NOTE: Due to problems stemming from the university's internet outage this summer, this release is being posted after the start of the school year. Some parts of the release have been adjusted to reflect the lateness of the posting.
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Morehead State softball coach
Megan Griffith and her staff have scoured the nation in search of newcomers for the Eagle program and their first recruiting haul has yielded 12 players from nine states, including a nationally-ranked third baseman from Iowa; all-state selections from Illinois, Ohio and Virginia; a pair who represented a country of their heritage in international competition; two with junior college experience, a Division I grad transfer; as well as the sister of a current Eagle.
"We worked hard to bring in a great group of 2023 recruits. There is a lot of excitement surrounding the 2023 class," coach Griffith said. "This class is full of hard working, talented individuals who share the same vision as our staff and current team. Each of the players in the 2023 class will be able to come in and make an impact with our returners next year.
"We're so excited for what's happening with Morehead (State) softball," she continued. "We are expecting all our (players who are) incomings to come in and compete from day one. We're building a competitive culture here and are looking forward to the diverse contributions our incomings will bring to our team."
The group includes pitcher/first baseman
Cassiti Baroni (Fort Bragg, Calif./Fort Bragg HS); pitcher/third baseman
Addie Stem (Lancaster, Ohio/Fairfield Christian Academy); infielder
Kendra Lewis (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny High School); catcher/first baseman
Tayler Stevens (Arlington, Wash./Arlington HS); middle infielder
Sela Pickford (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson HS); outfielder
Maddy Christopher (Marengo, Ill./Marengo HS); first baseman/infielder
Delaney Overstreet (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch HS); middle infielder
Azea Lightbody (Wentzville, Mo./Timberland HS); catcher/third baseman
Karlie Gibson (Bardwell, Ky./Carlisle County HS); outfielder
Becca Crawford (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora HS), a transfer from Furman; middle infielder
Samantha Cervantes [(Pico Rivera, Calif./Howard College (Texas)/El Rancho HS] and outfielder
Darlene Montoya (San Bernardino, Calif./Weatherford College/Grand Terrace HS), with the latter two coming from junior colleges. Everyone but Crawford, Cervantes and Montoya will be a freshman in the fall of 2023. Cervantes and Montoya will be juniors, while Crawford will have one year of eligibility.
A pair of pitchers immediately factor into coach Griffith's plans.
Cassiti Baroni represented Team Great Britain twice at the Triple Crown International Challenge, helping her squad to a fifth-place finish in 2021. As a member of the team at Fort Bragg High, Baroni capped off her career by earning a nomination for the California Interscholastic Federation's coveted all-state honor out of North Coast Section IV, while also being recognized as a second-team multi-purpose small school all-state pick by CalHiSports.com. This past season, she earned her second straight first-team all-league and all-conference selections for the Timberwolves. The versatile performer topped her league in home runs this spring; and in wins, ERA, strikeouts and no-hitters in each of the last three campaigns. This summer she played for the All-American Sports Academy-Ayala travel team. In 2021, her club captured the Perfect Game Fastpitch's 16 and Under Platinum Division national championship.
"The lefty freshman brings a different look (that) we're excited to add to our staff," said coach Griffith. "She has (a) tight spin and good movement (on her pitches)."
Addie Stem capped off her senior year at the Fairfield Christian Academy by earning Division IV second-team all-state honors. The Knights finished their 2023 campaign by posting a 12-4-1 mark in the Mid-State League Cardinal Division. As a junior, she was the MSL Cardinal Player of the Year and followed up this past season by claiming her second first-team honor. In both of those years, she also was named First-Team All-Central District, chalking up Player of the Year honors in 2022 for the district runners-up. This past spring, the Knights chose her as both their team and Defensive MVP. She played club softball for 10 years, most recently for the Ohio Lasers Orange from 2021-23.
"A righty freshman that brings good 'velo' and movement (on her pitches)," said coach Griffith. "She'll be a great addition to our staff."
Most of the rest of the newcomers bring the versatility to play all over the field.
Kendra Lewis comes to MSU having been nationally-ranked by multiple organizations. National Premier Girls Fastpitch has twice listed her on its 2023 "All-American Watchlist," while Extra Innings has tabbed her as 48th overall in the nation and 21st at third base in her class this year. In addition, Lewis was a member of the US Specialty Sports Association's Direct Select team which won a national championship in 2019. A two-sport start at Ankeny High, Lewis joined the softball team for the first time this summer and was named third-team all-conference. On the travel-team circuit, Lewis has played for Top Gun 17&U National the last two years.
"Kendra brings power at the plate and a lot of athleticism on the corners," coach Griffith said.
Tayler Stevens comes to MSU from the Evergreen State, where she was a four-year letter winner for the Arlington High Eagles. A power-hitting catcher and three-time team MVP, she blasted 26 home runs and had 87 RBI in her career, while throwing out 20 runners attempting to steal and picking off six more. This past year, she batted .615. Stevens was a member of Team Canada at both the 2022 and 2023 Triple Crown International Challenge, which won this year's 18&U tournament and finished fifth the year before, and was on the 2019 14&U USSSA All-American Northwest National team. Her club career spanned seven years, which included playing for three different teams, with the final three on the Washington LadyHawks.
"Tayler brings in a strong arm behind the plate with a great receiving foundation. Tayler also brings pop and consistency on the offensive side of things," said coach Griffith.
Sela Pickford is the second nationally-ranked athlete who will join the program in 2023. Extra Innings Softball tabbed her as a top-100 middle infielder in her class, who in her sophomore year was an honorable mention choice for National Player of the Week late in Poquoson High's campaign. A First-Team All-State pick for Virginia's Class 2, she helped the Islanders to a district title and state-tournament berth. The squad posted an 18-5 record in a senior campaign in which she batted .513 and led her team in virtually every offensive category. Among the many honors she earned on the diamond at least once during her high school career were All-Tidewater, All-Southeast, all-district and all-region. In addition, she was chosen both as the Peninsula Sportswriter's Club's Most Outstanding Softball Player and Bay Rivers District Player of the Year in 2023. Additionally, she was a four-year basketball letter winner and earned two all-region honors during her career. As a club softball player, Pickford was a member of the Williamsburg Starz Gold 18&U Bunn squad and led the team in batting average, RBI and doubles last summer and fall, during its most recent campaign.
"A talented middle infielder that brings strong glove work and a tremendous work ethic," coach Griffith said of Pickford.
Maddy Christopher was a three-time all-state selection for Marengo High, helping the Lady Indians post a 30-4 record and make an appearance in the 2A state tournament as a senior. Christopher also collected all-conference and all-area honors all three years on the varsity. This past spring, she broke the school's career record for stolen bases (75), despite playing just three seasons. An outstanding student, she was a member of the High Honor Roll throughout her time in high school and also was named as an Illinois State Scholar. Christopher played for the Nationals Premier Softball club team.
"(Christopher is) a skilled outfielder that brings speed and the short-game threat at the plate," said coach Griffith.
Delaney Overstreet is another Virginian who was a standout for Western Branch High, which finished 2023 with a 17-4 record and qualified for its regional tournament. As a senior, she posted a .281 batting average with seven RBI and a 1.000 fielding percentage, which helped her garner honorable mention all-region accolades. A four-year letter winner for the Bruins, she also played volleyball at the school and was a member of the academic honor roll for six years. Overstreet's club team is Orion Hunter Elite.
"Delaney brings high-level skills coming at first base," coach Griffith said. "She brings strong glove work to the infield and is a threat at the plate."
Azea Lightbody is the younger sister of rising junior utility player
Ilencia Lightbody. Azea did not play softball in high school, but was a member of the Louisville Lady Sluggers Lightbody and Kentucky Bombers Lightbody teams. On the latter club, she hit .392, and topped her squad in five offensive categories, including home runs and RBI this past season. Also a standout on the track, the sprinter was a three-year letter winner for the Timberland High Wolves, capping off her career by making the sectionals as a member of the 4x100-meter relay. Like her sister, the younger Lightbody is an outstanding student and graduated Summa Cum Laude.
"A talented middle infielder with great range and strong glove work," coach Griffith said of the younger Lightbody. "Her speed makes her a threat on the bases."
The lone in-state commitment, Karlie Gibson helped Carlisle County High to a pair of All "A" state tournaments, earning all-tournament honors in both appearances. This past season, she batted .393, with 22 RBI and four home runs. As a junior, she hit .478, with 23 RBI and 13 extra-base hits for the Lady Comets. Those statistics earned her a spot on the Kentucky Softball Coaches Association West junior all-star team. A three-time all-district selection, Gibson was also recognized on the all-regional tournament squad once and the All "A" regional tournament team twice. Another outstanding student, she was named to the KSCA state All-Academic First Team in each of the last two seasons. In addition, she is a Heisman Scholarship nominee. Gibson played club ball this past year for the Kentucky Bombers 18U Lightbody travel team.
"(Gibson) is a power threat at the plate. She also provides a strong arm catching," said coach Griffith.
The only newcomer who enters with Division I collegiate experience already under her belt is Becca Crawford, who transfers in to the Eagle program after having played four years at Furman, where she primarily served as a base-running specialist. The Paladins won 20 games in her senior year and she finished with a 1.000 fielding percentage. Over her career, she stole 11 bases, including home plate three times. During her time at Furman, Crawford made the academic honor roll six times. As a prepster, she played for Aurora High, where she hit .366 and scored 24 runs as a senior. That season, the Greenmen finished 15-8 and went 10-2 in the American Division of the Suburban League, winning the sectional crown before falling in the district tournament semifinals.
"(Crawford) brings maturity and a high-level IQ on the base path," coach Griffith said. "We are excited to see her speed on the bases and range in the outfield."
Montoya comes to MSU after having played two years at Weatherford College (Texas). Last year, she led the junior college ranks and broke her school's single-season record in triples with 10. An honorable mention all-conference selection last spring, she batted .344 with 36 RBI and stole 12 bases for a Coyotes' team that posted a 39-16 overall record. As a freshman, she hit .327 with 23 RBI and 16 extra-base hits. At Grand Terrace High School, she earned the Principal's Honor Roll Award.
"Montoya brings strong range and speed both in the outfield and at the plate," Griffith said.
Cervantes was a Western Junior College Athletic Conference honorable mention choice this past spring after hitting .382, with a .721 slugging percentage and a .483 on-base percentage, and notching 12 home runs and 31 RBI for Howard College (Texas). She finished her freshman season with a .327 batting average, a .673 slugging percentage, a .399 on-base percentage, with 10 homers and 55 RBI. Both years at the school, Cervantes earned first-team All-Academic honors in the conference. At El Rancho High School, she was a two-time all-league selection. She played her club ball for So Cal Athletics McCarthy.
"Cervantes brings range to the middle infield and is a threat at the plate," Griffith said.
Late summer recruiting is not unusual for coach Griffith. Last year, she added Colorado Mesa transfer
Kaytlyn Cripps, a senior catcher, just days before the start of the fall semester. In addition, sophomore pitcher
Jessie Begley was signed in the spring of 2022.
The Eagles are expected to return nine players off last year's squad, which finished with an 11-33 overall record and a 6-18 Ohio Valley Conference mark.
