive as she tallied 64 hits, 16 doubles, 15 triples,
six home runs and 63 RBIs to be named the Offensive Player of
the Year. Smith was named the Newcomer of the Year her sophomore
campaign when she totaled 56 hits, 11 doubles, four triples and
three home runs. As a sophomore, Smith advanced to the state quarterfinals
after winning the regional championship.
DeLozier
comes to College Hill from Collinsville, Oklahoma and Collinsville
High School. The infielder is a four-year letterwinner for the
Cardinals. Collinsville High School made the state tournament
all four times in her four seasons, including a state championship
during her junior campaign. She finished her senior season with
a .504 average with 60 hits, 12 doubles, three triples, seven
home runs and 37 RBIs. DeLozier was named First Team All-District
at third base and First Team All-Region along with First Team
All-State. In her freshman and sophomore seasons, the Cardinals
reached the state quarterfinals each year. As a junior she totaled
52 hits, 12 doubles, three home runs and a .430 average as the
Cardinals won the state championship.
Waggnor joins
the Hillcats from Verdigris High School in Verdigris, Oklahoma.
In her final two seasons, Verdigris High School advanced to the
state tournament, including a state runner-up performance in her
junior campaign. As a senior, she posted 74 hits, 17 doubles,
six home runs and 32 RBIs for a .521 average. Waggnor garnered
all-state, Verdigris Valley All-Conference and All-VYPE honors.
In the state runner-up season, Waggnor finished with a .381 average
with 43 hits, nine doubles, three triples and one home run. She
was named all-conference as a junior. A strong sophomore season
saw her named the Newcomer of the Year, Will Rogers Co-Defensive
Player of the Year and All-VYPE as Waggnor hit .403 with 48 hits,
eight doubles, two triples, one home run and 26 RBIs. Verdigris
High School advanced to the state quarterfinals in her sophomore
season.
For more information
on RSU softball, visit www.rsuhillcats.com.
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