Trevecca softball signs five for 2014

NASHVILLE, TN (12/07/2012)(readMedia)-- Trevecca softball coach Ben Tyree announces five early signing period recruits for his 2014 signing class. The group includes Alex Richardson (Ten Mile, Tenn.), Sammie Jo Ivy (Enville, Tenn.), Victoria Hope (Thompsons Station, Tenn.), Kayla Richards (Cedar Hill, Tenn.), and Kaitlin Crumpler (Smyrna, Tenn.)

Three of the players continue their playing experience at Trevecca. Hope, Richards, and Richardson all have played on the same travel team, the Tennessee Xplosion Gold.

Richardson, a 5-5 outfielder/first baseman from Midway High School, has a list of accolades through her first three years of prep softball playing for coach Megan Arndts. She joined the Tennessee Xplosion Gold team this fall for coach Brian Drake after playing for Fred Fekete's Tennessee Magic Gold team this summer.

She has been a two-time TSWA All-State Team selection (2010-11), a two-time District 3-A Player of the Year selection (2010-11), a three-time All-District and Tournament Team selection and a two-time District Tournament MVP (2010-11). In three seasons she holds a career batting average of .452, has hit 40 doubles and drove in 125 runs in 93 games. Richardson also holds Midway school records for home runs in season (10) and career (23).

"We are thrilled to have Alex join our team. Alex will not only be a great team player but a great student to have on our campus," Tyree said. "Alex is a tremendous athlete. She has a very strong arm, good quickness, and swings a very solid bat with a lot of pop. Not only is Alex a great athlete, she is a wonderful person and a good student."

Ivy, a 5-5 pitcher from Chester Country High School, will also be a part of the Trojan softball team in the coming years. She plays for coach Branden Pipkin and helped lead the Eaglettes to their second-straight trip to the Class AA state tournament last year. In the circle, Ivy was 16-6 in 29 games played. She allowed 36 earned runs and struck out 150. Last spring in the batter's box, she had a .500 batting average, hit 12 doubles, three triples, five home runs and drove in 33 runs. Ivy also played for Tennessee Attack and coach Terry Woodall and claimed an 18-U state championship.

"Sammie Jo is a player that works very hard at everything she does. Schools to the west have known about her for some time and know that she is someone that wants to make a difference. We are looking forward to having her here for several years," Tyree said.

Hope, a 5-5 catcher from Independence High School, has been a two-time 11-AAA All-District performer for coach Clint Jezierny. Her nickname is 'Goose'. Last spring she had a .471 batting average, 48 hits, three home runs and scored 23 runs.

"Goose brings a good bat and a good arm to our lineup. She has played a very good competitive schedule for the last couple of years. I have been watching her since her freshman year in high school and I think we got a player that could have played at a bunch of schools and we are glad she is coming here with us," Tyree said.

Richards, a 5-7 outfielder from Jo Byrns High School, "is an outfielder with speed that hits from the left side of the plate," Tyree said. She plays for coach Michelle Farmer at Jo Byrns and for coach Drake on the Tennessee Xplosion Gold team. "Playing the Gold schedule that she has in the summer will really help her make the adjustment to college ball," Tyree added.

Crumpler, a 5-3 infielder from Smyrna High School, led Smyrna in fielding percentage and RBI's the previous year as a sophomore. Crumpler did not play high school ball last spring, and instead chose to play travel ball with Michael Connell's Jack City Team. She hit .545, had four home runs, a .968 fielding percentage and an .871 slugging percentage. Crumpler was selected to participate in his college developmental travel team.

"Kaitlin came to visit us this fall and wanted to be a part of our team. She is an infielder and has been working very hard to make it to the next level and play in college. We are looking forward to her being at Trevecca Nazarene University and she will be a good fit here," Tyree said.

Trevecca Nazarene University is a Christian liberal arts university located in Nashville, Tenn., Music City, USA. Now in its 111th year, Trevecca is committed to educate "leaders and servants" through undergraduate and graduate education. Trevecca's athletic teams are in the second year of a three year transition to NCAA Division ll status. Trevecca fields 11 intercollegiate teams that compete in the newly formed NCAA Division ll Great Midwest Athletic Conferece. Trevecca athletics also compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association. Trevecca offers baccalaureate degrees in 85 academic areas, three associate degrees, 21 master's degrees, and two doctorates (education and counseling psychology). One of Trevecca's newest programs is the master's of organizational leadership, a fully online program for persons who want to expand their opportunities to serve and lead.