Softball signs five for 2017-18
11/09/2016 | 10:11:00 | Softball
CARBONDALE, ILL. – The Saluki softball family welcomes five new players for the team's 2016 recruiting class Wednesday. Head coach Kerri Blaylock will be bringing in five hitters, with the flexibility of a couple playing multiple positions.
"As a coaching staff, we felt our job was to go out and replace a very good senior class for us," Blaylock said. "We feel that we are bringing in the athletes to do that."
Maris Boelens // OF // Aledo, IL // Rock Island Alleman HS // Heartland Havoc
Boelens has batted over .400 the last two seasons at Rock Island Alleman High School, and has compiled over 75 runs in that time. During that two-year stretch she has also been named to the Quad Cities All-Metro First team each year. Boelens has also had success outside of high school softball. This past summer she was a NSA National Champion with her summer team, the Heartland Havoc. In 2015, Boelens batted .555 and had an on base percentage of .610 for the Havoc.
Coach Blaylock on Boelens
"Coach Sewell saw Maris play in a 16U National Tournament and was sold. She flies around the outfield and can cover a ton of ground. She hits from the left side and is a triple threat. Her enthusiasm for the game is contagious.
Megan Brown // P/1B/OF // Dupo, IL // Dupo HS // St. Louis Diamond Cats
Brown has lead Dupo High School to three consecutive regional championships, two sectional titles, and a second place finish in the state in her three years. She has also been named First-Team All-Conference every year. During those three years Brown has hit .338 or better and has brought in at least 25 RBIs each season. She also hits for power, hitting at least five homeruns her last two seasons.
Coach Blaylock on Brown
"Megan is a fierce competitor. She competes at everything she does. She can pitch if we need her to, play first or play in the outfield. She hits for average and power. We targeted her to help us out with some power numbers because of replacing Shaye."
Shelby Hodo // C // Haslet, Tx // Northwest HS // Texas Glory
Hodo has found success in travel ball and in high school softball. As a member of the Texas Glory summer travel team, she has helped her team to a top 15 United States club ranking the last two years. At Northwest High School Hodo maintained a batting average over .355 and drove in nearly 20 RBIs in her junior season. She also sported an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of 1.289.
Coach Blaylock on Hodo
"Shelby comes to us from one of the best summer programs in the country-the Texas Glory. She is an outstanding defensive catcher with a big arm. She does a great job framing and handling the pitchers. She is a very smart game manager. She plays the best competition that you can play in the summer and that will help her with her transition to Division 1."
Jenny Jansen // SS/OF // Warrenton, MO // Warrenton HS // St. Louis Esprit
Jansen is a two time state champion and a four time first team All-State selection in the state of Missouri. She was the St. Louis metro player of the year her junior year and currently holds the Missouri state career doubles record with 52. Jansen has batted over .500 every year of her high school career and has compiled over 174 hits and 128 RBIs. She hold her school's record in batting average, career hits, career runs, and career RBIs.
Coach Blaylock on Jansen
"Jenny is just a tremendous athlete. She can play short, third, outfield and even pitched for her high school team. She can hit for average and power and has good speed. She is a winner that won 2 high school state championships. She is such a hard worker and wants to win."
Meredith Wernig // 3B/OF // Imperial, MO // Lutheran South HS // St. Louis Chaos
Wernig is a two time top-three finisher in the ASA USA Junior Olympic Cup with her summer team, St. Louis Chaos. Her high school career at Lutheran South has been nothing short of impressive. In her four years she has batted over .400 every year and has knocked in at least 25 RBIs in each season. Wernig played every position on the field for her high school team and was named to the All-Region team as a short stop her senior year.
Coach Blaylock on Wernig
"Meredith is good utility player. She can play a corner or outfield. She competes hard at the plate. She is a kid that works hard on the field and you notice that."
Coach Blaylock on whole class
"As a coaching staff, we felt our job was to go out and replace a very good senior class. We feel that we are bringing in the athletes to do that. We have addressed the needs of a catcher, outfielder and power. We also felt like we wanted to get up to 17 or 18 players to give ourselves flexibility in all positions. These young ladies are all competitors and winners. They have all done great things in either high school or summer ball. The other most important thing is that they wanted to be Salukis. They wanted to leave their mark here. We are extremely excited as a coaching staff to have them be a part of our program and family."
"As a coaching staff, we felt our job was to go out and replace a very good senior class for us," Blaylock said. "We feel that we are bringing in the athletes to do that."
Maris Boelens // OF // Aledo, IL // Rock Island Alleman HS // Heartland Havoc
Boelens has batted over .400 the last two seasons at Rock Island Alleman High School, and has compiled over 75 runs in that time. During that two-year stretch she has also been named to the Quad Cities All-Metro First team each year. Boelens has also had success outside of high school softball. This past summer she was a NSA National Champion with her summer team, the Heartland Havoc. In 2015, Boelens batted .555 and had an on base percentage of .610 for the Havoc.
Coach Blaylock on Boelens
"Coach Sewell saw Maris play in a 16U National Tournament and was sold. She flies around the outfield and can cover a ton of ground. She hits from the left side and is a triple threat. Her enthusiasm for the game is contagious.
Megan Brown // P/1B/OF // Dupo, IL // Dupo HS // St. Louis Diamond Cats
Brown has lead Dupo High School to three consecutive regional championships, two sectional titles, and a second place finish in the state in her three years. She has also been named First-Team All-Conference every year. During those three years Brown has hit .338 or better and has brought in at least 25 RBIs each season. She also hits for power, hitting at least five homeruns her last two seasons.
Coach Blaylock on Brown
"Megan is a fierce competitor. She competes at everything she does. She can pitch if we need her to, play first or play in the outfield. She hits for average and power. We targeted her to help us out with some power numbers because of replacing Shaye."
Shelby Hodo // C // Haslet, Tx // Northwest HS // Texas Glory
Hodo has found success in travel ball and in high school softball. As a member of the Texas Glory summer travel team, she has helped her team to a top 15 United States club ranking the last two years. At Northwest High School Hodo maintained a batting average over .355 and drove in nearly 20 RBIs in her junior season. She also sported an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of 1.289.
Coach Blaylock on Hodo
"Shelby comes to us from one of the best summer programs in the country-the Texas Glory. She is an outstanding defensive catcher with a big arm. She does a great job framing and handling the pitchers. She is a very smart game manager. She plays the best competition that you can play in the summer and that will help her with her transition to Division 1."
Jenny Jansen // SS/OF // Warrenton, MO // Warrenton HS // St. Louis Esprit
Jansen is a two time state champion and a four time first team All-State selection in the state of Missouri. She was the St. Louis metro player of the year her junior year and currently holds the Missouri state career doubles record with 52. Jansen has batted over .500 every year of her high school career and has compiled over 174 hits and 128 RBIs. She hold her school's record in batting average, career hits, career runs, and career RBIs.
Coach Blaylock on Jansen
"Jenny is just a tremendous athlete. She can play short, third, outfield and even pitched for her high school team. She can hit for average and power and has good speed. She is a winner that won 2 high school state championships. She is such a hard worker and wants to win."
Meredith Wernig // 3B/OF // Imperial, MO // Lutheran South HS // St. Louis Chaos
Wernig is a two time top-three finisher in the ASA USA Junior Olympic Cup with her summer team, St. Louis Chaos. Her high school career at Lutheran South has been nothing short of impressive. In her four years she has batted over .400 every year and has knocked in at least 25 RBIs in each season. Wernig played every position on the field for her high school team and was named to the All-Region team as a short stop her senior year.
Coach Blaylock on Wernig
"Meredith is good utility player. She can play a corner or outfield. She competes hard at the plate. She is a kid that works hard on the field and you notice that."
Coach Blaylock on whole class
"As a coaching staff, we felt our job was to go out and replace a very good senior class. We feel that we are bringing in the athletes to do that. We have addressed the needs of a catcher, outfielder and power. We also felt like we wanted to get up to 17 or 18 players to give ourselves flexibility in all positions. These young ladies are all competitors and winners. They have all done great things in either high school or summer ball. The other most important thing is that they wanted to be Salukis. They wanted to leave their mark here. We are extremely excited as a coaching staff to have them be a part of our program and family."
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