Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball signs four athletes for freshman class of 2010
11/14/2008 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Nov. 14, 2008
By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois head softball coach Kerri Blaylock announced the signing of four athletes to National Letters of Intent on Friday. Morgan Barchan (Arcadia, Calif.), Michelle Bradley (Land O Lakes, Fla.), Brittney Lang (Leavenworth, Kan.) and Sydney Shelton (Glen Carbon, Ill.) will join the program next season as the freshman class of 2010.
"This is a very gifted recruiting class," said Blaylock. "We have athletes that have played at elite levels of summer ball, and should come in ready to compete at the collegiate level."
The four signees include a pitcher, catcher, utility player and outfielder, and feature athletes from California, Florida, Illinois and Kansas.
"We feel we have added another group that can help us with our goal of another conference title and NCAA Regional berth," Blaylock said. "They were all highly recruited, and we're fortunate they chose SIU."
Barchan is an outfielder, and a cousin of current Saluki freshman shortstop Haley Gorman. She also played on the same summer league team, the Southern Cal Pride, as Gorman and SIU freshman Alicia Junker.
"Morgan (Barchan) has great speed, and can create such havoc on offense," explained Blaylock. "She plays the outfield very well, and has a very good arm."
Barchan batted .481, with four home runs, and 20 stolen bases as a junior. She was also selected first team all-area and first team all-league in a very tough conference in Southern California.
Bradley, a utility player from Land O Lakes, Fla., was an Adidas Top-100 prospect. She batted .400 on Team Florida, one of the top 18 and under summer league gold programs in the state of Florida, and helped lead them to a fourth place at the prestigious Colorado Independence Day Tournament.
"Michelle (Bradley) is going to be a great hitter at SIU," said Blaylock. "She can hit for tremendous power, but also utilize her speed. She's very versatile and can play both the infield and outfield, as well as pitch."
Lang, a pitcher from Leavenworth, Kan. has been chosen first team all-league in each of her three years at Lansing High School. As a junior last season she was also selected second team all-state with a miniscule .034 earned run average, 134 strikeouts, and .522 batting average.
"Brittney (Lang) is a tremendous athlete that happens to pitch very well," said Blaylock. "She's a three sport standout in high school, is very athletic and throws the ball very well."
Lang also was selected all-state, and first team all-league in volleyball and basketball, and was also an Adidas Futures Top-100 prospect.
The final signee, Shelton, is a catcher from Glen Carbon Ill. In each of her three years at Piasa Southwestern High, Shelton has been named ICA All-State, Alton All-Area, and all-conference. She has also accumulated a .446 batting average, .835 slugging percentage and 41 stolen bases in three seasons.
"Sydney (Shelton) does a great job behind the plate," said Blaylock. "She's a prototypical catcher with a very good arm, and great hitting ability. She'll be able to come in and hit for average and power."
The Southern Illinois University softball team is coming off its 12th straight winning season after posting a 30-24 record in 2008. They also finished third in the MVC, which was the seventh-consecutive season SIU finished in the top three in the league.
The Salukis will begin the 2009 season on Feb. 6 against Oregon State University at the Cathedral City Kick Off in Palm Springs, Calif.
