Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball signs two on National Signing Day
11/08/2017 | 9:30:00 | Softball
Saluki softball, the defending Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Champions, announced that two players have signed with the program for the 2019 season in Sidney Sikes, who plays both catcher and third base, and Ashley Wood, a shortstop. Blaylock said the team will continue to recruit throughout the year and expects to add a few more players in the spring.
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"We are so glad that Sid and Ashley chose to become Salukis," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "We addressed some needs that we felt like we would be losing. Both players come from winning summer program and have played at the highest level. We knew it was a great fit when both of them stepped on campus. We are extremely pleased to have them wear the Saluki uniform."
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Sidney Sikes | C/3B | Kaufman, Texas | Crandall H.S.
Sikes joins the Salukis as a player who has competed for state and national championships with the Texas Glory, a club team that is ranked sixth in the nation. Sikes joins freshman Shelby Hodo as the second Saluki on the roster to play for the Glory. Sikes helped the Glory to a Triple Crown Texas State Championship and a fifth place finish at the Triple Crown Nationals in 2017.
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For her high school, Sikes earned team MVP honors while hitting .422 with 31 RBI, 14 doubles and a home run in 2017. She earned All-Newcomer honors as a freshman and is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Flosoftball.com ranked Sikes on its Hot-100 list of top club players in the nation in 2016. Sikes earned Academic All-District honors all-three years in high school.
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Blaylock on Sikes
"Sid is such a spark plug. She plays so hard and is constantly communicating with her teammates. Her energy is infectious. Sid is a great defensive player behind the plate and at third. She is a tough hitter as well. She is disciplined and hits for average as well as power."
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Ashley Wood | SS |Orland Park, Illinois | Carl Sandburg H.S.
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Wood comes to the Salukis as a Class 4A All-State team and a three-time All-Conference Selection for Carl Sandburg H.S. Wood hit.439 with 34 RBI in 2017 and has racked up 90 RBI and 41 doubles in her career. Wood has also earned team MVP honors at Carl Sandburg. The Daily Southtown named Wood to the All-Area Team in 2016 and 17. She was also one of the Daily Southtown's 25 players to watch in the South-Chicago area in 2017. The Orland Park native plays her club ball for the Illinois Sparks. She helped her club team to a National Championship at the 16-under level.
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Blaylock on Wood
"Ashley is such a great athlete. She has size, range and a great arm for a shortstop. She hits for gap power and has very good speed. Ash knows the game and is such a smart player, which you love to have in your shortstop."
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Blaylock said the team will continue to recruit throughout the year and expects to add a few more players in the spring.
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"We are so glad that Sid and Ashley chose to become Salukis," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "We addressed some needs that we felt like we would be losing. Both players come from winning summer program and have played at the highest level. We knew it was a great fit when both of them stepped on campus. We are extremely pleased to have them wear the Saluki uniform."
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Sidney Sikes | C/3B | Kaufman, Texas | Crandall H.S.
Sikes joins the Salukis as a player who has competed for state and national championships with the Texas Glory, a club team that is ranked sixth in the nation. Sikes joins freshman Shelby Hodo as the second Saluki on the roster to play for the Glory. Sikes helped the Glory to a Triple Crown Texas State Championship and a fifth place finish at the Triple Crown Nationals in 2017.
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For her high school, Sikes earned team MVP honors while hitting .422 with 31 RBI, 14 doubles and a home run in 2017. She earned All-Newcomer honors as a freshman and is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Flosoftball.com ranked Sikes on its Hot-100 list of top club players in the nation in 2016. Sikes earned Academic All-District honors all-three years in high school.
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Blaylock on Sikes
"Sid is such a spark plug. She plays so hard and is constantly communicating with her teammates. Her energy is infectious. Sid is a great defensive player behind the plate and at third. She is a tough hitter as well. She is disciplined and hits for average as well as power."
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Ashley Wood | SS |Orland Park, Illinois | Carl Sandburg H.S.
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Wood comes to the Salukis as a Class 4A All-State team and a three-time All-Conference Selection for Carl Sandburg H.S. Wood hit.439 with 34 RBI in 2017 and has racked up 90 RBI and 41 doubles in her career. Wood has also earned team MVP honors at Carl Sandburg. The Daily Southtown named Wood to the All-Area Team in 2016 and 17. She was also one of the Daily Southtown's 25 players to watch in the South-Chicago area in 2017. The Orland Park native plays her club ball for the Illinois Sparks. She helped her club team to a National Championship at the 16-under level.
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Blaylock on Wood
"Ashley is such a great athlete. She has size, range and a great arm for a shortstop. She hits for gap power and has very good speed. Ash knows the game and is such a smart player, which you love to have in your shortstop."
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Blaylock said the team will continue to recruit throughout the year and expects to add a few more players in the spring.
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