November 25, 1998
Jamie Dardis of Sioux City, Iowa, Lyndsey Angus of Leominster, Mass., Morgan Marr of Vienna, Va., and Nikki Jones of Suisan, Calif., have signed national letters-of-intent to play softball at the University of Kentucky, Coach Beth Kirchner announced Wednesday.
Darids, a 5-6 senior at Sioux City Heelan, has started for four years for the Crusaders. Her .462 batting average and .970 fielding percentage during her junior year helped lead the Crusaders to a Sioux Delta Conference Championship. Dardis, who is expected to play first base for the Wildcats, has earned First Team All-State honors each of the past three years.
“Jamie, a left-handed firstbaseman, is an excellent offensive player,” UK coach Beth Kirchner said. “She hits the ball where it is pitched and has the potential to go deep. Defensively, she has good quickness to the ball and a nice arm.”
Angus hails from the same area as current UK men’s basketball player Michael Bradley. She has led the Central Massachusetts Conference in batting average for four years, including her junior season when she posted a .609 average. The 5-9 catcher/shortstop was also voted team Most Valuable Player as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Angus played in a stretch of five games in which she had 18 consecutive hits.
“Lyndsey is an exceptional all-around athlete, having been successful in not only softball, but also in field hockey, swimming and basketball,” Kirchner said. “She has all the tools to be a successful player in college.”
Marr has been a three-year starter for James Madison High School, where she threw a perfect game, including 18 consecutive strikeouts, in the first round or regional competition. The 5-8 first base/pitcher earned All-State honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior and was voted Co-Regional Player of the Year in 1998.
“Morgan is a right-handed pitcher with good movement and poise on the mound,” said Kirchner. “She is an extremely fierce competitor and will keep batters off balance with a variety of pitches.”
Jones, a 5-2 All-American second baseman, earned MVP honors as a junior at Fairfield High School, posting a .392 batting average and a .944 fielding percentage. She was also selected to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State First Team in 1998 and was chosen as the 1998 Daily Republic Spring Athlete of the Year.
“Nikki is the most decorated softball player we have ever signed earning All-America honors this past summer,” Kirchner said. “She has unbelievable speed and quickness. She will be a very exciting player to watch.”
