Nov. 24, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Head coach Rachel Lawson announced Tuesday that seven highly touted softball players will join the Wildcats in 2011.
UK has inked Ginny Carroll (Hendersonville, Tenn.), Lauren Cumbess (Normal, Ill.), Emily Gaines (London, Ky.), Emily Jolly (Owensboro, Ky.), Aubrey Lamar (North Augusta, Ga.), Krystal Smith (Bristow, Va.) and Ellen Weaver (Salem, Va.) to the 2010 freshman class.
“The 2011 signees should prove to be a dynamic and balanced addition to the Wildcats,” Lawson said. “Our fans are going to enjoy watching them in the Blue and White, and I am confident that they will continue to lead us on our quest to becoming a perennial powerhouse.
“Cumbess and Weaver are both dominant in the circle and have the talent to play in both the infield and the outfield. Carroll, Lamar, Gaines and Smith are gritty infielders with strong arms. Jolly is a tremendous outfielder with a diverse skill set that gives her the ability to also fulfill a role in the middle infield. Offensively, each signee has proven that they can hit for both average and power. Undoubtedly, the best qualities possessed by our newest team members are that they are born into families rich in athletic tradition and they love to compete in the national spotlight.”
Ginny Carroll
Carroll is an infielder from Hendersonville, Tenn. Carroll has been a diverse athlete and excellent student for her entire high school career. On the softball diamond, Carroll has led her squad to state runner-up finishes in each of the last two seasons. Beech High School claimed the District 9-AAA, Region 5-AAA and Sectional Championships in each of those two seasons as well. She was an All-Tournament team member and paced the squad in home runs in 2008.
The Tennessee native is also a dynamic basketball player and cross country runner. She holds the school record for the highest rebounding average per game and the most blocked shots in a season. Additionally, she was an All-District team performer and a member of the both the District and Regional All-Tournament teams. On the cross country track she was a two-time participant at the state meet. In 2006 and 2007, she was voted as the Beech’s most valuable performer after setting the school record for the fastest 5K race. Also an exceptional student, Carroll possesses a 4.00 grade point average. She currently is the Senior Class President and was voted as Miss Beech High School.
Lauren Cumbess
Cumbess not only possesses dominance in the circle, she is a forceful player at the plate as well. Beginning as a freshman she was tabbed her high school’s most valuable player. In her junior campaign she was voted as the 2009 Offensive Player of the Year. She is an All Big-12 Conference team member and a Scholastic Achievement award winner during her career.
As a junior she posted a .378 batting average. In the circle she recorded a 0.34 earned run average while facing 437 batters. She struck out 214 in 20 games. On the summer softball circuit she tossed 64 innings while owning a 0.14 ERA. At the plated she batted .387.
Emily Gaines
Gaines is an infielder from within the Kentucky border as she hails from London. She holds numerous state records including 81 hits and 27 doubles in 2008. For a career she possesses the state record with 77 career doubles. She currently sits in ninth all-time with 266 career hits. For her career she holds a blazing .498 batting average.
As a junior she was named to the All-State first team after earning second team honors in her sophomore season. Additionally, she was a first team All-State Academic team selection in her junior campaign. She is also a two-time Corbin-Times Tri-County Player of the Year.
Emily Jolly
Jolly is a five-time letterwinner and a four-year starter for the 2009 State Champion Owensboro Catholic High School team. After a junior season in which she batted .418 with 14 homers and 14 doubles Jolly was tabbed the Kentucky Class A State Player of the Year. She was also a first-team All-State team member after earned second-team distinctions in her sophomore campaign. As a sophomore she batted .407 with 17 doubles and 29 runs batted in.
She has twice been named to the KHSAA State Tournament team and will be her team’s captain in her senior season. Jolly is also a 2008-09 NFCA All-American Scholar athlete and an Academic All-State team member.
Aubrey Lamar
Lamar is an infielder from North Augusta High School in North Augusta, S.C. She is a two-time All-State performer and a four-year letterwinner. As a junior, Lamar led the state in RBI (53), doubles (17), home runs (7) while also ranking among the state leaders in batting average (.494), and runs scored (39). She is the first player in her school’s history to hit for the cycle in a single game. She also claims school records for the most doubles, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and on-base percentage in a single-season.
The South Carolina native ranks among the top-25 students in her class of 369 while being a member of the National Honor Society. She also serves as the secretary for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Krystal Smith
Smith is a four year starter and letterwinner for Stonewall Jackson High School. Following her junior season, Smith was tabbed an All-Northwest Region team member as a second baseman. She was also an All-Area selection in Prince William County and an All-Cedar Run District team member. She paced her squad with a sizzling .492 batting average and 30 runs scored. On the summer softball circuit, Smith is a Virginia ASA Champions with the 16U Shamrocks. The Adidas Futures ranked her among the top-100 softball players in the country.
Smith has also played basketball at Stonewall Jackson where she helped lead her team to the Cedar Run District championship in 2008. She is a member of the International Baccalaureate Program, serves as the secretary for the Student Activities Leadership Council (SALC). In addition to being a member of the Spanish Honor Society she is also a member of the national honor roll.
Ellen Weaver
Weaver also hails from Virginia and is a member of the Shamrocks summer softball team along with her new collegiate teammate in Smith. Weaver is also among the Adidas Futures top-100 players in the nation. At Salem High School in Bristow, VA., Weaver led her team to the River Ridge District Championship. She was voted a first team All-District performer and the Pitcher of the Year. She was a Virginia High School League Region IV team member and tabbed first-team All-Timesland. As a sophomore she was also the River Ridge District and VHSL Region IV Pitcher of the Year.
Additionally, Weaver is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. She is an honor roll student that is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Spanish Club.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information about the UK softball team.
