Dickson Announces Addition of 2021-22 Ladyjack Signing Class
11/12/2020 4:50:00 PM | Softball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – SFA softball head coach Nicole Dickson announced her 2021 signing class on Wednesday as part of the Early Signing Day period, ushering in the next wave of Ladyjack softball athletes.
"As a staff we are excited about our 2021 signing class", said Dickson. "We have high character student-athletes who have been playing competitive schedules the last two years in preparation to come in and compete at a high level. This class specifically adds pitching depth and includes versatile/athletic hitters who play multiple positions. Congratulations to all and welcome to the SFA softball family!"
Mikaelah Burkland plans to join the 'Jacks after her final season at Liberty High School this spring. The outfield/utility player brings a high average and speed to the Ladyjack roster, and helped her team to the 4A state semifinals as a freshman. She was named All-District 4A in 2018 and 2019 and won a $A State Championship in 2018.
"Burkland is a true utility player who can play anywhere on the field", said Dickson. "Her arm strength and athleticism allow her to move to multiple defensive spots. She is a hard worker and tough out at the plate with the ability to hit for power gap to gap. I am excited to see how her athleticism and competitive mindset impact our roster.
A 5-3 freshman utility player from Santa Fe, Texas, Ryleigh Mata will join the Ladyjacks after finishing her prep career at Santa Fe HS. Mata is a two-time All-District First Team selection and two-time All County selection in three seasons at Santa Fe, and before her junior season was cut short had been on a 26-1 team that was ranked number one in the State of Texas.
"Mata is a lefty hitter who can slap" said Dickson. "Her strength is her ability to play IF and OF. She has always competed at the highest level and doesn't shy away from competition. Mata is another kid who is a steal threat for us who adds both speed and power from the left side. I am excited to see how she competes at this level and develops at our program.
Hailing from Leader, Texas, Emily Berryhill will finish her prep career at Glenn HS and then join the Ladyjacks next year. A 5-2 outfielder that has also spent time at catcher, Berryhill has earned her keep in HS as a star hitter with speed, compiling a .510 average to go along with 130 hits, 44 extra base hits, eight home runs and 61 steals across three seasons. She guided Glenn to a District title in 2018 and earned District Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-District and Third Team All-State honors in the same season. She is a three-time team MVP and has served as a Team Captain as well as earning Academic All-District honors as well.
"Emily is going to add speed and is a true triple threat in our lineup. She can read the defense and can use her small ball game, but can also be explosive with gap to gap power. She is an impact kid who we expect big things from in the future.
A shortstop by trade, Dakotah Pool joins the Ladyjacks from Cuypress, Texas, where she finishes her career at 6A Cy-Fair High School. Pool has racked up a healthy .331 average and .428 on-base-percentage at Cy-Fair, earning First Team All-District honors in addition to team MVP and Best Defensive Player Honors.
"Pool is a competitor and has a high softball IQ" Dickson said. "She has a big arm and a lot of range in the middle. She can hit for power and also has the ability to take extra bases and adds speed and athleticism to our team dynamic. Excited to add her to the roster next year! Tough kid and will grind."
Sydney Carithers joins the Ladyjacks from Brewer HS in Fort Worth, Texas. A 5-6 catcher and utility player, Carithers has racked up a .460 average and 15 home runs across three varsity seasons at Brewer, earning Team MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2019 as well as First Team All-District accolades in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
"Syd has been the most fun player to watch develop the last two years" noted Dickson. "Her ceiling is high and I expect big things from her coming into our program. She is one of the hardest working, high character, great teammate and highly skilled athletes in the 2021 class. I am excited to see her impact our culture and compete for a starting spot. She can hit for power and will be an asset behind the plate and on the infield as a freshman."
SFA inks a southpaw in Alexis Telford, a 5-8 pitcher who will finish her prep career at Allen HS. Telford earned All-District Second Team honors in 2019 and also earned Academic All-District honors in 2018 and 2019.
"Alexis is an impact kid for the 21 class", noted Dickson. "As a LHP she has both movement and velo and the ability to get strikeouts. Over the last 12 months she as developed into one of the top pitchers in the metroplex. Her softball IQ and high expectations for herself as a player set her apart. She is also a high academic kid pursing our honors programs at SFA."
Joining the Ladyjacks from Mansfield is 5-5 infielder Kelby Robbins, who will join SFA after finishing her prep career at Legacy HS. Robbins has compiled a .410 average and a .937 fielding percentage during three seasons at Legacy, and is a three-time All-District First Team selection. Robbins has helped her team to the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.
"Kelby is a grinder and a competitor", Dickson said. "She is another tough kid who has played at the highest level and has been pushed to excel as an athlete. She knows the game and is solid defender at 3b. Her focus on her athleticism the last several months has given her an advantage coming to play at the college level as well. She moves well on the infield and is also a tough out with great situational hitting ability at the plate."
Kassie Rhodes hails from Quitman, Arkansas, and will join the Ladyjacks after completing her final season at Quitman HS this spring. Rhodes, a LHP and 1B, has batted .525 in her career and compiled 134 strikeouts with a 1.20 ERA in 2019. Rhodes was named a 2A All-State Selection in 2018 and 2019. She was also an All-District performer in cross country and competed with Texas Glory for club softball.
"Kassie is adding depth to our pitching staff and can hit for power", said Dickson. "She is a multi-sport athlete with the ability to develop into an impact player on our roster on both offense and defense."
Another addition to the Ladyjack pitching staff comes to Nacogdoches in the form of Brooke Gainous, a 5-8 pitcher from Kingwood, Texas. Gainous is a four-time Academic All-District and All-District First Team selection for Kingwood Park HS.
"Brooke is one of the top RHP in the state of Texas" added Dickson. "Her spin rate and movement give her the ability to command the game and get quick outs. She is a strikeout type pitcher who can attack multiple zones at different speeds, and someone we expect to come in right away and make an impact in the pitching rotation."
Kaleigh Vega, a 5-4 pitcher from Lovington, will finish her prep career at 4A Lovington HS and join the Ladyjacks next year. In three seasons, Vega has earned 26 wins (five shutouts) and recorded 218 strikeouts, earning All-District selections in 2018 and 2019 as well as All-State honors in 2019.
"Vega is a spinner who is one of the top pitchers in New Mexico", quipped Dickson. "She can mix speeds and keep the ball down to get quick outs. She complements our staff and will be a kid I'm excited to watch develop at SFA."
"As a staff we are excited about our 2021 signing class", said Dickson. "We have high character student-athletes who have been playing competitive schedules the last two years in preparation to come in and compete at a high level. This class specifically adds pitching depth and includes versatile/athletic hitters who play multiple positions. Congratulations to all and welcome to the SFA softball family!"
Mikaelah Burkland plans to join the 'Jacks after her final season at Liberty High School this spring. The outfield/utility player brings a high average and speed to the Ladyjack roster, and helped her team to the 4A state semifinals as a freshman. She was named All-District 4A in 2018 and 2019 and won a $A State Championship in 2018.
"Burkland is a true utility player who can play anywhere on the field", said Dickson. "Her arm strength and athleticism allow her to move to multiple defensive spots. She is a hard worker and tough out at the plate with the ability to hit for power gap to gap. I am excited to see how her athleticism and competitive mindset impact our roster.
A 5-3 freshman utility player from Santa Fe, Texas, Ryleigh Mata will join the Ladyjacks after finishing her prep career at Santa Fe HS. Mata is a two-time All-District First Team selection and two-time All County selection in three seasons at Santa Fe, and before her junior season was cut short had been on a 26-1 team that was ranked number one in the State of Texas.
"Mata is a lefty hitter who can slap" said Dickson. "Her strength is her ability to play IF and OF. She has always competed at the highest level and doesn't shy away from competition. Mata is another kid who is a steal threat for us who adds both speed and power from the left side. I am excited to see how she competes at this level and develops at our program.
Hailing from Leader, Texas, Emily Berryhill will finish her prep career at Glenn HS and then join the Ladyjacks next year. A 5-2 outfielder that has also spent time at catcher, Berryhill has earned her keep in HS as a star hitter with speed, compiling a .510 average to go along with 130 hits, 44 extra base hits, eight home runs and 61 steals across three seasons. She guided Glenn to a District title in 2018 and earned District Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-District and Third Team All-State honors in the same season. She is a three-time team MVP and has served as a Team Captain as well as earning Academic All-District honors as well.
"Emily is going to add speed and is a true triple threat in our lineup. She can read the defense and can use her small ball game, but can also be explosive with gap to gap power. She is an impact kid who we expect big things from in the future.
A shortstop by trade, Dakotah Pool joins the Ladyjacks from Cuypress, Texas, where she finishes her career at 6A Cy-Fair High School. Pool has racked up a healthy .331 average and .428 on-base-percentage at Cy-Fair, earning First Team All-District honors in addition to team MVP and Best Defensive Player Honors.
"Pool is a competitor and has a high softball IQ" Dickson said. "She has a big arm and a lot of range in the middle. She can hit for power and also has the ability to take extra bases and adds speed and athleticism to our team dynamic. Excited to add her to the roster next year! Tough kid and will grind."
Sydney Carithers joins the Ladyjacks from Brewer HS in Fort Worth, Texas. A 5-6 catcher and utility player, Carithers has racked up a .460 average and 15 home runs across three varsity seasons at Brewer, earning Team MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2019 as well as First Team All-District accolades in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
"Syd has been the most fun player to watch develop the last two years" noted Dickson. "Her ceiling is high and I expect big things from her coming into our program. She is one of the hardest working, high character, great teammate and highly skilled athletes in the 2021 class. I am excited to see her impact our culture and compete for a starting spot. She can hit for power and will be an asset behind the plate and on the infield as a freshman."
SFA inks a southpaw in Alexis Telford, a 5-8 pitcher who will finish her prep career at Allen HS. Telford earned All-District Second Team honors in 2019 and also earned Academic All-District honors in 2018 and 2019.
"Alexis is an impact kid for the 21 class", noted Dickson. "As a LHP she has both movement and velo and the ability to get strikeouts. Over the last 12 months she as developed into one of the top pitchers in the metroplex. Her softball IQ and high expectations for herself as a player set her apart. She is also a high academic kid pursing our honors programs at SFA."
Joining the Ladyjacks from Mansfield is 5-5 infielder Kelby Robbins, who will join SFA after finishing her prep career at Legacy HS. Robbins has compiled a .410 average and a .937 fielding percentage during three seasons at Legacy, and is a three-time All-District First Team selection. Robbins has helped her team to the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.
"Kelby is a grinder and a competitor", Dickson said. "She is another tough kid who has played at the highest level and has been pushed to excel as an athlete. She knows the game and is solid defender at 3b. Her focus on her athleticism the last several months has given her an advantage coming to play at the college level as well. She moves well on the infield and is also a tough out with great situational hitting ability at the plate."
Kassie Rhodes hails from Quitman, Arkansas, and will join the Ladyjacks after completing her final season at Quitman HS this spring. Rhodes, a LHP and 1B, has batted .525 in her career and compiled 134 strikeouts with a 1.20 ERA in 2019. Rhodes was named a 2A All-State Selection in 2018 and 2019. She was also an All-District performer in cross country and competed with Texas Glory for club softball.
"Kassie is adding depth to our pitching staff and can hit for power", said Dickson. "She is a multi-sport athlete with the ability to develop into an impact player on our roster on both offense and defense."
Another addition to the Ladyjack pitching staff comes to Nacogdoches in the form of Brooke Gainous, a 5-8 pitcher from Kingwood, Texas. Gainous is a four-time Academic All-District and All-District First Team selection for Kingwood Park HS.
"Brooke is one of the top RHP in the state of Texas" added Dickson. "Her spin rate and movement give her the ability to command the game and get quick outs. She is a strikeout type pitcher who can attack multiple zones at different speeds, and someone we expect to come in right away and make an impact in the pitching rotation."
Kaleigh Vega, a 5-4 pitcher from Lovington, will finish her prep career at 4A Lovington HS and join the Ladyjacks next year. In three seasons, Vega has earned 26 wins (five shutouts) and recorded 218 strikeouts, earning All-District selections in 2018 and 2019 as well as All-State honors in 2019.
"Vega is a spinner who is one of the top pitchers in New Mexico", quipped Dickson. "She can mix speeds and keep the ball down to get quick outs. She complements our staff and will be a kid I'm excited to watch develop at SFA."
2.1.24 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 24 x Softball
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