Lookout Valley outfielder Katie Dinger is one of five early signees announced late this week by Lee University softball coach Emily Russell.
The others are catchers Sara Beth Ratcliffe from Lawrenceville, Ga., and Grayson High School and Bailey Young from Farragut High; outfielder Darcy Fisher from Canton, Ga., and Sequoyah High School; and pitcher/infielder Taylor De Adder from Maple Ridge in British Columbia, Canada.
"They are all excellent students and even better people," Russell said in a Lee release.
"Lee has a great academic program, the campus was beautiful and the team seemed to be a great fit," De Adder said in the release about her decision to go so far from home. She had a .382 batting average, three home runs and 32 doubles in her most recent season.
Ratcliffe, who hit .342 with nine homers and nine doubles, has family ties to the Cleveland school. Her grandfather and mother attended Lee "and left with lifelong relationships and a deep trust and faith in the Lord," she said. "I felt at home after visiting the school."
Young, who hit .324 with four homers and 11 doubles, chose Lee because of its "low student-to-teacher ratio, state-of-the-art nursing facility, excellent softball program and Christ-centered environment."
Fisher (.315) expressed "love" for the program, coaches, players and "the university itself. I believe this is the perfect place to continue my softball career, education and walk with Christ."
Dinger hit .547 with a .663 on-base percentage, eight doubles and 31 stolen bases as a junior and picked Russell's program "because the spiritual atmosphere of Lee makes me feel comfortable, and the softball program is great."
Said Russell: "Katie was added to this class later, but she adds depth and athleticism. She is an infielder/outfielder that is a slap hitter as well. We like her versatility and work ethic."