Head softball coach Rob Stack has received National Letters of Intent from six future Chadron State College players, since the signing period opened on Wednesday, November 9. Three from Colorado and three from California are set to begin the new class of Eagles joining the team in 2017.
Abby Anderson is listed as a first baseman on the roster of her travel club in Colorado. She attends Resurrection Christian School, and her parents are Jim and Ceri Anderson. In each of the past two high school seasons, she has been awarded Academic All-State Honorable Mention, with All-Conference honorable mention recognition coming this past season. She has a .450 high school career batting average, and hits .411 in travel ball.
“Abby comes from a very athletic family,” said Stack, “and has played some elite competition while playing for Loveland High School and the Colorado Classics, whom her mother Ceri coaches. She has power and the versatility to play in the infield and outfield. We look for Abby to be a solid contributor during her career at Chadron State.”
Julia Elbert will join former Air Academy High School (USAFA, Colorado) teammate Megan Horn on the roster next fall. She is a four-year varsity starter for her high school, where she has All-State honors from 2015 and 2016, and received conference First or Second Team awards all four years. She was also a three-year captain. Her parents are John and Jennifer Elbert.
“Julia comes from tremendous competitive and high school teams,”said Stack, “and can play multiple positions including catcher and third base. She is a hard worker, has outstanding power, and knows what it takes to be successful. She has the potential to make an immediate impact.”
A California player with outstanding experience in competitive softball is Bailynn Meek out of Casa Roble High School in Orangevale, California. Her Foothills Gold 18U team has recently sent several players to NCAA Division I or nationally competitive Division II teams, and competes all over the western U.S. As a utility pitcher she helped her high school team to a league championship in 2016 batting .461 and twirling from the circle for a 2.14 ERA. Her parents are Bryan and Krista Meek.
“Bailynn has played on an outstanding competitive team out of California. She will give us additional depth in the circle, and has excellent potential as a hitter as well. There is tremendous upside to Bailynn as she has a multitude of talents on the field.”
Leilani Niccum will join Meek, her Foothills Gold teammate, on the Chadron State Softball roster next fall. For her hometown El Camino High School, she was named First Team All-League in 2015 and is a three-time MaxPreps.com Player of the Week. She has competed with Foothills Gold for the past five seasons, competing in such prestigious tournaments as the 2013 Triple Crown World Series and the 2014 ASA Nationals. Primarily a catcher, her parents are Melissa Edwards and Randy Niccum.
“Leilani provides additional depth behind the plate,” said Stack, “and will be a force hitting. Leilani can also play multiple positions with the potential to have a great career at CSC.”
Out of Pueblo, Colorado, competing for Pueblo East High School, comes Lauren Renck, an outfielder who hit .447 as a four-year starter in high school and has batted .369 in her past three seasons of club softball. She has competed with Colorado Springs Thunder travel club, and will compete with American Freedom in 2017. Her parents are Tracy and Sandy Renck.
“Lauren has played against some of the best travel ball competition in the country,” said Stack, “and will join club teammates Julia Elbert and Megan Horn on the CSC Softball roster in the fall of 2017. Lauren is a speedy outfielder that has a knack for the ball, and can hit for both average and power. She also provides needed depth in the outfield.”
Finally, CSC will look to a pitcher from Oceanside, California, Gabby Russell, to augment the current bullpen. She has been a four-year starter in the circle for Oceanside High School, making either First or Second Team All-League her first three seasons as she enters her senior season in the spring. Following her junior season in Spring of 2016, she was named Team MVP after recording a 3.65 ERA with 56 strikeouts. Her parents are Betty Richardson and Nathan Russell.
Gabby joins Chadron State Softball for the fall 2017,” said Stack, “after grabbing the attention of Coaches Scearcy and Polsley. She is a strong, athletic pitcher who will help to make the pitching staff better. She can hit for power, and has the potential to have a great career in the circle.”
The six comprise the “early” signing class for CSC. More signees are expected in the spring period.