BUCS SOFTBALL SIGNS 13 FOR 2017
Blinn adds flexibility with players capable of playing multiple positions
The Blinn College softball added plenty of talent and flexibility with its 2017 signing class.
The 13 January signees is the most in coach Rick Church’s 17 years at Blinn. It may also be the most versatile collection of players he has ever brought to campus.
“We got a lot of early commitments, filling our position needs with depth and flexibility,” Church said. “Signing this many players early makes it easier on us so we don’t have to recruit a couple classes at the same time.”
Eleven of the 13 players are from Texas: Shelby Achilli (Lutheran South), Amy Alexander (Alvin), Chelsea Armendariz (Del Valle), Kamryn Boucher (Tomball), Mariah Gaitan (Pearland), Morgan Gray (Clear Lake), Emily Noah (Midlothian), Makalah Norman (Pearland), Abby Olejniczak (Kingwood), Emily Taylor (Klein Oak) and Shay Watson (Huffman Hargrave). Gabriela Gomez (Bloomington, Calif.) and Calli Birch (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) come to Blinn from outside the Lone Star state.
Achille and Noah each pitch and play the corner infield spots. Boucher is expected to be a contributor in the circle, and Watson will pitch and play middle infield.
Alexander is a catcher who can also play at the corners, and Armendariz can play first or third and has good power at the plate. Gaitan is a utility player who can play in the outfield or infield and Gray is an outfielder who can slap the ball from the left side of the plate and use her speed.
Norman can play outfield, infield of catcher; Olejniczak is a left-handed hitting slapper with good speed; Taylor will play shortstop; Gomez is a solid middle infielder who will hit for average; and Birch can play second, short, catcher or outfield and is a good athlete.
“We told them during the recruiting process that if you can pitch, field a position and hit, then we would like to sign those kinds of players,” Church said.
Blinn will begin its current season against Louisiana State University-Eunice at the 2016 Galveston College Invitational at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.