Emily Russell Lee University softball coach Emily Russell has announced her six early signees for the 2016-17 season.
Three already have been reported locally – all with Ringgold addresses but from three high schools: second baseman and catcher Brooklynn Frazier from Heritage and pitchers Abby McKinney from Ringgold High and Taylor Moran from Silverdale Baptist Academy. The other three recruits are catcher Bailey Church from Melissa, Texas, who had a .550 career batting average in high school; all-state shortstop Kayla Louie from Snellville, Ga., and Brookwood High; and all-region corner infielder Zoe Miller from Suwanee, Ga., and Lambert High.
“Overall, these kids get what we are about and have the academic and athletic ability to contribute from the moment they get on campus. They are each highly competitive. They know how to win,” Russell said in a Lee release. Among other things about McKinney, who had a 65-13 career record with 500-plus strikeouts, Russell said the Ringgold ace was recruited also by reigning NCAA Division II national champion North Georgia and “is a powerful hitter and strong outfielder as well. She is a hard worker and competes with the fire and energy we need from our pitching staff.” Moran, Russell said, “is a crafty pitcher that also plays the corners and is a big offensive threat. She is a big-time hitter and will impress with her arm strength and power.”
Frazier, according to the Lee coach, was the first commitment of this class and helped land some of the others.
“She has played travel ball at the highest level and has seen the best pitching in the country and been successful,” Russell said. “She is gritty and intense. She is a strong-hitting infielder and plays well behind the plate as well.”
Basketball
‘ Erin Walsh scored 24 points as Lee University won the women’s game 83-54 in the Gulf South Conference basketball doubleheader Thursday night at North Alabama. UNA won the men’s game 81-76 despite 28 points, nine rebounds and three steals by the Flames’ Keevin Tyus. Bilal Richardson led UNA with 18 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Supporting Walsh for the Lady Flames (7-3, 4-1) were Christina Johnson with 13 points and nine rebounds, Carrie Cheeks with 11 points and 13 rebounds and Shelby Brown with 11 points as well.
‘ Piedmont College ended the Sewanee men’s basketball team’s 13-game home winning streak Thursday with an 84-72 NCAA Division III victory, as Chase England and Trae Gaines scored 19 and 17 points. Clay Born led Sewanee (5-3) with 15 points, while Jorden Williams and Keshonn Carter scored 12 apiece, Cody Jones added 11 and the Tigers’ other starter, Brody Stone, had eight rebounds. Piedmont also gave Sewanee its last previous home loss on Nov. 25, 2014.
‘ The Chattanooga State women’s basketball team lost 65-63 to Guilford Tech in a game Wednesday at Brunswick Community College and faced Brunswick on Thursday. The Lady Tigers conclude the trip by playing Cape Fear this morning.
Soccer
‘ The Premier Soccer Academy based in Red Bank had two teams win championships at the Athens (Ga.) United Finale last weekend: PSA River Plate in the under-15 boys’ second division and the PSA Las Leonas in the U-16/17 girls’ first division. Las Leonas won 2-0 over the Piedmont Soccer Academy Barrow Lady 99 and 5-0 and 2-0 over the athena U-17 Rebels, the other finalist, and tied the Oconee 99 Athens Red 0-0. River Plate won its matches 1-0, 4-1, 3-2 and 1-0, the last one in the final against the USA Revolution 01 from the Upson Soccer Association. PSA’s under-18 boys play this weekend in a national event in Bradenton, Fla.