Katie Gaal

GoSycamores.Com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Head softball coach Brenda Coldren has announced that six players have committed to join the 2009-10 Sycamore squad after signing national letters of intent.  Mackenzie Connelly, Sara Evans, Halee Myers, Kimberly Pierce, Kellie Szablewski, and Kristen Felker will soon become Indiana State Sycamores.

“We feel like we have covered all of our needs in this recruiting class,” said Coldren.  “Sara and Kristen are both outstanding pitchers and will complement each other perfectly with their different pitches.  We have added some much needed speed to our roster and replaced some power we will lose in our senior class.  Defensively, it is a true utility class.  All of the players have the ability to play a number of positions and play them well.  It is the most athletic class we have ever recruited and I can't wait to see them in the Sycamore uniform!”

Mackenzie Connelly plays shortstop/centerfield at Casey-Westfield High School in Casey, Ill.  She is a two-time Class A State All-Tournament Team member after leading her team to two consecutive Class A State Runner-Up titles (2006, 2007).  Connelly has also been named to the Decatur Herald-Review Second Team for three straight seasons (2006-08) and was an all-conference player her freshman and junior seasons.  She ranks among the top three in batting average, RBI, doubles, triples, and homeruns.  The star shortstop has participated in five national tournaments and has played travel summer ball for eight years with the Casey Chaos, Mattoon Pride, Southern Illinois Force, St. Louis Energy, and will play with the St. Louis Fusion Gold in 2009.

“MacKenzie comes from a softball dynasty so we know she has the knowledge of the game needed to play at this level and we expect her to be ready to make an impact immediately,” commented Coldren.  “She has great size, speed and athletic ability.  MacKenzie has unlimited potential and I believe that her best softball days are yet to come.  I am happy that she will wear the Sycamore uniform next year.”

Sara Evans was a highly sought after pitcher from the New Palestine Dragons in New Palestine, Ind.  She has been named the team MVP for the past three seasons along with receiving all-county recognition each year.  Evans was selected to the second team all-state squad her freshman and junior seasons and third team all-state her sophomore year after missing half of the season with a broken hand.  In her most recent season, Evans accumulated 20 wins with 227 strikeouts in 135 innings and had a 1.00 ERA, averaging almost 12 strikeouts per game.  She currently plays summer ball with the Indy Chix. 

“I have watched Sara for the last four years and am excited that she has decided to become a Sycamore,” said Coldren.  “Sara has a great work ethic and knows how to win.  We look for her to continue that success here at Indiana State.  She has a great demeanor and confidence on the mound.  Sara throws hard and has very good movement on her pitches.  She has the potential to be a dominating force in college.”

Halee Myers is a utility player for Pendleton Heights High School in Pendleton, Ind.  She joins former high school teammates Shonda Garringer, Lindsey Beisser, and Stephanie Robinson at Indiana State.  Myers finished the 2008 season hitting .359 with four doubles, a homerun, nine RBI, and 15 runs while sitting out half the year with an injury.  She has led her team to three consecutive conference championships and has not lost a conference game in her entire career.  The Arabians have gone 86-9 since Myers joined the team. 

“Haylee is small but the whole package,” Coldren said of Myers.  “She is fundamentally one of the best players around.  Halee gives us options in the infield and outfield defensively.  She is very fast and has a lot of pop for her size offensively.  She has a great attitude and will bring the fire and intensity I like to the field.”

Kimberly Pierce is a centerfielder from South Elgin High School in South Elgin, Ill.  She transferred from East Bay High School in February of 2008.  While at East Bay, Pierce was selected as a two-time First Team All-Western Conference player.  In her sophomore season, Pierce had a .853 slugging percentage with seven homeruns and 28 RBI in 25 total games.  In her first year at South Elgin as a junior, she was named to the First Team All Upstate Eight Conference with a stellar 1.000 slugging percentage, batting .495 with nine homeruns and 47 RBI in 30 games.  She also received recognition for her outstanding performance by being named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team North Region, Chicago Tribune Second Team All-State, Elgin Daily Courier First Team All-Area and Softball Player of the Year, Daily Herald First Team, Fox Valley All-Area, and Kane County First Team All-Area.  She has played travel ball with the Tampa Mustangs, Sarasota Quicksilver, and Bartlett Silver Hawks.

“Kimberly was a phenomenal find,” said an excited Coldren.  “She fell through the cracks with her move from Florida to Chicago so we were excited to find her this fall.  Kim's stats speak for themselves.  She is dangerous at the plate and, while she can do it all, she is a pure power hitter.  While Kim has tremendous offensive stats, she has great range, speed and a rocket for an arm in the outfield.  She also was an all-conference player behind the plate in Florida and has experience at shortstop as well so she will be able to help us in a number of ways defensively.”

Kellie Szablewski is a shortstop/third baseman from Johnston City High School in Johnston City, Ill.  She played her first two seasons at Carterville High School where she was a two-time first team all-conference player and an all-south first team member and set the state record for doubles in a state tournament game.  In her final season with Carterville, Szablewski batted .455 with 31 stolen bases and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.  Kellie batted .445 with 18 stolen bases her junior year at Johnson City and led her team to a conference championship.  Szablewski plays for the Illinois Southern Force 18 Gold that placed second at the 16u ASA National Championship in 2007 and finished fourth in 2008.  Academically, Kellie has made high honors every year and was presented with the President's Education Award for her 4.0 GPA.  

“Kellie has played summer ball with one of the best teams in the country,” said Coldren.  “She has the ability to play a number of positions and really has come around offensively.  Kellie is a heads up player and will bring speed to the line-up.  She has a great work ethic and will be a nice addition to our squad.”

Highly touted recruit, Kristen Felker, comes from Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, Mo.  As a freshman, Kristen was named first team all-conference, first team all-district, honorable mention all-metro, and all-region as a pitcher.  Her sophomore year she missed most of the season due to illness but her junior year she repeated the previously mentioned awards and added second team all-metro and second team all-state honors to her list of accomplishments.  Felker's senior year, she led her team to a conference championship, striking out 173 batters in 101 innings (averaging 11.9 Ks per game) with a 0.76 ERA.  She was named GAC Player of the Year, Second Team St. Louis Metro, and repeated as a second team all-state selection, along with first team all-conference, district and region.  Felker compiled 606 strikeouts in 390 innings during her high school career with an ERA under 1.00.  She ranked in the top ten in the St. Louis area in wins, ERA, strikeouts, strikeouts per seven innings, and shutouts.  Kristen has played for the St. Louis Esprit and the St. Louis Sluggers club teams.