| build a web site| fundraising| community| collect fees online| blogz |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Thursday, November 12 Catholics Jolly SIgns with UK By Mark Mathis Messenger-Inquirer Emily Jolly was wearing a blue sweat shirt with CATS across the front of it on Wednesday. That was a dead giveaway to where the Owensboro Catholic High School softball standout has decided to play in college. Jolly signed with the University of Kentucky on the fi rst day of the fall signing period. “I liked UK as a school, and not just for softball,” Jolly said at Catholic. “I l i k e d t h e atmosphere with the softball team. They were very welcoming. The coaches, they know what they are talking about.” Jolly joins former Catholic star Meagan Aull, who has been starting center fielder the last two years at UK, and Jessica Adkins, who will be a redshirt freshman with the Cats. Having some familiar faces on the team helped make Jolly feel more comfortable, but it was not the deciding factor in going to the rising Southeastern Conference program. “That makes it better for me, but it still would have been my choice,” Jolly said. Jolly has been an integral part of two state championship teams,including 2009, and a runner-up squad. She is a high-.300 career hitter for the Lady Aces and was outstanding last season. She hit .418 with 42 RBIs, 61 runs scored and had an .844 slugging percentage. Rachel Lawson is the head coach at UK, and she likes Jolly for second base, though Jolly has played all over the field for the Lady Aces. “She always loved the outfield and played outfield for us, and she got made when we moved her to the infield,” Catholic coach George Randolph said. “It’s kind of been an inside joke because they want her to play second at UK.” Being a versatile infielder should give Jolly the chance to compete for a starting job, or at least significant time on the field, as a freshman.“I feel like Emily can step in and contribute right away,” Randolph said. “I think the transition will be fairly smooth with her work ethic and her softball ability.” Emily is the second Jolly to go through Catholic’s program and earn an NCAA Division I scholarship. Older sister Megan, who was Miss Softball in 2004, pitched for nationally ranked Louisiana State and UK in her college career. “My sister has been an awesome influence on me,” Emily said. Mark Mathis, 691-7313, mmathis@messenger-inquirer.com Tuesday, November 17 Sims to play for Murray State Sims to play for Murray StateBy Jim Pickens, Messenger-Inquirer
Success has followed Owensboro Catholic's Meghan Sims at every stop of her athletic career, so it's likely that Murray State's fledgling softball program got a huge boost on Monday.
Sims, a baseball star for Owensboro Southern in the 20004 Little League World Series, and a driving force behind the Lady Aces' state fastpitch softball championship this past spring, signed a national letter of intent with MSU at the OCHS Media Center. Murray State, an NCAA Division I member of the Ohio Valley Conference, is in its first year of collegiate competition this year. "I definitely wanted to play in Division I all along," Sims said, "and this is going to give me the opportunity to be part of a building process from the ground up with Murray State. "I like the coaches and players, and basically everything about the school. I don't really have a preference as far as what position I'll play -- I just want to play and help the program grow in the four years I'm there." The 5-foot-8 Sims, who plays shortstop at Catholic, had a phenomenal season for the Lady Aces in 2009 -- leading the club in batting average (.577), hits (60), runs batted in (49), and slugging percentage (.888). She also belted six home runs. Sims was first-team All-State, a member of the All-State Tournament team, and was a second-team selection to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association South Central Region. "Meghan is a tremendous hitter," Lady Aces coach George Randolph said of Sims. "She's got good power, but at the same time she doesn't strike out much. That's a great combination of skills for a player to have. "She's good in terms of pitch selection, and she'll hit the ball where it's pitched. She'll pull the inside pitch down the line, and she'll go the other way when pitchers try to hit the outside corner on her. "Meghan's just a tough out." Sims transferred to Catholic after playing her first two high school seasons at Apollo, where, as an eighth-grader in 2006, she helped the E-Gals upset Catholic 8-7 in the 9th District Tournament championship game. Sims sat out her sophomore season in 2008 per KHSAA transfer rules, and underwent back surgery that summer in Louisville. Fully rehabilitated by early spring, Sims helped power Catholic to its fifth fastpitch state title. "When she became eligible to play, she ready to go," Randolph said. "I think sitting out as a transfer and then having to sit out after her back surgery made Meghan even more determined to do well and make the most of her opportunity this past season. "Obviously, she was a tremendous addition to the program as a junior, and we're looking forward to another great season from her during her senior year this coming spring." Sims says the experience of playing in the LLWS at age 12 prepared her for the pressure moments in the years since. "There's pressure playing in the state tournament, but it helps to have played in front of thousands in the stands and millions more on ESPN," Sims said. "When you've been through something like that, which was a lot of fun, you're prepared for just about anything else you face in athletics." Sims plans to major in nurse anesthesia at Murray State Tuesday, November 24 Riney signs with Campbellsville Riney signs with CampbellsvilleBy the Messenger-Inquirer
Owensboro Catholic's Martina Riney and Hancock County's Taylor Wroe, two of the state's top high school fastpitch softball pitchers, signed with Campbellsville University on Monday.
Riney earned Most Valuable Player honors as a junior while leading Catholic to its fifth state fastpitch championship this past spring. The right-hander, who features a devastating change-up, finished 26-5 with a 1.38 earned run average, striking out 213 batters and issuing just 48 bases on balls in 187 innings. "I really like the campus, the coach and the team," Riney said of Campbellsville, a NAIA power that went 40-6-1 in 2009. "I could have gone to (an NCAA Division II) school like Northern Kentucky, but Campbellsville stayed with me throughout the recruiting process and wanted me more." Riney, who earned All-State, All-Region and All-District honors last spring, said playing for the Lady Aces has always been a motivating factor. "It's been great," she said. "Everyone on the team, including the coaches, is on the same page. It's more like a family in that the only important goals are team goals, not individual ones." Riney, who pitched four games on the final day of the KHSAA state championships, defeated Louisville Mercy 12-2 in the title game. "She's a bulldog," Lady Aces coach George Randolph said of Riney. "She delivered for us all year." |
|
|||||||
|
|
Owensboro Catholic Lady Aces Softball View Our Guestbook | Sign Our Guestbook 73 visitors have signed our guestbook. |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
