Softball signs five for 2012
11/10/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Nov. 10, 2010
By Megan Kramper
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois softball team has signed five new athletes for the 2012 season, head coach Kerri Blaylock announced on Wednesday.
Katie Bertelsen (Alexis, Ill.), Kayln Harker (Lebanon, Ind.), Mackenzie Leding (Springfield, Tenn.), Meredith Wilson (Granite City, Ill.), and Alyssa Wunderlich (Naperville, Ill.) will join the Salukis as the 2012 recruiting class.
"We are extremely excited about our 2012 recruiting class," Blaylock said. "We knew that we needed to replace pitching and also the loss of some offense and we believe we have done that with five quality players that have had great success at both the high school and summer level."
Within the group, the Salukis pick up two pitchers, two outfielders, and an infielder.
Bertelsen is a pitcher out of Alexis United High School where she has been named the Quad Cities Player of the Year, a Chicago Tribune All-State team winner, and a Illinois All-State Team winner in each of her three seasons.
"Katie (Bertelsen) has had an unbelievable high school career and is a proven winner," Blaylock said. "She does a great job on the mound and is a great competitor."
Bertelsen also currently ranks sixth in the state for all-time strikeouts and also holds records in most strikeouts in the IHSA state tournament and third in strikeouts in a season.
"Katie (Bertelsen) is another pitcher that fits the mold that we recruit at SIU," Blaylock said.
Harker is an outfielder who led Lebanon High School to a sectional title in 2010 with a 27-3 overall record and undefeated Sagamore Conference record while batting. 500 (45-for-90) recording 47 runs, eight doubles, eight triples, two home runs, and 22 RBIs.
"We brought Kalyn (Harker) to SIU to try and help with the loss of Chelsea Held," Blaylock said. "She is an outstanding athlete who has great speed and flies around the outfield."
In addition, Harker was also named first team all-conference from 2008-10, ICGSA All-District 3 in 2010, Outstanding Offensive player in 2009 and Outstanding Defensive player in 2010.
Leding comes to SIU from Goodpasture High School where she helped her team to two state championships in 2007 and 2008 while earning MTSCA second team honors from 2007-10 and all-district and tournament honors in 2008 and 2010.
"Mackenzie (Leding) is a pure hitter who I have watched at the 18U gold level the past year and she has done extremely well," Blaylock said. "She understands the game and will bring confidence to our lineup."
Leding batted .347 with 10 doubles, two triples, six homeruns, and 46 RBIs last season as a junior.
Wilson is an outfielder out of St. Joseph's Academy in St. Louis, Mo. where she led the team in homeruns and in the top two in batting average, RBIs, slugging percentage, and hits during her four years.
"Meredith is an outfielder that hits with power and I have been impressed with her for a lo ng time," Blaylock said. "She can change the game with one swing."
A four-year all-conference and all-district selection, Wilson helped the Angels to a first ever district championship in 2009 while helping them to their first ever sectional and final four appearance in school history.
Wilson also holds school records in career home runs, RBIs, runs scored and on-base percentage as well as home runs in a season.
"Meredith let me know early on in her career that she wanted to be a Saluki and we are glad she is," Blaylock said.
Wunderlich is a pitcher from Naperville Central who helped her team to a fourth place finish at the IHSA state tournament in 2009.
Her lists of accomplishments include an all-conference selection in 2010 and a Daily Herald All-Area honoree in 2010 while piling up impressive numbers on the mound.
Wunderlich's 21 strikeouts in a game broke a school record in 2009 and she threw 236 strikeouts in 171 innings with seven shutouts in 2010.
"Alyssa (Wunderlich) understands what it takes to be good at this level and is working hard every day to do that," Blaylock said. "I am very excited to be able to work with Alyssa for four years. She has great ball movement and is a strikeout type of pitcher who will be a great addition to our lineup."
In their 2010 campaign, the Salukis went 38-20 with a regular season Missouri Valley Conference championship and their 14th straight season of 30-plus wins.
The Salukis will begin their 2011 season will kick off on February 11, 2011 when they travel to Houston, Texas to compete in the Houston Tournament.
