Ladyjack Softball Adds Savanna Parker to 2019 Class
4/24/2019 11:53:00 AM | Softball
SFA welcomes Temple College catcher as first transfer of 2019 class
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – After inking nine high school signees during the early signing period in November, the SFA softball program's 2019 class just got even stronger Wednesday morning with the announcement of Temple College catcher Savanna Parker signing a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to compete for the Purple and White. Parker, a native of Splendora, Texas, is the first transfer of the Ladyjacks' talented 2019 class.
Following an impressive prep career at Splendora High School, Parker is currently having a standout year at NJCAA Temple College in Temple, Texas. With four games remaining in the 2019 season, Parker has already made a huge impact as one of the team's most valuable players. She's been named team MVP in 12 of the Leopards' games this spring and is hitting .455 for the season with 10 home runs, 55 RBI, 59 runs scored, a .527 on-base percentage, a team-best .812 slugging mark and is 20-of-21 on stolen base attempts. She's also posted a team-high 19 doubles in 2019, registering a total of 32 extra-base knocks. As the only member of the team to play all 48 games for Temple College this year, Parker has been outstanding behind the dish with 212 putouts and 39 assists in 256 total chances for a .980 fielding percentage.
Parker has led the Leopards to an impressive 39-9 overall record in 2019 and a 23-5 conference mark, claiming first place in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) - NJCAA Region 5 - and currently on a seven-game win streak.
"We're excited to add Parker to our squad for next season," head coach Nicole Dickson said. "She's an athlete with all the tools. Savanna hits for power and has the ability to steal 30-plus bases, she is disciplined, mature and wants to compete. Behind the dish, Parker has the speed and accuracy to shut down the run game, while also athletic enough to play anywhere in the infield and outfield. We're beyond blessed to sign such a high level competitor; Parker just makes next season's team that much stronger."
A four-year letter winner at catcher at Splendora, Parker was a four-sport athlete with three varsity seasons on the volleyball court in addition to playing basketball and running track as a sophomore. As a freshman in 2015, Parker was named University Interscholastic League (UIL) All-District 23-4A Second Team following a 35-hit, 19-RBI season with a .417 batting average and .630 slugging percentage. She helped lead the Wildcats to a second round playoff appearance before picking up UIL All-District 23-4A First Team accolades her sophomore season in 2016. Batting .476 on the year and guiding Splendora back to the second round of the playoffs with a 21-6 record, Parker collected 20 RBI and 30 hits in 21 games, while also earning UIL All-District 23-4A honorable mention acclaim in volleyball and claiming UIL All-District 23-4A honors in the triple jump.
Her junior campaign in 2017 saw Parker named UIL All-District 21-5A Defensive MVP and earn All-Montgomery County Second Team accolades after she hit .500 for the season with 29 RBI, 36 hits in 23 games and hold an impressive .930 slugging percentage. Parker led the Wildcats to a 20-8 record that season before helping Splendora to a 23-12 record and the third round of the playoffs her final year as a senior. The 2018 Montgomery County Mike Ogg Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award recipient, Parker was placed on both the Academic All-State Second Team and UIL All-District 23-4A First Team. She tallied 30 RBI and collected 26 hits in 22 games, hitting .394 with a .729 slugging percentage and closing out her varsity career with an unblemished 1.000 fielding percentage for all four years. Parker also achieved UIL All-District 23-4A First Team as an outside hitter on the volleyball court her senior year and won the Excellence in Leadership Award.
A competitive club and summer league player, Parker suited up for the Mizuno Elite Gold 18u, 16u and 12-14u teams. She was a member of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) 12u Texas state championship team and 2012 Triple Crown Sparklers 12u Silver second-place squad and traveled to the 2012 ASA 14u Nationals in Lawton, Oklahoma, and 2014 ASA/USA 16u Class A Fastpitch in Virginia, in addition to landing a spot on the 2017 TSC Nationals 18u All-Tournament team.
The daughter of Kristal and Kurt Parker, Savanna has one brother, Ryland, who was a two-year letter winner at both Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas, and at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2010-11). A right-handed pitcher, Ryland helped the Ragin' Cajuns to a regular season Sun Belt Conference championship and a NCAA Regional appearance in 2010. Parker intends to pursue a major in information technology at SFA and a minor in kinesiology.
Parker joins right-handed pitcher Reagan Chism, catcher Gabriella Garcia, utility player Amzee Gerard, first baseman/third baseman Shaylon Govan, pitcher/first baseman Katie Hartwell, first baseman/third baseman Krystal Huynh, shortstop/third baseman Camryn Middlebrook, outfielder Katy Repa and second baseman/outfielder Carissa Vasquez as the Ladyjacks' additions arriving in Texas' oldest town this fall.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the 2019 season.
-SFA-
Following an impressive prep career at Splendora High School, Parker is currently having a standout year at NJCAA Temple College in Temple, Texas. With four games remaining in the 2019 season, Parker has already made a huge impact as one of the team's most valuable players. She's been named team MVP in 12 of the Leopards' games this spring and is hitting .455 for the season with 10 home runs, 55 RBI, 59 runs scored, a .527 on-base percentage, a team-best .812 slugging mark and is 20-of-21 on stolen base attempts. She's also posted a team-high 19 doubles in 2019, registering a total of 32 extra-base knocks. As the only member of the team to play all 48 games for Temple College this year, Parker has been outstanding behind the dish with 212 putouts and 39 assists in 256 total chances for a .980 fielding percentage.
Parker has led the Leopards to an impressive 39-9 overall record in 2019 and a 23-5 conference mark, claiming first place in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) - NJCAA Region 5 - and currently on a seven-game win streak.
"We're excited to add Parker to our squad for next season," head coach Nicole Dickson said. "She's an athlete with all the tools. Savanna hits for power and has the ability to steal 30-plus bases, she is disciplined, mature and wants to compete. Behind the dish, Parker has the speed and accuracy to shut down the run game, while also athletic enough to play anywhere in the infield and outfield. We're beyond blessed to sign such a high level competitor; Parker just makes next season's team that much stronger."
A four-year letter winner at catcher at Splendora, Parker was a four-sport athlete with three varsity seasons on the volleyball court in addition to playing basketball and running track as a sophomore. As a freshman in 2015, Parker was named University Interscholastic League (UIL) All-District 23-4A Second Team following a 35-hit, 19-RBI season with a .417 batting average and .630 slugging percentage. She helped lead the Wildcats to a second round playoff appearance before picking up UIL All-District 23-4A First Team accolades her sophomore season in 2016. Batting .476 on the year and guiding Splendora back to the second round of the playoffs with a 21-6 record, Parker collected 20 RBI and 30 hits in 21 games, while also earning UIL All-District 23-4A honorable mention acclaim in volleyball and claiming UIL All-District 23-4A honors in the triple jump.
Her junior campaign in 2017 saw Parker named UIL All-District 21-5A Defensive MVP and earn All-Montgomery County Second Team accolades after she hit .500 for the season with 29 RBI, 36 hits in 23 games and hold an impressive .930 slugging percentage. Parker led the Wildcats to a 20-8 record that season before helping Splendora to a 23-12 record and the third round of the playoffs her final year as a senior. The 2018 Montgomery County Mike Ogg Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award recipient, Parker was placed on both the Academic All-State Second Team and UIL All-District 23-4A First Team. She tallied 30 RBI and collected 26 hits in 22 games, hitting .394 with a .729 slugging percentage and closing out her varsity career with an unblemished 1.000 fielding percentage for all four years. Parker also achieved UIL All-District 23-4A First Team as an outside hitter on the volleyball court her senior year and won the Excellence in Leadership Award.
A competitive club and summer league player, Parker suited up for the Mizuno Elite Gold 18u, 16u and 12-14u teams. She was a member of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) 12u Texas state championship team and 2012 Triple Crown Sparklers 12u Silver second-place squad and traveled to the 2012 ASA 14u Nationals in Lawton, Oklahoma, and 2014 ASA/USA 16u Class A Fastpitch in Virginia, in addition to landing a spot on the 2017 TSC Nationals 18u All-Tournament team.
The daughter of Kristal and Kurt Parker, Savanna has one brother, Ryland, who was a two-year letter winner at both Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas, and at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2010-11). A right-handed pitcher, Ryland helped the Ragin' Cajuns to a regular season Sun Belt Conference championship and a NCAA Regional appearance in 2010. Parker intends to pursue a major in information technology at SFA and a minor in kinesiology.
Parker joins right-handed pitcher Reagan Chism, catcher Gabriella Garcia, utility player Amzee Gerard, first baseman/third baseman Shaylon Govan, pitcher/first baseman Katie Hartwell, first baseman/third baseman Krystal Huynh, shortstop/third baseman Camryn Middlebrook, outfielder Katy Repa and second baseman/outfielder Carissa Vasquez as the Ladyjacks' additions arriving in Texas' oldest town this fall.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the 2019 season.
-SFA-
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