Rayman adds 8 recruits to 2017 softball class

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, April 20, 2017 Rayman adds 8 recruits to 2017 softball class

Introducing eight new recruits to MSUB’s 2017 softball class, MSUB head coach Jessica Rayman welcomes the latest group of letter of intent signees Thursday.

BILLINGS, Mont. – A new wave of talent is headed towards the Montana State University Billings softball team for the 2017-18 academic year, as Yellowjacket head coach Jessica Rayman introduced eight new recruits Thursday who will join the team next year.

The newest group of Yellowjackets features seven freshmen and one junior, representing six different states across the west. The signings bring MSUB’s total to nine for the 2017-18 year, after Abbey Bryan of Billings inked a letter of intent in the early signing period last fall.

2017-18 MSUB Softball Recruiting Class Name Position Georgia Benning Outfielder Abbey Bryan Pitcher Haley Couch Pitcher/OF Shayla Felix Catcher Brittanee Fisher 1B/Pitcher Hailey Hiett Infielder/OF Allie Hughes Outfielder/1B Ashley Long Catcher/3B McKuenzie McCormick Pitcher

Hometown Puyallup, WA Billings, MT Yamhill, OR Bloomfield, NM Billings, MT Santa Clara, CA Sparks, NV Buckley, WA Prineville, OR

Previous School John R. Rogers HS Skyview HS Dayton HS Trinidad State JC Billings Senior HS Santa Clara HS Reed HS White River HS Oregon Virtual Academy

Class (Fall 2017) Freshman Freshman Freshman Junior Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman

Georgia Benning Puyallup, Washington Governor John R. Rogers High School 5’2” – Outfielder Intended Major: Undecided A four-year letterwinner for the Rams, Benning is a speedy outfielder who doubles as a right-handed pitcher entering her collegiate career. She figures to slot in as a slap hitter towards the top or bottom of the lineup. Benning also competed in golf for one year at Rogers High School. She was a WIAA scholastic award winner multiple times during her prep career.

Coach Rayman on Benning: “Georgiabelle will be a great addition to our outfield and will be a threat from the left side.

She has a lot of speed, which will help offset our power hitters.”

Benning on choosing MSUB: “After looking at multiple different locations, MSUB really stood out because of the academic diversity, the environment, and the community. I am extremely excited to go to a small school and be part of a close-knit community. All these factors made MSUB the perfect place for me to continue my academics and softball career.”

Haley Couch Yamhill, Oregon Dayton High School 5’6”- Right-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder Intended Major: Undecided A three-year letterwinner at Dayton High School, Couch helped lead the Pirates to a cumulative record of 58-9 during her time on the varsity squad. In 2015, Couch helped her team to the Oregon Class 3A state title, and she was a second-team all-West Valley League pitcher. As a junior in 2016, she was a first-team all-state pitcher after winning conference player of the year honors, and she led DHS to a second-place finish at the state tournament.

Couch has also been named the News Register Softball Player of the Year, and to the Statesman Journal All-Valley softball team. In 2016, she batted .455 at the plate while posting a stellar 1.36 earned run average in the circle. In addition to her success on the diamond, Couch is a four-time honor roll student.

Coach Rayman on Couch: “Haley is going to be a great addition to our pitching staff. She has great movement on her pitches and we feel as though she will be very effective within the conference.”

Couch on choosing MSUB: “I’m excited to fulfill my dream of playing college softball at the Division II level for MSUB. Montana is a beautiful state and I look forward to enjoying the next four years. When I visited in January and met Coach Rayman and some of the Yellowjackets, everyone was very nice. I can’t wait to be part of the Yellowjacket family!”

Shayla Felix Bloomfield, New Mexico Bloomfield High School/Trinidad State Junior College 5’5” – Catcher Intended Major: Marketing A proven college player, Felix is tearing it up in her sophomore year at Trinidad State College with a .429 batting average in 32 games. She has hit four home runs and driven in 20, while holding a slugging percentage of .637 on the year.

During her prep career at Bloomfield High School in New Mexico, Felix was a four-year letterwinner in softball and also competed in soccer for two seasons. On the diamond, she was the 2015 District 1 4A Player of the Year, after earning first-team all-league honors. She was also a four-time academic all-district selection, and will enter MSUB with a solid 3.5 college GPA. Coach Rayman on Felix: “Shayla will be a great boost for us as a catcher. We look forward to the knowledge and leadership she will bring as a Ju-Co transfer.”

Felix on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because it seemed like the perfect place for me to further my education and softball career. I loved Billings and the beautiful campus as well.”

Brittanee Fisher Billings, Montana Billings Senior High School 5’9” – First Baseman/Right-Handed Pitcher Intended Major: Physical Education Like MSUB’s early signing Bryan, Fisher is a local talent who is completing her career for the Broncs at Senior High School in Billings. The first baseman and right-handed pitcher was a second-team all-league pick as a junior last year, and is completing her fourth year on the varsity team at BSHS. In 2014 she posted a career-best .550 batting average, and a year ago she won the Thumper Award as the team’s best hitter.

Fisher is also a three-time academic all-state selection, and posted a strong .978 fielding percentage her sophomore season. In addition to her prowess on the softball field, Fisher is a two-year letterwinner as the center on the Broncs’ basketball team, where she averaged 21 points last season.

Coach Rayman on Fisher: “Brittanee is a great local talent from here in Billings. She has a lot of power offensively, which will be a great addition to our lineup. Defensively, she will be effective at first base and in the circle for us.”

Fisher on choosing MSUB: “MSUB seemed like the best fit for me because of its family-like atmosphere and proximity to home. I am excited to join the Yellowjackets’ softball team in the fall of 2017, and continue learning at a higher level.”

Hailey Hiett Santa Clara, California Santa Clara High School 5’2” – Infielder/Outfielder Intended Major: Pre-Pharmacy With her 2017 season underway, Hiett has already racked up accolades through the first three varsity seasons of her prep career. A starting middle infielder for the Bruins, Hiett led the team in RBIs and steals last year and was second in batting average and hits. The big numbers parlayed into all-De Anza League honors, and she was also an all-conference pick as a sophomore in 2015. Hiett also earned two letters in volleyball as a libero, where she was team captain and picked as the top defensive player on her squad.

In the classroom, Hiett earned the Academic Achievement Award for chemistry, and the Academic Excellence award last year as a junior. She is a three-time honor roll student, and has been on the Principal’s List as well. She plans to study pre-pharmacy upon enrollment at MSUB. Coach Rayman on Hiett: “We are very excited about Hailey joining our middle infielders, as she will give us some depth there. Hailey is very athletic and will be very versatile for us.”

Hiett on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because I felt very comfortable when I visited, it has majors I’m interested in, and has a good softball team. The coaches and players were really nice, and I felt welcomed. I have always heard Montana was a beautiful state, and now I get to see it for myself. I am looking forward to attending MSUB in the fall.”

Allie Hughes Sparks, Nevada Edward C. Reed High School 5’8” – Outfielder/First Baseman Intended Major: Pre-Medicine Another multi-sport athlete, Hughes boasts an impressive resume with a career record of 85-9 in softball under head coach Jon Wunder. Leading the Raiders to the 2015 Nevada state title, Hughes and her teammates are also four-time regional champions. She holds a .600 batting average as a senior, and has been a member of the National Honor Society for the past two years.

Also competing in tennis, Hughes is the varsity team captain and earned honorable mention all-region on the court in doubles. Hughes will continue MSUB’s connection to Sparks, Nev., with five players currently on the roster from the city just outside of Reno. She will reconnect with 2014 Reed graduate Megan Dettling, a current junior on MSUB’s squad.

Coach Rayman on Hughes: “Allie is very hard-working and dedicated, which will make her a great addition to our roster.

She has a lot of potential to be successful at this level.”

Hughes on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because it is close to family. I fell in love with the campus and the players were so welcoming. Montana is the perfect state for me to live in, because I love outdoor activities such as skiing, hunting, and camping.”

Ashley Long Buckley, Washington White River High School 5’7” – Catcher/Third Baseman Intended Major: Undecided Long is a four-year letterwinner in softball for the Hornets, where she has spent time developing skill as a catcher and third baseman. She helped her team to a 2A Washington SPSL title, and a runner-up finish at the state tournament. She is a twotime second-team all-league selection, and won the coaches’ award as most valuable teammate.

Coach Rayman on Long: “Ashley has a great work ethic and we are excited to watch her push her teammates. Not only will she help us offensively, but we look for her to play many roles in the infield.”

Long on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because it gave me the opportunity to play softball at a high level, along with getting an education after high school. I love the coaches and I love the school, so I could not be more excited for the upcoming year.”

McKuenzie McCormick Prineville, Oregon Oregon Virtual Academy 5’7” – Right-Handed Pitcher Intended Major: Criminal Justice A highly-touted pitching prospect for the ‘Jackets, McCormick is coming off a playerof-the-year season as a junior in 2016. With her final prep season underway, McCormick is looking to match her numbers of 208 strikeouts and a 0.72 ERA in 2016.

She also threw four no-hitters as a junior, and batted .351 at the plate with 23 stolen bases.

McCormick is a first-team all-Tri-Valley League pitcher, and a two-time third-team allstate selection as well. She helped the Cowgirls amass a 51-19 record in her first three seasons under head coach Jessica Cross.

Coach Rayman on McCormick: “We are very excited to be adding McKuenzie to our pitching staff. She has a great presence on the mound and is very smart about where she wants to place her pitches.”

McCormick on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because of the campus and how welcomed everyone made me feel.

When I visited the campus, I felt at home. I could see that it would be a place where my dreams would unfold. The softball team was energetic and really welcoming. I was impressed with the family atmosphere, especially with all the new freshmen that had just joined the team. I wanted to play softball somewhere that I felt at home and I would be getting the best education possible.”

MSUB’s softball team begins a four-game road trip at Northwest Nazarene University on Friday, and is currently 14-27 on the year and 8-12 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

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