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For Immediate Release
June 25, 2010
Eureka Softball Introduces 2011 Recruiting Class
EUREKA, Ill. – Less than two months removed from its first appearance in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, the Eureka College softball team introduced its 11-player recruiting class for the 2011 season during a reception at the Reagan Center, Friday afternoon. The class includes nine true freshmen and two transfers.
“This recruiting class of freshmen and transfers is extremely talented and has great potential,” second-year head coach Stacey Sparks said. “They are all great student-athletes who come from successful programs. I expect several of the newcomers to contend for playing time next season and we are very excited to have them.”
Heather Flanigan (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest H.S.) is one of two transfers to join the Eureka softball program after a two-year stint on the golf team at Elmhurst College. As a member of the softball team at Fieldcrest, Flanigan helped the Knights to 27 wins over her final two seasons and was chosen as Fieldcrest’s most improved player during her senior season. She will play in the outfield at Eureka. Sara Hamilton (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S./Illinois Central) will also join the Red Devils after a successfull junior college stint at nearby Illinois Central. Hamilton led the Cougars to a Region 24 title as a freshman in 2009 before earning All-Region 24 Tournament Team honors last spring. A versatile player than can play all over the diamond, she was also a two-time All-Mid-Illini Conference choice at Washington in 2007 and 2008, earning team most valuable player honors as a senior in 2008.
Infielder Jenna Boswell (El Paso, Ill./El Paso-Gridley H.S.) will join the Red Devils as a freshman in 2011 after earning three varsity letters and helping El Paso-Gridley to 55 wins during her final three seasons. She hit .374 with a .510 on-base percentage as a senior on her way to All-Heart of Illinois Conference Honorable Mention honors. Boswell also earned All-Academic honors from the Heart of Illinois Conference. Haylee Bruce (Decatur, Ill./MacArthur H.S.) earned All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention and All-Macon County Honorable Mention accolades, leading the Decatur MacArthur to a regional title in 2010. She hit .337 during her senior campaign and will contribute as a catcher and first baseman for the Red Devils.
Emily Campbell (Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac H.S.) comes to Eureka after hitting .345 last spring with a .485 on-base percentage at Pontiac. Campbell, who will also play volleyball at Eureka starting in 2010, will play as a catcher and infielder. Infielder Corinne Graber (Springfield, Ill./Southeast H.S.) earned three softball letters at Springfield Southeast, turning in a .400 batting average as a senior in 2010. She also earned All-Academic honors from the Central State Eight.
Amanda Kaiser (Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee H.S.) joins the Red Devils as a utility player. A switch-hitter who also played for the basketball team, Kaiser helped the Boilermakers to the second round of the IHSA softball playoffs last spring. Samantha Navratil (Momence, Ill./Momence H.S.) will join the Red Devils as a utility player after helping prep power Momence win 52 games over her final two seasons. The Redskins were Sangamon Conference co-champions during Navratil’s sophomore season and back-to-back regional champions in 2009 and 2010.
Amanda Murphy (Manteno, Ill./Manteno H.S.) will add to Eureka’s depth in the outfield and at first base after a decorated high school career that ended with an All-Interstate Eight Conference selection in 2010. A four-year varsity starter, Murphy hit .417 as a senior with 34 RBI and a .994 fielding percentage. Ashley Segerstrom (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy H.S.) is one of three outfielders in the class to join the Red Devils. She helped LeRoy to a school-record 16 wins and a third-place finish in the Heart of Illinois Conference as a junior in 2009. Last spring, Segerstrom scored 14 runs and earned All-Academic accolades from the Heart of Illinois Conference.
Infielder Shaina Watkins (Delavan, Ill./Delavan H.S.) rounds out the recruiting class. Watkins was a three-time All-Tomahawk Conference choice at Delavan, including First Team selections as a sophomore in 2008 and senior in 2010. She also earned All-Inter-County Athletic Conference honors in 2010, leading the league in batting average (.451), runs batted in and runs scored.
Sparks plans to return seven starters, including All-SLIAC First Team second baseman Tomi Tapper (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria H.S.), from last season’s squad that won 13 games and fell one victory short of the finals of the SLIAC Tournament.
As a member of NCAA Division III, Eureka College does not offer athletic scholarships, therefore recruits do not “sign” athletic grants to play at Eureka.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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