Softball Announces Early Signings
11/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 12, 2008
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin head softball coach Gay McNutt announced Wednesday the addition of six student-athletes during the early signing period. Brittany Caruthers, Angela White, Bethany Brown, Tamara Ballew, Jillian Bussell and Brandi Dutton all signed national letters of intent to continue their careers at SFA.
"I think this is the kind of class that can propel us to the next level," McNutt said. "We're excited to be bringing this caliber of athlete to Stephen F. Austin, and the future is looking very bright."
Caruthers is a 5-6 catcher from Midlothian, Texas. She is a three-year starter for Midlothian High and has been named to the all-district team all three seasons. As a freshman in 2006, Caruthers was named Newcomer of the Year. She was a first-team all-district choice as a sophomore and earned the league's Defensive MVP award last season. She earned TGCA All-State honors each of the last two seasons. Caruthers was a Second-Team All-DFW choice in both 2007 and 2008 and has been among the DFW area's offensive statistical leaders all three seasons. Her team has won two district titles and reached the Class 4A state semifinals in both 2006 and 2007. As a club player with the Texas Glory Gold team, Caruthers has been a part of two USSSA World Series qualifiers, a USFA state championship team and five national tournament qualifiers. Caruthers is a three-time academic all-district team. Brittany is the daughter of Jimmy Caruthers and Kem McCoy.
"Brittany has an amazing arm and a great bat," McNutt said. "She's going to be a real asset behind the plate, and she's the type of player who can make an immediate impact in our lineup."
White is a 5-7 pitcher from Sherman, Texas. The three-year starter at Salder and Southmayd Consolidated was named the 2007 District 14-2A MVP as a sophomore. That honor came on the heels of her league Newcomer of the Year recognition as a freshman in 2006. White was also named the All-Texaoma Land Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore, when she helped lead her team to a district championship. She has played club ball with both the Texas Glory and Texas Elite Bancroft teams. In all, her club squads have captured two state championships and appeared in five national tournaments. Angela is the daughter of Jerry and Anna White.
"Angela has great movement on her pitches," McNutt said. "Adding her to the arms we already have should give us one of the best pitching staffs in the conference."
Brown is a 5-9 middle infielder who can also play in the outfield. The Magnolia, Texas, native is a three-year starter at shortstop for her high school squad. She was a First-Team All-District 18-4A selection as a junior in 2008 and also earned the Golden Glove award that season. Brown earned honorable mention billing as a sophomore, when she led the team in RBI and was named First-Team All-Montgomery County. Playing club ball with the Texas Peppers/Tanel Gold program, she has been a part of three straight trips to the AFA National Tournament from 2005 to 2007, as well as territorial, regional and national tournament berths in 2008. Brown also played volleyball and basketball early in her high school career and is a member of the National Honor Society. Bethany is the daughter of Stephen and Karen Brown.
"Bethany has a very strong arm and an incredible bat," McNutt said. "She will give us some versatility defensively, since she can play both infield and outfield."
Ballew is a 5-7 outfielder from Crosby, Texas. She is a two-time, First-Team All-District 22-3A selection at Hargrave High in Huffman, earning the honor in bother her sophomore and junior campaigns. Ballew plays select ball with the Texas Peppers/Tanel Gold club. Her club squad has reached two national tournaments and a world series in three different seasons over the last five years. Ballew is also a two-year letterwinner on the Hargrave track team and is an academic all-district selection, as well as a member of the National Junior Honor Society. Tamara is the daughter of Tommy and Kathy Ballew.
"Tamara is very fast, which is a benefit all over the field," McNutt said. "Her speed will be a big plus in the outfield, and she can also make things happen for us on the basepaths."
Bussell is a 5-11 infielder from Tomball, Texas. She is a three-year letterwinner at Klein Oak High and was an all-district selection in 2007, when her team reached the Class 5A, Region II area finals. The previous year, her squad made the regional championship round of the playoffs at the Class 4A level. Bussell plays club ball with the Montgomery County Elite. Jillian is the daughter of Craig and Mandy Bussell.
"Jillian is a big, strong kid -- she has a real presence at the plate," McNutt said. "She should add good power numbers to our lineup."
Dutton is a 5-7 infielder from Spring, Texas. She earned both all-district and all-county honors as a sophomore at Oak Ridge High, where she was also named team MVP that season. The previous year, Dutton was named the MVP of the junior varsity squad as a freshman. Like Bussell, she plays on the Montgomery County Elite club team. Dutton is a member of the National Honor Society. Brandi is the daughter of Tim and Lisa Dutton.
"Brandi has a real strong bat," McNutt said. "She's a consistent power hitter who can hit to all fields."
The six athletes signed on Wednesday are the beginning of McNutt's second recruiting class at SFA. In her first season, 2008, the Ladyjacks went 36-25 and won the Southland Conference Tournament, earning the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Championships.
-- SFA --
