COMMERCE, Texas – Texas A&M University-Commerce softball hit another program milestone as head coach Richie Bruister announced the first-ever Lion softball signee class. The 13-player class spans five states as A&M-Commerce continues to prepare for its inaugural season in 2015.
"Words cannot express how excited I am about the group of girls we have signed this week," Bruister said. "If you like speed, we got it. If you like power, we got it. If you like pitching, we got it. This is a very talented group in every aspect of the game and I can't wait to see them on the field together. It is definitely a great day to be a Lion!"
The 13-player class represents an incredible recruiting undertaking by Bruister and assistant coach Jenna DeLong. Five states are represented, including Texas, Hawaii, Idaho, New Jersey and Washington, with a total distance from the players' hometowns to A&M-Commerce of roughly 10,806 miles. Since beginning the recruiting process in August, Bruister and DeLong have logged approximately 24,198 miles in seven states, including scouring the state of Texas.
The end result is a group of players that will all provide an immediate impact as the A&M-Commerce softball program becomes a reality. The class includes four pitchers (Cyanne Fernandez, Courtney Moore, Emma Neuweiler and Selena Rima), a pair of catchers (Kayleigh LeBlanc and Johnna Sturm), three infielders (Monica Cherry, Brenda Iparraguire, and Cherie Jackson), two outfielders (Ellysse Boughey and Baylea Higgs) and pair of utility players (Tyler Oppenheim and Mackenzie Payne).
"Many miles, phone calls and sleepless nights have been the story of the past three months, but it has been worth it," Bruister said. "What a joy ride and a big thank you to everyone involved in making this first recruiting class a very successful one. To the good Lord, my family, coach DeLong, our current players, our support staff and administration, I wish to offer a very sincere thank you."
A&M-Commerce continues the process of building the program's first-ever softball program. The roster currently stands at 17 players, including the four transfers who are already on campus going through conditioning and skill exercises. A new softball coaching suite is nearing completion with renderings of the new softball complex getting set to begin coming to fruition with more details being released soon.
The Lions will begin competing in fall exhibition contests in September of 2014, leading up to A&M-Commerce's inaugural season in the spring of 2015. Stay tuned to LionAthletics.com as we continue to chronicle the building of the softball program from the ground up.
2013 A&M-COMMERCE SOFTBALL SIGNING CLASS
Ellysse Boughey
5-11 • Outfielder
Little Elm, Texas • Little Elm H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Three year letterwinner at Little Elm High School … Two-time second team All-District selection … Named team's MVP as a sophomore … Helped lead the Lady Lobos to a tournament title in 2010 … Coached by David Garza … Member of Texas Bombers club team from 2012-13 after playing for D-Bat Mustangs club team from 2010-12 … Also lettered four years in volleyball and once each in both basketball and powerlifting at Little Elm … National Honor Society member … A Honor Roll member and AP Scholar.
Personal: Born May 2, 1996 in Olathe, Kan. … Daughter of Rodney and Melinda Boughey … Plans to major in kinesiology.
Monica Cherry
5-6 • Shortstop
Dallas, Texas • Bishop Lynch H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Four year letterwinner at Bishop Lynch High School … Three-time all-state selection, earning first team honors in 2012 and was a second team selection in 2013 … Three-time first team all-district … Two-time all-state tournament honoree … 2011 Newcomer of the Year … Helped lead Bishop Lynch to back-to-back TAPPS regional championships and state semifinal appearances … Has recorded over 50 stolen bases in her career, batting .385 with a .552 slugging percentage … 2012 Bishop Lynch Friar Award winner … Coached by Amy Wheeler … Member of Dallas Tigers club team that won NFCA Top Recruit tournament in 2013 while notching numerous top-five finishes at national tournaments … Member of AB honor roll since 2010 … Ranked in the second quintile of her class.
Personal: Born December 16, 1995 … Daughter of Thomas and Pamela Cherry … Plans to major in kinesiology.
Cyanne Fernandez
5-4 • Pitcher/Shortstop
Honolulu, Hawaii • Moanalua H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Four year letterwinner at Moanalua High School in Honolulu, Hawaii … Three-time all-state selection … As a junior, led the Menehunes in both RBIs and home runs while posting an 8-2 record as a pitcher … Notched 73 strikeouts in 47 innings with a pair of no-hitters … During a game her junior season, pitched a no-hitter while batting 3-for-3 with a home run and nine RBIs … Helped lead Moanalua to a first place finish in the OIA Red Eastern Division … Scholar-Athlete award recipient as a sophomore … Coached by Kristie Morikawa … Member of Kaikamahine Girls Fastpitch and Island Angels softball club teams … Also lettered two years in air riflery.
Personal: Born August 8, 1996 in Honolulu, Hawaii … Daughter of Gordon and Kristi Fernandez … Plans to major in health and human performance.
Baylea Higgs
5-4 • Outfielder
Arlington, Texas • Mansfield Timberview H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Three year letterwinner at Mansfield Timberview High School … Posted a career batting average of .432 and set the program record for most stolen bases in a season while being named the Defensive Player of the Year … Helped lead the Lady Wolves to an undefeated district championship in 2012 while capturing the bi-district championship … Coached by Donya Mooney … Member of Texas Avengers Gold (2011-12), Texas Glory Gold (2012-13) and Texas Reign Gold (2013) club teams … Lettered twice in volleyball as well, being named the district's Defensive Player of the Year and setting the school record for digs in a season.
Personal: Born January 18, 1996 … Daughter of Rodney and Sherrie Higgs … Father was a cornerback and running back at TCU … Plans to major in education.
Brenda Iparraguirre
5-8 • Third/First Baseman
San Antonio, Texas • Converse Judson H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Three year letterwinner at Converse Judson High School … Two-time all-district selection, picking up first team honors in 2013 while notching second team honors in 2012 … Named San Antonio Express News Player of the Week as a sophomore … Named the MVP of the Seguin and Judson/East Central tournaments … Notched a .476 batting average with seven homeruns in 2012 … Coached by Theresa Urbanovsky … Member of South Texas Bombers Gold club team since 2011, playing first and third base … National Honor Society member … Four-time academic all-district selection.
Personal: Born November 7, 1995 in Lima, Peru … Daughter of Jorge and Patricia Iparraguirre … Plans to major in biology or pre-med.
Cherie Jackson
6-0 • First Base/Designated Hitter
Carrollton, Texas • Creekview H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Three year letterwinner at Creekview High School … Posted a career batting average of .438 while registering a .719 slugging percentage … District 9-4A Offensive Player of the Year in 2012 … Dallas Morning News third team all-area selection as a sophomore … Helped lead the Mustangs to the 2013 bi-district and area championships, advancing to the regional quarterfinals … Has posted a pair of two-home run games … Coached by Julie Fennel, Stacy Segal and Matt Schell … Member of Anderson Express 18U Gold club team … Member of Texas Spirit club program for seven seasons … National Honor Society member … Two-time academic all-district honoree.
Personal: Born January 29, 1996 … Daughter of Ronald and Marilyn Jackson … Brother Ronald Jackson Jr. played football at Arizona and Texas State … Plans to major in pre-med.
Kayleigh LeBlanc
5-8 • Catcher
Campbell, Texas • Commerce H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Has lettered one time at Commerce High School after earning three letters at Buena High School in Sierra Vista, Ariz. … Has posted a career batting average of .464 with 66 RBIs, 25 doubles and four homeruns … All-state honorable mention selection in Arizona in 2011 while earning second team honors in 2013 … Three-time All-Southern Arizona selection … Buena H.S. team MVP and Silver Slugger award winner … Helped lead Buena High School to three-straight state playoff appearances from 2010-12 … Currently a member of Team Mizuno Impulse club team … Member of Team USA Athletes International club team since 2010 … Coached by Mark Schaefer (Buena H.S.) and Jeff Davidson (Commerce H.S.) … Also lettered once in golf at Buena H.S.
Personal: Born August 3, 1996 in Lake Charles, La. … Daughter of Michael and Crystal Luther … Plans to major in education and sports management.
Courtney Moore
5-10 • Pitcher
Meridian, Idaho • Mountain View H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Four year letterwinner at Mountain View High School in Meridian, Idaho … Posted a career ERA of 2.51 with 154 strikeouts and 14 shutouts … First team all-conference selection in 2012 … Honorable mention all-conference in 2013 … Helped guide the Mavericks to the 2012 district championship, en route to a third-place finish in the state tournament … Pitched a complete game shutout in the district championship game … Two-time all-district selection … Coached by Tim Souza … Member of the Washington Lady Hawks Hawkins 18U Gold club team for the past two seasons … Also played for the Idaho Golden Gloves (2008-12) and Washington Lady Hawks 16U (2012) club teams … Four-time Academic All-District selection … Member of the honor roll all four years.
Personal: Born April 6, 1996 in Meridian, Idaho … Daughter of Tom Moore and Heidi and Theron Newbolt … Plans to major in psychology.
Emma Neuweiler
5-3 • Pitcher/Utility
New Gretna, N.J. • Pinelands Regional H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Three year letterwinner at Pinelands Regional High School in Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J. … Has recorded a career ERA of 0.98 while batting .379 … Two-time Asbury Park Press All-Division team … Selected to both All-Shore and All-County teams … Helped lead the Wildcats to the 2013 B-South Conference championship while placing third in the South Jersey Group Three … Two-time team captain … Coached by Keith Lowe … Member of the Stafford Stingrays club team since 2010 … Was a five-year member of LEHT Lightning club team from 2005-10.
Personal: Born November 19, 1995 in Yichun, Jiangxi, China … Daughter of Arthur and Tonya Neuweiler … Collegiate major is undecided.
Tyler Oppenheim
5-4 • Shortstop/Utility
Marble Falls, Texas • Marble Falls H.S.
Personal: Four year letterwinner at Marble Falls High School … Two-time first team All-District 25-4A selection … Named team's Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore … Earned team's Offensive Player of the Year as a junior … Three-time team MVP … Two-time MVP of the Kerrville Invitational tournament … Coached by Tino Salazar and Chelsey Heller … Currently a member of Texas Bombers STX Gold club team while also playing for Texas Stix (14U) and Texas Freeze (18U) … Three-time Academic All-District selection … National Honor Society member.
Personal: Born May 17, 1996 … Daughter of Allan and Kimberly Oppenheim … Plans to major in forensics.
Mackenzie Payne
5-7 • Outfielder/Utility
Rockport, Texas • Gregory-Portland H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Three year letterwinner at Gregory-Portland High School … Two-time all-district selection in the outfield … Named to 2012 All-South Texas team and was a 2013 All-South Texas preseason selection … Rocketed two grand slams in consecutive games as a sophomore … Helped lead the Wildcats to the district championship in 2011 and 2013, advancing to the regional quarterfinals as a junior … Coached by Felicia Talamontez … Member of a handful of club teams since 2006 … While a member of the Lady Outlaws, team placed fourth in nationals (2007) while capturing the 2008 state championship … Also captured the state championship in 2010 with the Hitsquad club team, placing second at nationals … Lettered twice in track and field as well … National Honor Society member … Ranked in the top 10% of her class.
Personal: Born April 24, 1996 … Daughter of Geoff and Vickie Payne … Plans to pursue a career in physical therapy.
Selena Rima
5-7 • Pitcher
Spokane, Wash. • Gonzaga Preparatory Jesuit H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Three year letterwinner at Gonzaga Preparatory Jesuit High School in Spokane, Wash. … First team All-League selection as a junior … Posted a shutout against reigning state champion University High School, finishing with 17 strikeouts … Recorded 222 strikeouts as a junior in 2013, setting both the Gonzaga Prep and Greater Spokane League record for strikeouts in a season … Coached by Eric Ptolemy … Currently a member of the Washington Angels club team while also playing for the Spokane Mudhens (2011-12) … Also lettered once in both soccer and cross country.
Personal: Born January 23, 1996 in Spokane, Wash. … Daughter of Jeffrey and Sharlynn Rima … Plans to major in either physical therapy or biology.
Johnna Sturm
5-5 • Catcher/Infielder
La Vernia, Texas • La Vernia H.S.
Prior to A&M-Commerce: Three year letterwinner at La Vernia High School … Posted a career batting average of .408 with 120 hits, 89 RBIs and 77 runs scored … Helped lead the Lady Bears to three-straight District 28-3A titles and three-straight bi-district championships (2011-13) … Newcomer of the Year in 2011 … First team all-district and first team all-area selection as a sophomore … Named team's offensive MVP as a junior while picking up all-tournament honors … Coached by Michelle Uribe … Member of Texas Bombers Gold South club team.
Personal: Born October 15, 1995 in San Antonio, Texas … Nickname is "JoJo" … Daughter of John Sturm and JoAnn Jacobs … Plans to major in business management.
