The Kentucky softball team has signed two players for the spring of 2005, Coach Beth Pruitt announced Wednesday. Kristi Warneke, a pitcher from Baeatrice, Neb., and Kristen Cochran, a utility player from Newcomerstown, Ohio, will join the Cats next fall on the campus of UK.

?I am very pleased with our early signees,? Pruitt said. They are not only great softball players, but great people as well. I look forward to having them both join our team and I think they will be great additions to our squad next season.?

Warneke was one of the best pitchers in the state of Nebraska during her senior season for Beatrice H.S., which, like all Nebraska high schools, plays their softball season in the fall. She had 15 shutouts and an impressive .59 ERA while leading Beatrice to state championships in 2000, 2001 and this fall in 2003. In 178 innings pitched, Warneke struck out 260 batters and walked only 19 while holding opponents to a batting average of .123. She was also named first-team All-Nebraska and to the All-River Cities Conference team.

?Kristi will have an immediate impact on our pitching rotation,? Pruitt said. ?With the skills she possesses, we look forward to seeing her compete in the SEC.?

Cochran, a four-sport star for Newcomerstown H.S., batted .616, seventh-best all-time in Ohio, and was named first-team Inter-Valley Conference. She earned the NHS Silver Bat Award with 52 hits in a season, and was honored as a first-team All-Eastern District selection after stealing 52 of 54 attempted bases last season. She was also selected as an All-Ohio Honorable Mention player and has broken every offensive record at Newcomerstown H.S. in her three years of high school.

?Kristen will bring a lot of athleticism and ability to the team,? Pruitt said. ?She can play multiple positions and we look for her to be very successful as a Wildcat.?