Softball Announces Signing Class
11/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 13, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin softball coach Gay McNutt announced Thursday the addition of five student-athletes for the 2011 season. Carlie Thomas, Elizabeth Arana, Cadie Weaver, Lacy Liles and Charlotte Singleton all signed letters of intent this week to continue their careers at SFA.
The signing class includes a pitcher, two infielders, one catcher and an outfielder, all five of whom are former all-state selections.
Thomas is a three-time all-state pitcher who has helped lead her Huntington High School team to three consecutive district championships and a state title in 2008.
"Carlie will totally complete our pitching staff in 2011," McNutt said. "She is the icing on the cake."
Thomas pitched her squad to a Class 3A state semifinals appearance and was named to both the Texas Sports Writers Association and Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state teams as a freshman in 2007. Her performance that year netted her District 20-3A Newcomer of the Year honors.
The following season, Thomas took the first of two straight district MVP awards on the way to the 2008 state title. She was named the state tournament MVP and again earned all-state recognition on both teams.
Last season, Thomas led Huntington to a share of the District 18-3A title and the regional semifinals in the playoffs. She was named the Co-MVP of the district and earned a spot on the TGCA All-State team.
As a club player, Thomas has reached the ASA Gold Nationals each of the last two years with her Texas Eclipse Gold squad.
Thomas is a member of the National Honor Society at Huntington.
Arana is a three-time all-district selection as a middle infielder at The Woodlands.
"Lizzie is an extremely versatile player and just a super kid," McNutt said. "She has a great glove, and you will see her all over the field."
Arana, the younger sister of current Ladyjack Jessica Arana, has earned all-district honors each of the last three seasons. She picked up all-state recognition in 2008 and earned All-Greater Houston accolades in 2009. Arana also took her team's MVP award last season, along with the squad's defensive player of the year tag. She was The Woodlands' co-defensive MVP in 2008. Arana was named to the all-county team each of the last two seasons.
Arana has played club softball for the Houston Power Gold squad each of the last three years, helping lead the team to the ASA Gold Nationals.
Arana is a member of the National Honor Society and a three-time selection to the academic all-district squad. She has also qualified for membership in the National English Honor Society and is currently ranked in the top five percent of her high school class.
Weaver is a power-hitting third baseman from Splendora with three all-district honors and two all-state selections to her credit.
"Cadie is a great hitter and will add tremendous power to our lineup," McNutt said. "She is a very smart player; you can't get much past her."
Weaver has been named first-team all-district as a third baseman each of her first three seasons at Splendora. She is also a three-time All-Montgomery County selection, having taken the Offensive Player of the Year award in 2008.
Weaver earned TGCA and TSWA All-State accolades in 2008, again earning TSWA honors in 2009.
She was named an NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete as a freshman and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Weaver plays club ball with Texas Peppers/Tanel 360° Gold. At SFA, she will join two of her former teammates from the Peppers squad, current Ladyjacks Bethany Brown and Tamara Ballew.
Liles is an outfielder from Elysian Fields who was named to two all-state teams in 2009.
"Lacy is a very powerful player," McNutt said. "She has one of the strongest arms I have ever seen. With her in the outfield, our defense will be as strong as ever."
Liles took TSWA and TGCA All-State honors in 2009 and was named to the all-state tournament team. Additionally, she took All-Harrison and Marion County Newcomer of the Year accolades that season and was named the District 18-2A Offensive Player of the Year. Liles was also an All-East Texas First-Teamer in 2009, when her team won the district title and reached the state semifinals.
A two-sport athlete, Liles also took Harrison and Marion County Newcomer of the Year honors in basketball last season. She was a first-team all-district selection and named to the All-East Texas team.
Liles is a multiple selection to the academic all-district squad in both basketball and softball. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Singleton is a catcher from nearby Woden High School with a pair of district MVP honors to her credit.
"Charlotte will provide more depth for us at multiple positions," McNutt said. "She can do it all."
Singleton has taken a district superlative honor each of the last three seasons. As a freshman she was named the newcomer of the year. She then took the league MVP award as a sophomore and was named the district's offensive MVP last season. Singleton was named to the all-state team as a sophomore in 2008 after helping lead her squad to a second straight regional finals appearance.
Singleton has led her team in batting average, home runs and RBI each of her first three seasons.
As a basketball player, she was an all-district selection as both a sophomore and junior and qualified for the state cross country meet as a freshman.
In the classroom, Singleton is an honor roll student and a member of the National Beta Club and National English Honor Society. She is also president of the Law Club.
-- SFA --
