SFA Softball Signs Nine to 2019 Class
11/14/2018 8:11:00 PM | Softball
Ladyjacks welcome nine freshmen for 2019 season, including two pitchers, all of which hail from the Lone Star State
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The SFA softball program announced the signing of nine freshmen to its 2019 class Wednesday, including three infielders, two pitchers, two utility players, a catcher and an outfielder. The Ladyjacks will welcome Reagan Chism, Gabriella Garcia, Amzee Gerard, Shaylon Govan, Katie Hartwell, Krystal Huynh, Camryn Middlebrook, Katy Repa and Carissa Vasquez to the team next fall.
"We have worked hard as a staff recruiting this group and we are proud to announce our 2019 signing class," head coach Nicole Dickson said. "These young ladies not only bring a mixture of talent and competitive excellence to our program, but throughout the recruiting process we are confident they understand and believe in our culture and high expectations for our team, in addition to our program's direction."
"We are adding two pitchers who will come in and provide immediate impact on our pitching staff," continued coach Dickson. "In addition, we are adding both speed and power offensively. Defensively, this is a group of athletes with a solid knowledge of the game, currently playing for competitive high school and travel ball programs. I expect this class to compete hard for starting positions and develop an elite mindset, which will help us to continue towards our goal of building SFA into one of the leading mid-major softball programs in the nation."
Reagan Chism | RHP | Decatur, Texas | Decatur High School
A three-year letter winner at Decatur High School in Decatur, Texas, Chism was named Wise County Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2016 and claimed Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) Class 4A All-State First Team honors this past spring. An Academic All-District 8-4A First Team member and an All-District 8-4A MVP as a freshman, Chism earned Collin Street Bakery Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) All-State honorable mention as a junior and was tabbed as Wise County MVP. Chism is also a successful travel ball player, leading her team to numerous top-10 finishes at prestigious national tournaments, including a ninth-place finish at the Triple Crown Colorado Fireworks and a third-place showing at the USA Softball Junior Olympic Cup. The daughter of Amanda and Mike Chism, Reagan plans on majoring in health science at SFA.
Gabriella Garcia | C | Southlake, Texas | Carroll Senior High School
A decorated Texas Class 6A catcher, Garcia led Carroll Senior High School to a 6A Bi-District Championship runner-up as a freshman in 2016 en route to earning Collin Street Bakery TWSA All-State honorable mention and District 7-6A Offensive MVP accolades. Named District 5-6A Catcher of the Year as a sophomore in 2017, Garcia has earned academic all-district honors each year of her prep career. This past spring as a junior, Garcia picked up her second-straight District 5-6A Catcher of the Year award, in addition to claiming a spot on the TGCA Class 6A All-State First Team and being tabbed Collin Street Bakery TSWA Class 6A All-State honorable mention. A Fort Worth Star-Telegram All-Star Second Team member in 2018, Garcia was named DFW Fastpitch Metroplex All-Star honorable mention. Competing on the Texas Glory Adkins 18u Gold travel ball team, Garcia helped her squad rank 18th nationally with a ninth-place finish at the Triple Crown Colorado Fireworks tournament and a third-place showing at the USA Softball Junior Olympic Cup. Garcia plans on studying pre-med upon arriving in Nacogdoches.
Amzee Gerard | UTL | Apple Springs, Texas | Hudson High School
A local product from Apple Springs, Texas, Gerard comes to SFA from Hudson High School where she has led her team to three-straight district championships. After being named District 20-4A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2016, Gerard earned All-District 21-4A Second Team honors as a sophomore in 2017 and has been placed on the academic all-district first team for three consecutive seasons. This past spring, Gerard picked up first-team all-district acclaim. She has competed for Impact Gold Jackson, Impact Gold Jacoby and Texas Slam in travel ball and is the daughter of Casey and Trae Gerard. Amzee plans to major in biology at SFA.
Shaylon Govan | 1B/3B | Katy, Texas | Mayde Creek High School
Hailing from Katy, Texas, and Mayde Creek High School, Govan led the state of Texas in home runs as a freshman and helped her team to the fourth round of the Class 6A playoffs in 2016. A two-time first-team all-district honoree, Govan has earned first-team academic all-district accolades each year of her prep career and was named first-team all-pitcher this past spring. Also lettering in volleyball her junior year, Govan led Mayde Creek High School back to the playoffs in 2018. Govan plays travel ball for the Aces Express McCorkle and is the daughter of Renia Beal and Keenan Govan, who played basketball at Bossier Parish Community College. She plans on studying either kinesiology, chemistry or criminal law while in Texas' oldest town.
Katie Hartwell | P/1B | Katy, Texas | Houston Christian High School
Hartwell, a native of Katy, Texas, is a three-year letter winner at Houston Christian High School where she has garnered three-straight Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) All-State First Team honors. Named newcomer of the year as a freshman in 2016, Hartwell led Houston Christian to a third-place finish at the SPC state tournament and also lettered in basketball. Leading her team to a second-straight third-place showing at the state tournament as a sophomore in 2016, Hartwell was tabbed as team captain as a junior this past spring. Earning Houston Christian Athlete of the Month accolades for April 2018, Hartwell picked up academic all-state and team MVP plaudits as she tossed 111 innings with a 1.01 earned run average. She also posted a .558 batting average, .575 on-base percentage and .776 slugging mark in 77 at bats in 2018. Hartwell played for the Cy-Fair Intruders 18u Gold travel ball club, finishing ninth in the power pool bracket of the Triple Crown Colorado Fireworks tournament in the summer of 2016 and winning both the Triple Crown Southwest National Tournament and Triple Crown Texas State Tournament that same year. The daughter of Shauna and Mark Hartwell, Katie's brother, Caleb, played baseball at Wheaton College. She intends to major in communication science and disorders while attending SFA.
Krystal Huynh | 1B/3B | Houston, Texas | Cypress Ridge High School
Houston, Texas, native Huynh has played both third base and pitched for the Cypress Ridge High School Rams for the past three years and held a batting average above .550 each season. Named 2016 All-District 17-6A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, Huynh has claimed academic all-district plaudits the past three seasons and was named All-District 17-6A First Team as a sophomore in 2017. This past spring, Huynh picked up District 17-6A Offensive Player of the Year acclaim after holding a .574 batting average. In the circle, she struck out 125 in 80 innings of work in 2018. Huynh also plays travel ball and is the daughter of Lam Huynh and Traci Le. Krystal plans on majoring in kinesiology while in Texas' oldest town.
Camryn Middlebrook | SS/3B | Round Rock, Texas | Cedar Ridge High School
An infielder from Round Rock, Texas, Middlebrook is a two-time All-District 13-6A Second Team selection and claimed All-District 13-6A First Team honors as a junior this past spring. A three-time academic all-district honoree, Middlebrook helped lead the Raiders to the second round of the playoffs as a freshman and junior in 2016 and 2018 and the fourth round as a sophomore in 2017. Named Cedar Ridge offensive player of the year following her sophomore campaign, Middlebrook was tabbed Cedar Ridge Defensive player of the year this past spring. Playing at third base as a freshman, Middlebrook transitioned to shortstop for both her sophomore and junior seasons and plans on playing there this upcoming spring. She competes for Texas Blaze 18u Gold in travel ball and is high school teammates of fellow 2019 Ladyjack signee Katy Repa. The daughter of Shelley and Malcolm Middlebrook, Camryn intends to major in physical and occupational therapy at SFA.
Katy Repa | OF | Round Rock, Texas | Cedar Ridge High School
Repa comes to Nacogdoches from Round Rock, Texas, where she played catcher and then center field at Cedar Ridge High School. Helping lead the Raiders to three-straight district championships and an arear runner-up finish as both a freshman and junior in 2016 and 2018, Repa was tabbed All-District 13-6A Second Team following her inaugural high school campaign and claimed all-district honorable mention acclaim after her sophomore year. Named an Austin Statesman Round Rock ISD player to watch, Repa earned her second All-District 13-6A Second Team plaudit as a junior this past spring after knocking in six doubles. Playing for Blaze United in travel ball, Repa led her squad to a top-five finish at the USSSA Elite and hit .583 at the Boulder Independence Day Tournament. Katy is the daughter of Stacy and Patrick Repa and is high school teammates of fellow 2019 Ladyjack signee Camryn Middlebrook. She plans on majoring in marketing while attending SFA.
Carissa Vasquez | 2B/OF | San Antonio, Texas | Smithson Valley High School
Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Vasquez is a three-year letter winner at shortstop at Smithson Valley High School. A two-time academic all-district honoree, Vasquez garnered All-District 27-6A Second Team accolades as a sophomore in 2017 and was an All-District 27-6A First Team selection and team captain as a junior this past spring. Carissa also plays travel ball and is the daughter of Alexis and Ismael Vasquez. She intends on studying biochemistry while in Nacogdoches.
Last spring SFA posted the most victories in a single season in the past decade, reaching the 30-win plateau for just the sixth time in the program's NCAA Division I history. Tied for the 13th-largest turnaround in all of Division I softball, the Ladyjacks completed the season with a 31-24 overall record after tying for second in the final Southland standings with a 18-9 league mark. After earning the No. 2 seed for the Southland Tournament, SFA made just its second national postseason appearance by gaining the conference's automatic berth into the 2018 Postseason National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout 2018-19.
-SFA-
"We have worked hard as a staff recruiting this group and we are proud to announce our 2019 signing class," head coach Nicole Dickson said. "These young ladies not only bring a mixture of talent and competitive excellence to our program, but throughout the recruiting process we are confident they understand and believe in our culture and high expectations for our team, in addition to our program's direction."
"We are adding two pitchers who will come in and provide immediate impact on our pitching staff," continued coach Dickson. "In addition, we are adding both speed and power offensively. Defensively, this is a group of athletes with a solid knowledge of the game, currently playing for competitive high school and travel ball programs. I expect this class to compete hard for starting positions and develop an elite mindset, which will help us to continue towards our goal of building SFA into one of the leading mid-major softball programs in the nation."
Reagan Chism | RHP | Decatur, Texas | Decatur High School
A three-year letter winner at Decatur High School in Decatur, Texas, Chism was named Wise County Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2016 and claimed Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) Class 4A All-State First Team honors this past spring. An Academic All-District 8-4A First Team member and an All-District 8-4A MVP as a freshman, Chism earned Collin Street Bakery Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) All-State honorable mention as a junior and was tabbed as Wise County MVP. Chism is also a successful travel ball player, leading her team to numerous top-10 finishes at prestigious national tournaments, including a ninth-place finish at the Triple Crown Colorado Fireworks and a third-place showing at the USA Softball Junior Olympic Cup. The daughter of Amanda and Mike Chism, Reagan plans on majoring in health science at SFA.
Gabriella Garcia | C | Southlake, Texas | Carroll Senior High School
A decorated Texas Class 6A catcher, Garcia led Carroll Senior High School to a 6A Bi-District Championship runner-up as a freshman in 2016 en route to earning Collin Street Bakery TWSA All-State honorable mention and District 7-6A Offensive MVP accolades. Named District 5-6A Catcher of the Year as a sophomore in 2017, Garcia has earned academic all-district honors each year of her prep career. This past spring as a junior, Garcia picked up her second-straight District 5-6A Catcher of the Year award, in addition to claiming a spot on the TGCA Class 6A All-State First Team and being tabbed Collin Street Bakery TSWA Class 6A All-State honorable mention. A Fort Worth Star-Telegram All-Star Second Team member in 2018, Garcia was named DFW Fastpitch Metroplex All-Star honorable mention. Competing on the Texas Glory Adkins 18u Gold travel ball team, Garcia helped her squad rank 18th nationally with a ninth-place finish at the Triple Crown Colorado Fireworks tournament and a third-place showing at the USA Softball Junior Olympic Cup. Garcia plans on studying pre-med upon arriving in Nacogdoches.
Amzee Gerard | UTL | Apple Springs, Texas | Hudson High School
A local product from Apple Springs, Texas, Gerard comes to SFA from Hudson High School where she has led her team to three-straight district championships. After being named District 20-4A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2016, Gerard earned All-District 21-4A Second Team honors as a sophomore in 2017 and has been placed on the academic all-district first team for three consecutive seasons. This past spring, Gerard picked up first-team all-district acclaim. She has competed for Impact Gold Jackson, Impact Gold Jacoby and Texas Slam in travel ball and is the daughter of Casey and Trae Gerard. Amzee plans to major in biology at SFA.
Shaylon Govan | 1B/3B | Katy, Texas | Mayde Creek High School
Hailing from Katy, Texas, and Mayde Creek High School, Govan led the state of Texas in home runs as a freshman and helped her team to the fourth round of the Class 6A playoffs in 2016. A two-time first-team all-district honoree, Govan has earned first-team academic all-district accolades each year of her prep career and was named first-team all-pitcher this past spring. Also lettering in volleyball her junior year, Govan led Mayde Creek High School back to the playoffs in 2018. Govan plays travel ball for the Aces Express McCorkle and is the daughter of Renia Beal and Keenan Govan, who played basketball at Bossier Parish Community College. She plans on studying either kinesiology, chemistry or criminal law while in Texas' oldest town.
Katie Hartwell | P/1B | Katy, Texas | Houston Christian High School
Hartwell, a native of Katy, Texas, is a three-year letter winner at Houston Christian High School where she has garnered three-straight Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) All-State First Team honors. Named newcomer of the year as a freshman in 2016, Hartwell led Houston Christian to a third-place finish at the SPC state tournament and also lettered in basketball. Leading her team to a second-straight third-place showing at the state tournament as a sophomore in 2016, Hartwell was tabbed as team captain as a junior this past spring. Earning Houston Christian Athlete of the Month accolades for April 2018, Hartwell picked up academic all-state and team MVP plaudits as she tossed 111 innings with a 1.01 earned run average. She also posted a .558 batting average, .575 on-base percentage and .776 slugging mark in 77 at bats in 2018. Hartwell played for the Cy-Fair Intruders 18u Gold travel ball club, finishing ninth in the power pool bracket of the Triple Crown Colorado Fireworks tournament in the summer of 2016 and winning both the Triple Crown Southwest National Tournament and Triple Crown Texas State Tournament that same year. The daughter of Shauna and Mark Hartwell, Katie's brother, Caleb, played baseball at Wheaton College. She intends to major in communication science and disorders while attending SFA.
Krystal Huynh | 1B/3B | Houston, Texas | Cypress Ridge High School
Houston, Texas, native Huynh has played both third base and pitched for the Cypress Ridge High School Rams for the past three years and held a batting average above .550 each season. Named 2016 All-District 17-6A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, Huynh has claimed academic all-district plaudits the past three seasons and was named All-District 17-6A First Team as a sophomore in 2017. This past spring, Huynh picked up District 17-6A Offensive Player of the Year acclaim after holding a .574 batting average. In the circle, she struck out 125 in 80 innings of work in 2018. Huynh also plays travel ball and is the daughter of Lam Huynh and Traci Le. Krystal plans on majoring in kinesiology while in Texas' oldest town.
Camryn Middlebrook | SS/3B | Round Rock, Texas | Cedar Ridge High School
An infielder from Round Rock, Texas, Middlebrook is a two-time All-District 13-6A Second Team selection and claimed All-District 13-6A First Team honors as a junior this past spring. A three-time academic all-district honoree, Middlebrook helped lead the Raiders to the second round of the playoffs as a freshman and junior in 2016 and 2018 and the fourth round as a sophomore in 2017. Named Cedar Ridge offensive player of the year following her sophomore campaign, Middlebrook was tabbed Cedar Ridge Defensive player of the year this past spring. Playing at third base as a freshman, Middlebrook transitioned to shortstop for both her sophomore and junior seasons and plans on playing there this upcoming spring. She competes for Texas Blaze 18u Gold in travel ball and is high school teammates of fellow 2019 Ladyjack signee Katy Repa. The daughter of Shelley and Malcolm Middlebrook, Camryn intends to major in physical and occupational therapy at SFA.
Katy Repa | OF | Round Rock, Texas | Cedar Ridge High School
Repa comes to Nacogdoches from Round Rock, Texas, where she played catcher and then center field at Cedar Ridge High School. Helping lead the Raiders to three-straight district championships and an arear runner-up finish as both a freshman and junior in 2016 and 2018, Repa was tabbed All-District 13-6A Second Team following her inaugural high school campaign and claimed all-district honorable mention acclaim after her sophomore year. Named an Austin Statesman Round Rock ISD player to watch, Repa earned her second All-District 13-6A Second Team plaudit as a junior this past spring after knocking in six doubles. Playing for Blaze United in travel ball, Repa led her squad to a top-five finish at the USSSA Elite and hit .583 at the Boulder Independence Day Tournament. Katy is the daughter of Stacy and Patrick Repa and is high school teammates of fellow 2019 Ladyjack signee Camryn Middlebrook. She plans on majoring in marketing while attending SFA.
Carissa Vasquez | 2B/OF | San Antonio, Texas | Smithson Valley High School
Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Vasquez is a three-year letter winner at shortstop at Smithson Valley High School. A two-time academic all-district honoree, Vasquez garnered All-District 27-6A Second Team accolades as a sophomore in 2017 and was an All-District 27-6A First Team selection and team captain as a junior this past spring. Carissa also plays travel ball and is the daughter of Alexis and Ismael Vasquez. She intends on studying biochemistry while in Nacogdoches.
Last spring SFA posted the most victories in a single season in the past decade, reaching the 30-win plateau for just the sixth time in the program's NCAA Division I history. Tied for the 13th-largest turnaround in all of Division I softball, the Ladyjacks completed the season with a 31-24 overall record after tying for second in the final Southland standings with a 18-9 league mark. After earning the No. 2 seed for the Southland Tournament, SFA made just its second national postseason appearance by gaining the conference's automatic berth into the 2018 Postseason National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout 2018-19.
-SFA-
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