Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Softball signs five
11/11/2015 | 12:00:00 | Softball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois softball coach Kerri Blaylock welcomed five new players for the 2015 Saluki Softball signing class on Wednesday. All five are hitters and will be freshmen for the 2016-17 Saluki Softball team.
"We wanted to shore up our infield; we wanted to add a left-handed stick in the lineup that could produce; and we also hoped to add power," Blaylock said. "We accomplished all those goals with this class. We also wanted winners, and all five have won every level of softball."
Susie Baranski // OF // Chicago Heights, Ill. // Marian Catholic HS // Beverly Bandits
Baranski was a team leader for one of the best club programs in the nation. She led the Beverly Bandits in batting average three-straight years, while the club finished with seven top-10 finishes at national tournament. Baranski hit better than .430 every year with the Bandits, including a .520 mark with 12 doubles and 35 RBIs in 2015. At Marian Catholic high school, Baranski is a two-time All-State, three-time All-Area selection and is the MCHS single-season record holder for hits, doubles and runs scored.
Coach Blaylock on Baranski
"Susie is one of the best pure hitters that we have recruited to SIU. I saw her play as a freshman in high school and knew that we needed her on our team. She has played at the highest level of summer ball and has done very well. She will be very prepared to step in and contribute immediately at SIU."
Kyleigh Decker // IF // Casey, Ill. // Casey-Westfield HS // Premier Fastpitch
Decker hit .416 with a .482 on-base percentage, six home runs and 35 RBIs for Premier Fastpitch this summer. For Casey-Westfield high school, Decker twice earned All-Conference honors while leading her team in batting average and on-base percentage. She hit .491 in 34 games as a junior with a .584 on-base percentage, nine home runs and 49 RBIs. She is the career home runs leader at Casey-Westfield.
Coach Blaylock on Decker
"Kyleigh has great size and athleticism. She has a very high softball IQ and will contribute right away on our infield. She hits for both power and average."
Katelyn Massa // C/DP // Grover, Mo. // Eureka HS // St. Louis Chaos
Massa has amassed 45 doubles, 33 home runs and 185 RBIs over the last three summers with the St. Louis Chaos. She was named the MO/IL ASA All-Star Game MVP and played in the Louisville slugger Independence Day tournament all-start game in Boulder, Colo. For Eureka high school, she was a four-year All-Conference hitter and a three-time All-District, All-Metro and All-Region selection. She earned All-State honors twice, and her team finished among the top-four in the state tournament twice. She totaled 28 doubles 76 RBIs in her four-year high school career.
Coach Blaylock on Massa
"Katelyn is a pure power hitter. The coaching staff watched her get big hit after big hit this past summer. She will help us with catching and will also DP."
Bailee Pulley // UT // West Frankfort, Ill. // Johnston City HS // Illinois Force
Pulley helped her Illinois Force team finish top-10 at the 16-and-under Gold Nationals and top-20 at the 16-and-under ASA Nationals. With the Force, Pulley hit .344 with 14 home runs, 16 doubles and 46 RBIs in two years. She was a two-time All-Conference selection at Johnston City high school, where she was also active in basketball, volleyball, business club, art club, scholar bowl, student council HOSA, WYSE and National Honor Society.
Coach Blaylock on Pulley
"It was good to get Bailee to stay close to home. She has played a great competitive summer schedule the last few years and has played in some big games. She will be able to play several different positions. She is also able to hit for power and average."
Maddy Vermejan // IF // Lemont, Ill. // Lemont HS // Beverly Bandits
Vermejan earned All-State honors in 2015 at Lemont high school, where she was also a three-time All-Conference, two-time All-Area and two-time team MVP selection. She holds school records for both triples and runs scored. Her Beverly Bandits club team placed seventh at the 2015 Nationals and was ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation. At Lemont, she has hit 21 home runs and 36 doubles in her three-year career. She hit .567 last year, which includes a .640 average with runners in scoring position.
Coach Blaylock on Vermejan
"Maddy is a very athletic middle infielder. She has great range and a very good arm. She has a great knowledge of the game. She is another freshman that can swing it also."
