Ladyjack Softball Signs Eight
11/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 17, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin head softball coach Jenifer Wells announced Friday the addition of eight student-athletes who have committed during the NCAA early signing period to play softball at SFA. The large list of early commitments includes five prep recruits and three collegiate transfers, one of whom will join the Ladyjacks for the 2007 season. The players signed this fall are Bria Wilson, Becca Sustaire, Sabrina Johnston, Monika Covington, Lauren Luetge, Courtney Fogle, Monica Hirsch and Ashley Struchtemeyer.
Wilson will have the most immediate impact in the signing class. She will join the Ladyjacks in January after transferring from Santa Barbara City College. At SBCC, Wilson was a standout player. Last year, the middle infielder was named the West State Conference Player of the Year, earned All-State honors and was named SBCC Female Athlete of the Year. She batted .523 and hit a conference-record 15 home runs. Wilson drove in 39 runs and committed just six errors in 39 games for a .962 fielding percentage. As a freshman, Wilson hit .408 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI. She was a Second-Team All-WSC choice, a WSC Scholar Athlete and a Second-Team JuCal All-State selection. Wilson is a native of Victoria, British Columbia.
Both Sustaire and Johnston will transfer from Bossier Parish Community College after finishing their careers there in the spring. Sustaire is a pitcher from Hallsville, Texas. Last year, she posted a team-best 2.64 ERA and led the squad with 87 strikeouts against just 41 walks. Sustaire went 22-11 in 35 starts.
Johnston, a third baseman from Windthorst, Texas, led BPCC with a .435 batting average. Her .477 on-base percentage and .795 slugging percentage were also team bests, as were her 13 home runs and 15 doubles. Johnston committed 17 errors in 215 chances for a .921 fielding percentage.
Covington is a pitcher/outfielder from Dayton, Texas. She was a first-team all-district selection as a junior in 2006 and earned second-team all-district accolades as a sophomore. Her freshman season, she was named to the honorable-mention all-district squad. Covington helped lead Dayton to back-to-back district championships in the last two years and was part of the 2004 team that reached the second round of the playoffs. She carries a .263 batting average and a .969 fielding percentage. Covington plays in the summer with the Cy-Fair Intruders 18-U Gold team. She was also a regional qualifier in cross country each of the last three years.
Luetge is a switch-hitting pitcher and third-baseman from New Ulm, Texas. She is a .478 hitter for Bellville High School and has posted a .918 fielding percentage. Luetge has earned first-team all-district honors at two positions. In 2004, she got the nod as an outfielder, and was the choice at pitcher in 2005. As a junior last year, Luetge was named the district MVP. She was an honorable-mention all-district choice as a volleyball player this fall. Luetge is a success in the classroom, as well. She is a three-time academic all-district selection for both softball and volleyball, and is a member of the Bellville National Honor Society. Luetge plays club ball with the College Station Tigers 18-U Gold squad.
Fogle is a product of nearby New Diana High School who can play either position on the left side of the infield, along with pitching and playing in the outfield. She is a two-time honoree on the All-East Texas team, earning Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman and taking second-team honors as a pitcher her sophomore year. She was also an all-district selection at pitcher in 2005 and earned all-district accolades as a utility player last year, when she was a junior. Fogle batted .481 last season. Fogle is an honor roll student at New Diana and is listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students. Her summer teams include the Queen of Diamonds squad and the East Texas Sports.
Hirsch is a two-time all-district outfielder from Navasota. She was named to the first team as an outfielder for Navasota High in both 2005 and 2006. Hirsch can play all three outfield positions and hits for an impressive .430 average. A two-sport athlete, she was an honorable mention all-district choice for volleyball in 2006. Hirsch is expected to graduate in the Top 10 percent of her class next spring. She is an F.F.A. Officer, serves on the Navasota Student Council and is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Struchtemeyer is a shortstop from Plano, Texas. She was an all-district selection in both 2004 and 2005 while playing for Plano East High School. Struchtemeyer is a .495 batter and posted a .946 fielding percentage.
This spring, the Ladyjacks will begin their second season under Wells. SFA went 20-28 in Wells' first season as head coach. SFA returns four starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's squad.
-- SFA --
