Thursday, November 20, 2008

            Wayne State College head softball coach Krista Unger has announced the committments of five players to the 2009 recruiting class during the NCAA early signing period.  Those signing national letters of intent to attend Wayne State College and play softball for the Wildcats in 2009-10 include Samantha Cedillo of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Aeriell Earleywine of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, Dacia Miller of Bondurant, Iowa and Kassie Nurton of Omaha while Alesha Finkey of Wayne has committed to also play for the Wildcats in 2009-10.

            “I am very pleased with the recruiting class we have coming in for the 2009-10 season,” remarked third-year head coach Krista Unger.  “All five of these student-athletes are driven to succeed both on and off the field.  This group will add depth both offensively and defensively to the Wildcat softball team.”

            Cedillo, a 5-3 shortstop from Council Bluffs (Iowa) Lewis Central High School, earned Third Team All-State and First Team All-District honors as a junior while helping her team reach the Iowa Class 4A State Tournament. She is a five-year starter who earned honorable mention All-State and Second Team All-Missouri River Athletic Conference honors as an eighth grader in 2005. 

            “Samantha can play both shortstop and second base positions,” said Unger.  “She is a consistent contact hitter and being the great all-around athlete she is, we look for her to score many runs during the Wildcat season.”

            Earleywine, a 5-2 outfielder/utility player from Sergeant Bluff-Luton (Iowa) High School, hit .382 with five home runs as a junior helping her team to a third place finish at the Iowa Class 3A State Tournament.  She is a four-year starter that earned First Team All-War Eagle Conference and Third Team All-State honors this past season and joins older sister Samantha Earleywine as a member of the Wildcat softball team.

            “Aeriell is a great all-around athlete and has the ability to be an impact player in both the infield and outfield,” commented Coach Unger.  “She is a hard worker with a great attitude and despite her size swings a powerful bat.”

            Finkey, a 5-6 catcher/outfielder from Wayne High School, is a three-sport standout for the Blue Devils, starting in softball and track and field four seasons and three years in basketball.  She hit .444 this season for Wayne, earning Class C Second Team All-State honors while leading the state (Class C) in runs scored (41) and stolen bases (29).  Finkey is a three year captain and a two-time All-District selection for Wayne High School.

            “Alesha has a great combination of speed and power and has experience in both catching and playing the outfield which makes her a very versatile player,” remarked Unger.  “She will be a great addition to the Wildcat softball team.”

            Miller, a 5-5 pitcher/utility player from Bondurant-Farrar (Iowa) High School, is a four-year All-Conference and All-District selection that has struck out a career .381 batting average while striking out 728 batters in 660 career innings pitched.  She is a multi-sport standout, also earning All-Conference honors in volleyball and basketball.

            “Dacia is an all-around athlete and will add depth to our pitching staff as well as our infield,” stated Unger.  “With her competitive edge and good mix of pitches she will keep batters off balance and is a consistent hitter at the plate.”

            Nurton, a 5-1 outfielder from Omaha Marian High School, is a four-year starter who led Class A in batting this season with a .512 average. She earned First Team Class A All-State and Second Team All-Nebraska honors this season with 44 hits, 26 runs scored and 16 stolen bases as a senior.

            “Kassie is an outstanding athlete and competitor who is driven to win both on and off the field,” said Unger. “She brings an aggressiveness to the game that will allow her to take charge in the outfield.”

            Wayne State College is an NCAA Division II school located in Wayne, Nebraska and competes in the 14-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  The Wildcat softball team posted a 30-23 record in 2008 and lost just one senior from last year’s team that posted the most wins by a WSC softball team since 1990.