Softball Adds Tommi Goodman and Bailey Richards to 2018 Signing Class
5/3/2018 9:16:00 AM | Softball
Ladyjacks increase 2018 class to nine with addition of two junior college transfers
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Head coach Nicole Dickson and the Stephen F. Austin softball program announced the addition of two junior college transfers Thursday morning, bringing the Ladyjacks' 2018 signing class to 10. Sophomore middle infielder and outfielder Tommi Goodman and junior catcher Bailey Richards will both join SFA this fall as the newest pieces to the Ladyjacks' 2019 campaign.
Goodman, who hails from Princeton, Texas, will have three seasons of eligibility at SFA as she comes to Nacogdoches after spending two years at National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) powerhouse Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. She posted impressive stats in her inaugural season as a freshman with the Apaches before suffering a season-ending injury prior to this spring. Helping TJC to an impressive 51-19 overall record in 2017, including a 24-4 conference mark, a second-place finish at the Region XIV tournament and a spot in the NJCAA national tournament, Goodman held a .420 batting average in 35 games played. She owned a .463 on-base percentage and a .534 slugging mark, while collecting 37 hits, 10 RBI and scoring 28 times. Playing second base in the field, Goodman tallied 51 putouts and assisted on another 40 as she made five double plays and held a fielding percentage of .910.
A letter winner in both softball and wrestling at Lewisville High School in Lewisville, Texas, Goodman's prep career was highlighted by being a three-time first-team all-district selection in softball. As a freshman in 2013, Goodman claimed a regional championship and placed fifth in the state tournament as an individual in wrestling while leading her team to a state championship. A first-team all-district honoree in softball her sophomore through senior years, Goodman helped Lewisville to the third round of the playoffs in 2014 before claiming all-state accolades in 2015 as the Fighting Farmers took home runner-up honors at the state tournament. Goodman completed her varsity career as softball team captain and competed for Dallas Tigers Softball in club ball.
Receiving her associate's degree in kinesiology from TJC this May, Goodman will continue to study kinesiology at SFA. She is the daughter of Tommy and step-mother Susan Goodman. Her father wrestled at Michigan State and her mother, Liz Goodman, played softball at Baylor. Tommi's step-mother, Susan, was a letter winner in basketball at Texas A&M-Commerce.
"Tommi comes from one of the top NJCAA Division I programs in the country," coach Dickson said. "Currently she's coming off a season-ending injury and starting the rehab process but will be a full go this fall. Goodman is someone I recruited at TJC before I came to SFA, it's exciting for me to have the opportunity to coach her now at SFA. She brings athleticism and speed from the left side to our lineup and adds depth in the middle of the infield and outfield. Goodman is mentally tough and disciplined, while being a fierce competitor on the field as well."
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Richards will join the Ladyjacks after a successful two-year career at Des Moines Area Community College in Boone, Iowa. A catcher and utility player for both seasons, Richards helped lead the Bears to a 47-9 overall record, an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) title, NJCAA Region XI championship, district championship and national title appearance as a freshman in 2017. This season, Richards has aided DMACC to a NJCAA Division II No. 1 national ranking and an unblemished 40-0 record heading into postseason play.
Not done with her sophomore season yet, Richards has posted a .380 batting average in 83 games played for the Bears and holds a career on-base percentage of .480 and a slugging mark of .571. With 78 total hits across two season, Richards has knocked in 21 doubles and blasted six home runs for 47 RBI and 59 runs scored. As a freshman, Richards posted a .343 batting average with an on-base percentage of .449 and slugging mark of .543, chipping in 36 hits, including 12 doubles and three homers, 24 RBI and 27 runs scored. Claiming All-Region XI Second Team honors as a catcher, Richards was tabbed Region XI All-Academic First Team and was an academic all-American with NJCAA All-Academic Third Team accolades. This spring, Richards has improved her hitting to .420 and is slugging at a .600 clip with an on-base percentage of .512. She has lined 42 hits, including a trio of long balls and nine doubles, for 23 RBI and has scored 32 times.
At Van Meter High School in Van Meter, Iowa, Richards was a four-year letter winner, earning all-state honors four times and leading the Bulldogs to a West Central Activities Conference, regional and state championship in 2016. Named 2A All-State Tournament Team Captain her senior year, Richards led Van Meter to a 33-7 record as she earned all-district, all-conference and all-state first-team plaudits. Richards claimed a spot on the all-district, all-conference and all-state first team her junior year as well and was a second-team all-state selection following her sophomore season and a third-team all-state honoree as a freshman. A four-time first-team all-conference member, Richards competed as a catcher, pitcher and utility player throughout her prep career.
Later this month Richards will receive her associate's degree in arts from DMACC and will majoring in kinesiology at SFA.
"After two injuries to catchers this season, we knew we needed a catcher with leadership and experience going into next year," commented coach Dickson. "We found those qualities in Richards, she is humble, hardworking and knows how to win. Defensively, she's quick behind the dish and clean fundamentally. Richards also does a great job offensively with quality at bats and has a mature and steady mental approach at the plate."
"I expect her to come in and be a leader right way with her work ethic, setting the tone for our underclassmen catchers," continued Dickson. "Bailey is a winner and selfless, she's all about doing what her team needs her to do. She will be a great asset and fit for our program and culture."
SFA is currently having its best season in a decade, most recently reaching the 30-win plateau for the first time since 2008 and just the sixth time in the Ladyjacks' NCAA Division I history.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball.
-SFA-
Goodman, who hails from Princeton, Texas, will have three seasons of eligibility at SFA as she comes to Nacogdoches after spending two years at National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) powerhouse Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. She posted impressive stats in her inaugural season as a freshman with the Apaches before suffering a season-ending injury prior to this spring. Helping TJC to an impressive 51-19 overall record in 2017, including a 24-4 conference mark, a second-place finish at the Region XIV tournament and a spot in the NJCAA national tournament, Goodman held a .420 batting average in 35 games played. She owned a .463 on-base percentage and a .534 slugging mark, while collecting 37 hits, 10 RBI and scoring 28 times. Playing second base in the field, Goodman tallied 51 putouts and assisted on another 40 as she made five double plays and held a fielding percentage of .910.
A letter winner in both softball and wrestling at Lewisville High School in Lewisville, Texas, Goodman's prep career was highlighted by being a three-time first-team all-district selection in softball. As a freshman in 2013, Goodman claimed a regional championship and placed fifth in the state tournament as an individual in wrestling while leading her team to a state championship. A first-team all-district honoree in softball her sophomore through senior years, Goodman helped Lewisville to the third round of the playoffs in 2014 before claiming all-state accolades in 2015 as the Fighting Farmers took home runner-up honors at the state tournament. Goodman completed her varsity career as softball team captain and competed for Dallas Tigers Softball in club ball.
Receiving her associate's degree in kinesiology from TJC this May, Goodman will continue to study kinesiology at SFA. She is the daughter of Tommy and step-mother Susan Goodman. Her father wrestled at Michigan State and her mother, Liz Goodman, played softball at Baylor. Tommi's step-mother, Susan, was a letter winner in basketball at Texas A&M-Commerce.
"Tommi comes from one of the top NJCAA Division I programs in the country," coach Dickson said. "Currently she's coming off a season-ending injury and starting the rehab process but will be a full go this fall. Goodman is someone I recruited at TJC before I came to SFA, it's exciting for me to have the opportunity to coach her now at SFA. She brings athleticism and speed from the left side to our lineup and adds depth in the middle of the infield and outfield. Goodman is mentally tough and disciplined, while being a fierce competitor on the field as well."
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Richards will join the Ladyjacks after a successful two-year career at Des Moines Area Community College in Boone, Iowa. A catcher and utility player for both seasons, Richards helped lead the Bears to a 47-9 overall record, an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) title, NJCAA Region XI championship, district championship and national title appearance as a freshman in 2017. This season, Richards has aided DMACC to a NJCAA Division II No. 1 national ranking and an unblemished 40-0 record heading into postseason play.
Not done with her sophomore season yet, Richards has posted a .380 batting average in 83 games played for the Bears and holds a career on-base percentage of .480 and a slugging mark of .571. With 78 total hits across two season, Richards has knocked in 21 doubles and blasted six home runs for 47 RBI and 59 runs scored. As a freshman, Richards posted a .343 batting average with an on-base percentage of .449 and slugging mark of .543, chipping in 36 hits, including 12 doubles and three homers, 24 RBI and 27 runs scored. Claiming All-Region XI Second Team honors as a catcher, Richards was tabbed Region XI All-Academic First Team and was an academic all-American with NJCAA All-Academic Third Team accolades. This spring, Richards has improved her hitting to .420 and is slugging at a .600 clip with an on-base percentage of .512. She has lined 42 hits, including a trio of long balls and nine doubles, for 23 RBI and has scored 32 times.
At Van Meter High School in Van Meter, Iowa, Richards was a four-year letter winner, earning all-state honors four times and leading the Bulldogs to a West Central Activities Conference, regional and state championship in 2016. Named 2A All-State Tournament Team Captain her senior year, Richards led Van Meter to a 33-7 record as she earned all-district, all-conference and all-state first-team plaudits. Richards claimed a spot on the all-district, all-conference and all-state first team her junior year as well and was a second-team all-state selection following her sophomore season and a third-team all-state honoree as a freshman. A four-time first-team all-conference member, Richards competed as a catcher, pitcher and utility player throughout her prep career.
Later this month Richards will receive her associate's degree in arts from DMACC and will majoring in kinesiology at SFA.
"After two injuries to catchers this season, we knew we needed a catcher with leadership and experience going into next year," commented coach Dickson. "We found those qualities in Richards, she is humble, hardworking and knows how to win. Defensively, she's quick behind the dish and clean fundamentally. Richards also does a great job offensively with quality at bats and has a mature and steady mental approach at the plate."
"I expect her to come in and be a leader right way with her work ethic, setting the tone for our underclassmen catchers," continued Dickson. "Bailey is a winner and selfless, she's all about doing what her team needs her to do. She will be a great asset and fit for our program and culture."
SFA is currently having its best season in a decade, most recently reaching the 30-win plateau for the first time since 2008 and just the sixth time in the Ladyjacks' NCAA Division I history.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball.
-SFA-
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