By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Depth is sure to be the highlight of the Tennessee Tech softball team’s newest recruiting class, as third-year head coach Bonnie Bynum has inked five to add to the 2016 Golden Eagle roster. Sarah Freels, Gabby LaSala, Jessie Lowery, Ashley McGowan, Leigh Thomas are all set to join to Tech squad, helping bolster a Golden Eagle team that will say goodbye to five graduating seniors.
The 2015 signing class will bring variety across the board for Bynum and the rest of the TTU coaching staff, with two infielders, an outfielder, a catcher, and a pitcher prepared to suit up in Tech purple and gold in the spring of 2016.
“This recruiting class brings depth in all areas of our team,” Bynum claimed on the five newest Golden Eagles. “We have speed, pitching, catching, great defense and some explosive hitters. I am extremely excited about this class and I think all of them will have a chance to contribute to our team as newcomers.”
Sarah Freels transfers to Tech after a two-year stint at Roane State Community College in which the shortstop from Dayton, Tenn. compiled a remarkable 2014 campaign with an impressive .348 batting average, while leading the team with 19 home runs, 16 doubles, 62 RBI and 45 runs scored. The tremendous season netted Freels a 2014 NJCAA All-Conference first-team infielder accolade as well as the 2014 Roane State Softball Award. Academically, the stats are just as noteworthy after she was recognized as an All-Conference Academic Scholar and was a member of the Dean’s List.
Freels is one of two infielders in the class, along with Gabby LaSala coming to Tech after playing second, short, and third at William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. LaSala was named to the 2014 All-Conference first-team behind a conference-leading seven home runs, 16 extra-base hits, and 29 runs batted in, while also getting it done in the classroom after earning the Principal Academic Award in each of the last three years.
Like LaSala, Jessie Lowery also hails from Ohio, coming to the Golden Eagles as an outfielder from Galena, located in the central part of the state. While at Olentangy High School, Lowery proved to be an offensive force to be reckoned with after taking home last year’s team Offensive MVP and Team MVP, to go along with an All-District first-team and All-Metro third-team selection.
Ashley McGowan enters her Tech career as a catcher from Waxhaw, N.C., excelling throughout her high school tenure both on and off the diamond. At Marvin Ridge High School, McGowan captured both All-District and All-Conference honors as a sophomore in 2013 and was named the team captain in her junior campaign last season. Off the field, McGowan has been honored with the Academic Letter of Excellence in six different semesters, while also earning the AP Scholar Award for her high academic achievement.
The lone pitcher in the bunch is Leigh Thomas, a Louisville, Ky. native who has thrived throughout the course of her high school career at Mercy Academy. Thomas helped lead her high school to a fourth place finish in last year’s KHSAA State Tournament, with her play in the circle landing to a spot for Thomas on the State All-Tournament team, to go along with both All-District and All-Region tournament team nods as well.
The Golden Eagles are set to jump into their 2015 campaign in early February, coming off a solid 2014 season that saw Tech wrap up the year winning 13 of its final 16, including knocking out the No. 1 seed and host Jacksonville State in the OVC Tournament. TTU will bid farewell to five seniors in Hannah Eldridge, Angi Sakamoto, Taylor Ketchum, Erica Tuck, and Christian Gibbs once this upcoming season concludes, helping pave the way toward the class of 2016.
“We will always miss the departing senior class,” Bynum said. “They bring lots of experience and talent to this team, but our hope every year is to try and bring in people that can come in and make an immediate impact on the team, and I think that’s what this new class will represent.”
