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Prep Softball Preview: Players To Watch

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2008

Morgan Grove

GAITHER Senior, pitcher

The 2007 Tampa Tribune Hillsborough County Softball Player of the Year, who has committed to Tallahassee Community College, led the Cowboys to the Class 6A region final while going 18-3 with a 0.79 ERA. She also had 143 strikeouts.

COACHSPEAK: "She's a leader on and off the field. She takes it upon herself to rally the team. She's a team player. She's not an individualist. She's very dominant. She has probably a 68 miles-per-hour fastball, she has a good curveball and she has a good drop. She's able to dominate."

- Gaither coach Al Alcala

Mary Kate Smith

CHAMBERLAIN Senior, catcher

A four-year starter for the Chiefs who has signed with Stanford, she was a Tribune All-County first-team selection last season after helping the Chiefs reach the Class 5A state final four. She finished her junior season with a .397 batting average with 18 runs, 33 RBIs and four home runs.

COACHSPEAK: "Mary Kate, first of all, she plays multiple positions. She's four players in one. She is a smart softball player. She's an outstanding hitter. She's a prototype fourth hitter. She can hit the ball out of the ballpark with any swing. She's definitely a leader on my team."

- Chamberlain coach Bob Diez

FIVE PITCHERS TO WATCH

Khrystyne Ely

Sickles senior

Signed with Troy; finished 8-5 last season with a 1.59 ERA and 92 Ks; hit .561 with 23 runs, 23 RBIs and seven home runs.

Sara DeMuth

Durant senior

The Augusta State signee went 15-1 with a 0.49 ERA and 128 Ks on last season's district championship team.

Ashley Stubbs

Newsome senior

Signed with Appalachian State; led team to Class 5A state final four with a 13-5 record, 1.50 ERA and 110 Ks.

Megan Still

Plant City junior

Named to the Tribune's All-Hillsborough County second team last season when she went 12-3 with a 0.94 ERA and 111 Ks.

Ashley McClain

Riverview senior

Signed with Florida International; went 7-3 with a 1.55 ERA last season; also batted a team-high .489 with 31 RBIs.

5 MORE TO WATCH

Katelyn Molkenthin

Bloomingdale Senior, CF Signed with South Carolina Upstate; selected to Tribune All-Hillsborough County first team after batting .536 with 18 runs, 33 RBIs and five triples.

Samantha Holle

Chamberlain Junior, SS The Florida commitment finished her sophomore season with a .413 batting average, 29 runs, 33 hits, 28 RBIs and three home runs. She also recorded a .713 slugging percentage.

Marissa Menendez

Chamberlain Junior, OF The South Florida commitment was selected to the Tribune's All-Hillsborough County second team last year after batting .495 with 37 hits, 41 runs and 22 RBIs.

Katie Forbes

Gaither Senior, SS/P The Charleston Southern signee batted .434 with 24 runs, 28 RBIs and two home runs last season to help Gaither reach the region final.

Kendall Dawson

Plant City Senior, C A Tribune All-Hillsborough County first-team selection as a junior, the Alabama signee finished with a .559 batting average, 16 runs, 33 RBIs and two home runs.

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TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

tallahassee community college • class 6a • morgan grove • softball player • appalachian state • tampa tribune • coach bob • class 5a • kate smith • augusta state • sickles • demuth • curveball • individualist • newsome • rbis • gaither • batting average • team selection • mary kate

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