The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball program signed four players as the NCAA early signing period got under way Wednesday and Thursday: pitchers Brittany Perez and Jennifer Garcia from Miami and versatile Cheyenne Willis from Winchester, Tenn., and Sarah Beth Roberts from Mount Juliet, Tenn.
“We are excited about that 2011 signing class,” Lady Mocs coach Frank Reed said in a school release. “They bring a combination of speed and power along with left- and right-side hitting and pitching. It looks like this is going to be a complete class for us, and we can’t wait till they get here.”
Perez, also a first baseman, was first-team all-state, and Garcia plays several positions in addition to pitching.
Willis has played shortstop, third base and outfield for Coffee County High School and had 47 stolen bases with a .404 batting average this past spring. She was the District 6-AAA most valuable player and plays summer ball for the Frost Falcons in Chattanooga.
“She can be that player that can drop the bunt, hit the slap and hit the ball out of the park,” Reed said. “She is a strong kid with a strong arm and is a great defensive player. We are looking for Cheyenne to step in and be an immediate impact for us.”
Roberts already twice has been All-District 9-AAA at Mount Juliet High. She led the Golden Bears with a .493 batting average, drove in 27 runs and stole 24 bases as a junior. She’s a two-year veteran of the Team Worth Gold travel squad and also played basketball for two years.
“Sarah Beth is a tremendous player,” Reed said. “She is a big kid with a lot of versatility and speed.”
Perez and Garcia will add depth to the Lady Mocs pitching staff that loses Kandice Irwin and Nikki Waters after next spring.
Reed said Perez “is a big kid, throws the ball really hard and gives our pitching staff some velocity.” Her Florida Christian team reached the state final last season, when she was first-team all-state after making the second team in 2009.
Garcia has played shortstop and outfield in addition to pitching for G. Holmes Braddock High, which reached the Florida final four for the first time last season. She has played for the Miami Lady Canes travel team.
“Jenni is a real versatile player,” Reed said. “We look at her as a middle infielder that can play the outfield and pitches. We are probably going to call on her to do all three.”