The University of Kentucky softball team has signed four players for the spring of 2007, third-year head coach Eileen Schmidt announced today. Meagan Aull, Samantha DeMartine, Anne Rowlands and Megan Yocke will all join the Wildcats in the fall of 2007.
?Our job as a coaching staff is to go out and recruit student-athletes like the class we just brought in,? said Schmidt. ?This class is a combination of a lot of great things. We have speed and the ability to make things happen on your own with Meagan Aull and Annie Rowlands. We add power and consistency in Samantha DeMartine and Megan Yocke. The characteristic that they all share is a passion and love for the game. All of these signees play hard and are not afraid to dive into the middle of the Southeastern Conference. They are confident and believe in what we are trying to do here at UK and are willing to work hard to help us get there. We are extremely excited to add these four young ladies to our team and athletic department.?
Aull is a middle infielder from Owensboro Catholic High School in Owensboro, Ky. She was a First Team All-State selection in 2006 and was named to the All-District and All-Region Tournament teams in 2006. Aull led her high school team in batting average in 2005 and 2006 and has led the team in stolen bases the past three years. She served as a team captain and was named the Most Valuable Player, finishing with a .439 average to go along with 10 doubles, 17 triples and 28 RBI. She also stole 48 bases and was caught just twice last season. She earned NFCA All-American Second Team honors in 2006. Aull was also impressive in the classroom and is a member of the National Honors Society. She was an Academic First-Team All-State selection from 2002-2006 and has been named an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete.
?Meagan is so multi-dimensional on offense. As a lefty with great speed, she can slap, bunt or hit for power,? said Schmidt. ?Her enthusiasm for the game and hard work fits right into our style of play. We are honored to get one of the top prospects in the state to wear Kentucky Blue.?
DeMartine is a utility infielder and catcher from Marlboro High School in Marlboro, N.Y. She has been a four-year member of the softball team and served as the team captain the past two seasons. DeMartine has received numerous accolades during her career and was named The Daily Freeman Player of the Year in 2006 while earning All-Star First-Team honors the past four years. She was also named the Player of the Year in the Mid-Hudson Athletic League each of the past two years by the league coaches. DeMartine was a 2006 Wendy?s High School Heisman Award nominee and was the lone New Yorker to be selected to play in the 2006 Adidas Futures National Camp in St. George, Utah. Last season, DeMartine batted .469 with 44 RBIs, eight doubles and 29 runs scored. Her 10 home runs in 2006 tied the New York state record with 25 career home runs. She has also excelled off the field and has been a member of the honor roll every semester since the seventh grade. DeMartine is also a four- time selection to the All-Mid Hudson Athletic League Academics Team.
?Samantha slides into the power area of our lineup where we will lose some big swinging seniors,? said Schmidt. ?She is versatile on defense and is able to play a number of different positions. Offensively, her potential is great, especially with the work ethic that she possesses. She is a solid, blue-collar kid that is going to give you everything, everyday.?
Rowlands, a shortstop/third-baseman, comes to the Wildcats from Bishop Ready High School in Columbus, Ohio. She already has strong Kentucky ties where her sister, Kate, is a member of the women?s soccer team. Rowlands has been the starting shortstop and leadoff hitter for BRHS who went 28-2 last season and has advanced to the regional finals each of the past three years. She was named First Team All-Ohio and First Team All-Metro honors last season and earned All-Ohio Second team accolades in 2005. She broke the BRHS record for home runs (8) and triples (8) last season while batting .420 with 31 RBIs and 41 runs scored. Rowlands has been named the team MVP three times and is a two-time First Team All-District selection. She is active off the field, serving as an Ambassador and is a member of the environmental club. Rowlands was a member of the student council during her sophomore and junior years.
?Annie is definitely a player to keep an eye on. She is going to add a great amount of speed and aggressiveness to our lineup,? said Schmidt. ?She is a UK girl with her sister Kate already on the soccer team here. Her brother, Tommy, is an Olympic-level wrestler from Ohio State and her other sister, Meghan, played softball at Ohio State. The athleticism in the family is just unbelievable. Annie?s ability to move around defensively is a big plus. Like Meagan Aull, she will be counted on to get on base and score runs for the Cats.?
Yocke is a catcher/infielder from Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, Calif. She earned WCAL All-League honors at second base last season and was named her varsity team?s Most Valuable Player after batting .462 with 18 RBI and 26 runs scored. Yocke also earned First Team All-League honors as a catcher and was named the Defensive Player of the Year at that position in 2004. She is also a four-year starter for the field hockey team at AMHS. Yocke received an academic achievement award in Religious Studies and is a three-time member of the Principal?s Honor Roll.
?Megan comes in at a time where we will be low on experience behind the plate,? said Schmidt. ?The level of club and travel ball that she has played out in California should help her be able to step in and handle the situation. She is solid behind the plate mechanically, but still has some room to grow, which is exciting for us. Offensively she is a go-to player. She is steady under pressure and does not get rattled real easily. She will be a great leader for us though the years.?
