Aug. 13, 2001
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team has signed six players to national letters of intent, head coach Shan McDonald announced Thursday.
Joining the Rebels in 2002 will be Morgan Bostwick, Amber Campbell, Stephanie Coe, Pauline Glenn and Jackie Kerrigan.
"Our primary needs this year were to replace our departed infielders and improve upon the pitching we already have," McDonald said. "With this class, I think we've done that. We have some quality people that can be the core of this team over the next few years and will improve our defense, our speed and our hitting."
Although the signing class includes two pitchers, all five players can play infield, which was the area hardest hit by graduation last season. Lost from last year's infield were All-West Region shortstop Racheal Goodpaster, third baseman Linda Garza, who started all 56 games, and second baseman Marisa Martinez.
Bostwick, a 5-5 shortstop from Salem, Ore., will look to fill Goodpaster's spot in the field. She was a two-sport star at South Salem High School where she lettered in both softball and basketball. As a senior, she led the Saxons to the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament and a 22-10 overall record. A four-time All-Valley League choice, she earned second team all-state honors as a senior. She also brings seven years of summer ASA experience.
"Morgan is an intense, focused player" McDonald said. "She has good speed, solid defense and a quick release."
Also strengthening the middle infield for the Rebels this year will be Campbell, a graduate of Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Ariz. An honorable-mention all-state infielder, she led the Mountain Lions to the state semifinals and a 22-13 overall record last year. The four-time team MVP is currently preparing to attend the ASA U-18 national tournament in Marietta, Ga., with her home club, the Gold Saints.
"Amber is aggressive and shows good range in the field," McDonald said. "I expect she and Morgan will complement one another in the middle infield."
Coe, a versatile athlete who can pitch, hit and play in the field, was a four-time all-state choice as both a hitter and pitcher for North Medford (Ore.) High School. She led the Black Tornado to a No. 4 ranking in the state as a senior. She also spent one summer playing with the Oregon Panthers, the same ASA team as fellow signee Bostwick. Along with pitching, Coe may get some time at first, catching and in the outfield.
"We will find a way to get Steph's bat in the lineup," McDonald said. "Hitting is her strength. She hits for power, but she is not a typical power hitter. She doesn't strike out much."
Glenn, a first-team high school All-American at third base, led Tucson's Sahuaro High School to the Arizona state title and a 30-2 overall record. As a senior, she hit .410 and clubbed nine home runs to earn a spot in the Class 4A North/South All-Star game. In her only pitching appearance of the year, she threw a perfect game against Nogales High School.
Most recently, she helped the Arizona Alleycats to state and regional titles this summer and a berth at the ASA national championship tournament in Salem, Va., on Aug. 6-12.
"Pauline is a clutch player," McDonald said. "She hits the ball hard, her defense is solid. She has a good glove and a great arm. We will count on her to come in and start contributing immediately."
Rounding out the class is Kerrigan, a right-handed pitcher out of Churchill High School in Eugene, Ore. One of the top players in Oregon, she earned first-team all-state honors after leading the Lancers to the semifinals of the state tournament.
"Jackie may be the sleeper of this group," McDonald said. "She throws hard, and did the bulk of the work for her high school and summer teams, so we know she can throw a lot of innings. She may be the hardest thrower on our staff."
The Rebels will play fall games on Oct. 6-7 against Loyola Marymount and Utah before christening the new Eller Media Stadium on Feb. 5 against St. Mary's.
