Spartan Softball Inks First D-I Recruiting Class
7/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
November 8, 2006
Spartanburg, S.C. - USC Upstate Head Softball Coach Chris Hawkins announces the signing of eight student-athletes to national letters of intent during the early signing period, becoming the program's first ever NCAA Division I recruiting class.
Signing to become Spartans are Kim Brasil, Morgan Childers, Courtney Feldon, Emily Monteith, Lauren Quevedo, Jenna Torbert, Sasha Stepaniuk, and Courtney Tate.
"I feel very fortunate to get a good recruiting class going into our first year of Division I softball," said Hawkins. "To be able to get these high caliber players will be very beneficial in our transition to a strong Atlantic Sun Conference. I would like to thank Mike Hall and Dr. John Stockwell for putting the priority on our athletics programs here at USC Upstate. Funding is always an issue in recruiting and their commitment really helps us acquire this level of player. All of these girls are team players first with a strong desire to work hard and win."
Brasil (Mississauga, Ontario) is a tremendous athlete who played catcher and in the outfield for the Markham Jaguars, a Canadian Junior National Team, coached by Pat Acton. She has helped lead the Jaguars to three Canadian Junior National Championships. In addition, she also helped lead the team to the 2006 Kitchener Fastpitch Jamboree title as well as a third-place finish at the 2006 Canada Cup. Her teams have also won championships in 2005 at the Canadian National Bantam tournament, the Provincial Championships, and the Eastern Ontario Qualifier Championships and earned second-place finishes at the Kitchener Fastpitch Jamboree and the Toledo Fastpitch Classic. She hit .348 with a .557 on-base percentage and stole 81 bases in the last year with the Jaguars. In addition to her softball success, she has been an award-winning track and field, cross country, and volleyball athlete. A standout student in the classroom at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School, she carries a 3.8 GPA and is an Honor Roll student.
"Kim possesses all-around ability and is a true five-tool player who will be able to help us in a number of different ways," said Hawkins.
Childers (Kings Mountain, N.C.) is an accomplished pitcher from Kings Mountain High School under Head Coach Suzanne Grayson who also excelled in summer ball for the Cabarrus County Challengers under Head Coach Dennis Cook and the Lady Blues under Head Coach Adrian Ochoa. In three seasons at Kings Mountain, she has put together quite a resume. She has 903 career strikeouts with a 0.40 earned run average and a 67-4 record. She recorded a 0.004 earned run average as a junior. She has led Kings Mountain to back-to-back 3A state and regional championships as a sophomore and junior and is a two-time 3A State MVP. She is a three-time Southwestern Foothills Conference Player of the Year and member of the All-Conference team. She is a two-time First Team All-Charlotte Observer selection and was named the paper's Female Athlete of the Year for Kings Mountain in 2006. She is a two-time Gaston Gazette Player of the Year honoree and is a three-time member of the Gaston Gazette All-Area Team. She earned Piedmont Player of the Year honors this past season. She was 23-1 for the Cabarrus County Challengers this past summer. Also a standout in the classroom, she has been a member of the Honor Roll since the ninth grade.
"We are fortunate to have one of the most sought after pitchers in our region come to our program," said Hawkins. "She is expected to be an integral part of our program for the next four years."
Feldon (Denver, N.C.) is a three-time All-State selection from North Lincoln High School and has played summer ball with the Cabarrus County Challengers coached by Dennis Cook. A utility player, she has played the middle infield positions as well as in the outfield. She hit .494 last season for North Lincoln en route to earning All-Charlotte Observer Gaston County honors. She hit .448 for the Cabarrus County Challengers this past summer, leading the team to a 39-7 record. The Challengers were one of just three teams from North Carolina to participate in the ASA 18U National Championships. She is a three-time All-Conference, All-Gaston Gazette, and All-Charlotte Observer Gaston County selection. She was named "Best of the Best" in tournament play and "Best Hitter" in the hitting showcase at the 2006 Ringor Showacase at Kent State. In addition to softball, she was also a standout in tennis and basketball. She was a state finalist in tennis last year and is the starting point guard on the basketball team. A standout in the classroom, she carries a 3.6 GPA and is an honors student. A member of the school's Honor Roll, she has been selected for Who's Who Among American High School Students.
"Athletically, Courtney can play a number of positions, and play them well," said Hawkins. "She is a very good all-around athlete who fits the mold of our team."
Monteith (Clover, S.C.) hit .528 last season with 25 stolen bases as a utility player at Olympic High School for Head Coach and USC Upstate Hall of Fame member Doug Keelan. She was an All-Region, All-Conference and All-Mecklenburg County selection as a junior and was the team's Offensive Most Valuable Player. An All-State selection in 2005, she was an All-Conference and All-Mecklenburg County selection as well as the team Offensive MVP. As a freshman, she earned All-Conference and team MVP honors. She was a Wendy's High School Heisman Nominee in 2006 and earned Who's Who Among American High School Students in 2005. A standout in the classroom, she carries a 4.65 GPA as an honor student, is a member of the National Honor Society, is ranked No. 2 in her class, and has earned the Chancellor's Scholarship at USC Upstate.
"Emily is a true utility player who plays with no fear," said Hawkins. "She can play anywhere in the infield and outfield and is an aggressive coach's dream."
Quevedo (Wellington, Fla.) is a standout first baseman for Wellington High School and in the summer for the nationally-recognized Davie Power Black under Head Coach Steve Nicastro. She has been the starting first basemen for the Davie Power the last three seasons. She has served as a leader and Team Captain for both teams and is an All-Conference performer for Wellington.
"Lauren is the prototypical power first baseman and possesses tremendous pop in her bat," said Hawkins. "At 6-0, she is a great target to throw to. I think it is neat that her high school and travel teams don't keep individual stats. It shows the team concept which is not stressed as much these days."
Stepaniuk (Mississauga, Ontario) played third base for the Markham Jaguars with fellow signee Kim Brasil. She helped lead the team to three Canadian Junior National Championships. She hit .333 last season with 41 RBIs. She was invited to the tryout camp for the Canadian National team in 2006. She helped lead the Jaguars to the championship of the Canadian National Midget Tournament, the Kitchener Fastpitch Jamboree, and the Rising Stars Showcase. She also helped lead the team to a third-place finish at the 2006 Canada Cup. Her teams have also won championships in 2005 at the Canadian National Bantam tournament, the Provincial Championships, and the Eastern Ontario Qualifier Championships and earned second-place finishes at the Kitchener Fastpitch Jamboree and the Toledo Fastpitch Classic. In 2004, she helped lead the Jaguars to the Canadian Bantam National Championship and was named to the All-Star Team. She was named MVP of the Toledo Fastpitch Classic and led the team to the 2004 Ontario Championships. In addition to playing softball, she was also a standout player in basketball and volleyball. Academically, she carries a 4.0 GPA and is an Honor Roll student at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School.
"Sasha is a clutch hitter in key situations," said Hawkins. "She is a hard-nosed player at third base who can hit in the middle of the lineup."
Tate (Kings Mountain, N.C.) is a standout outfielder at Kings Mountain High School for Head Coach Suzanne Grayson and in summer ball for the Carolina Curve Head Coach Mark Bowen. She led Kings Mountain to back-to-back 3A state championships as a sophomore and junior. She hit .468 last season with 24 stolen bases en route to being named to the All-Gaston Gazette Team. She is a two-time All-Conference selection. Also a standout in the classroom, she is ranked No. 1 in her class of 302 and is an honor student who carries a 4.833 GPA. She was a National Honor Society nominee and was selected as a National Merit Student.
"Courtney has phenomenal foot speed," said Hawkins. "She will be a great help to our team on the base paths."
Torbert (Denver, N.C.) is a standout catcher at North Lincoln High School and in summer ball playing for Head Coach Dennis Cook on the Cabarrus County Challengers. She hit .487 with a .667 slugging percentage last season for North Lincoln. She is a three-time Southwestern Foothills All-Conference selection and earned All-State honors as a sophomore and junior. She was named the Gaston/Lincoln County Hitter of the Year as a junior. A member of the National Honor Society, she is a standout in the classroom. She is an honor student with a 4.674 GPA and is ranked third in her class.
"She is a very strong defensive catcher with a lot of offensive power," said Hawkins.
