COOKEVILLE Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech softball team has
been bolstered for the coming years with the recent signing of
three high school standouts hailing from Tennessee, California and
Virginia.
Veteran Golden Eagle coach Tory Acheson announced the signing of
Madison Taylor, an outfielder from Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Daniele
McHugh, a utility player from Alexandria, Va., and Olivia Bennett,
an infielder/outfielder from Redlands, Calif.
“Tech softball is very happy to introduce the newest members
of the program,” Acheson said. “Madison, Dani and
Olivia are great kids who will all make a very positive impact on
our team. With these additions I feel like we are taking another
step towards competing at the highest level, on the field, while
maintaining our emphasis on academic success.
“We are always looking for players who have a great work
ethic and are willing to push themselves to achieve at a high
level,” he said. “All three of these players have
the intangibles we are looking for and we are very excited to have
them join our team.”
Madison Taylor is the daughter of Kevin and
Melissa Taylor currently in her senior year at Mt. Juliet High
School. She will play this season for coach Brad Rowlett after
three seasons for the Lady Bears under coach Casey Pedigo. An
Honors student, Taylor was the team’s Defensive Player of the
Year in 2010 and the Offensive Player of the Year in 2011. She was
an All-District 9AAA selection and earned district all-tournament
honors while leading her team to the district, regional and
sectional championships last spring and a spot in the TSSAA state
tournament.
As a junior, she hit .478 with a .693 slugging percentage. She led
the team with five home runs and 54 RBI.
Taylor has also played with Fury Fastpitch, nationally recognized
as Tennessee’s premier select travel team, twice playing in
the ASA National Tournament.
“Madison comes to us from Mount Juliet High School and the
Fury travel ball organization,” Acheson said. “We have
several Fury players in our program and they have always done a
good job of preparing their players to play at the highest level.
“Maddie is a very talented left-handed hitter who has been a
mainstay in the outfield for her high school and travel ball
teams,” Acheson said. “She is a great student who will
help us maintain our high level of academic achievement. We
are very excited to add another very strong Tennessee player to our
program. She will compete for a starting spot next
year.”
Danielle McHugh is the daughter of Larry and
Angela McHugh, and ranked near the top of her class at Potomoc West
High School in Alexandria. She plans to major in journalism.
A versatile athlete, McHugh lettered in basketball and volleyball
in addition to an award-winning career for coach Craig Maniglia on
the softball team. A first-team all-district and first-team
All-Northern Region pick, she was also an honorable mention
all-state honoree while playing right field and batting .418.
McHugh played her travel ball with the Vienna Stars and Shamrocks,
and this past summer with NJ Intensity. She was also selected this
year for the Adidas Futures Softball Camp.
“Dani is a very strong student-athlete who will make her
mark on the field and in the classroom,” Acheson said.
“She has played for several very strong east coast travel
ball teams over the past few years and her experience with those
programs have her well prepared to compete for a spot next year.
“Dani came to our Holiday Mini-Camp last year and made a
great impression with her work ethic and love for the game.
She is a very strong student who will help our program
continue to achieve at a very high level in the classroom. We
are very excited to have her join our program,” Acheson
said.
Olivia Bennett is the daughter of Jennifer Bennett
and stepdaughter of Manny Gonzalez of Redlands, Calif., and plans
to study psychology. She earned four letters for coaches Jim
Cruz and Debbie Garcia and is an Honors student at Redlands East
Valley High School.
Bennett plays third base and outfield for the Wildcats, earning
second-team All-Citrus Belt league honors as a freshman and junior.
Last spring she batted .347 with a slugging percentage of .476. She
was a fixture for the Arsenal travel team for the past two
years.
“Olivia is a very talented player who comes to Tech from a
very successful travel ball program in California,” Acheson
said. “Arsenal does a great job of preparing their players
for the rigors of Division I softball with a comprehensive training
system.
“We are very excited to have “O” join the Tech
softball family and we see a very bright future for her. She
is a very talented hitter and a great athlete who can play several
positions. We expect her to compete for a spot right
away,” he added.
July 3, 2012
Holly Thomas headlines softball team awards
May 11, 2012
Golden Eagles fall to top seed in OVC Tournament
May 9, 2012
Holly Thomas named first team All-OVC
April 29, 2012
Schweitzer, Hooper named NSCA Strength All-Americans
April 28, 2012
Golden Eagles drop a pair to Bulldogs Saturday
April 24, 2012
Offense lights up the night as softball beats Bucs twice
April 23, 2012
Golden Eagles to host two midweek twinbills
April 22, 2012
Softball sweeps SIUE on Senior Day Sunday
April 20, 2012
Golden Eagles to host senior day, final home weekend series
April 17, 2012
Rain cuts softball short at Cumberland Tuesday
April 16, 2012
Golden Eagles to make short trip to face Cumberland Tuesday
April 15, 2012
Led by pitching, Panthers take two in softball Sunday
April 12, 2012
Thomas, offense conquer Colonels twice in Thursday twinbill
April 10, 2012
Golden Eagles unable to contain Chattanooga offense
April 6, 2012
Golden Eagles unable to overcome Racer defense on Friday
April 5, 2012
Tech looks to tame Racers, move up in OVC standings
April 4, 2012
Softball doubleheader cancelled due to lightning
March 25, 2012
Holly Thomas deals near-perfect game as Tech splits at TSU
March 24, 2012
Golden Eagles win rain-interrupted game in Nashville
March 22, 2012
Thursday game against Belmont rained out
March 21, 2012
Proficient pitching aids Gamecocks past Golden Eagles
March 20, 2012
Softball to face six-game stretch in five days
March 18, 2012
Skyhawks Steal Two Sunday in Cookeville
March 13, 2012
Golden Eagles edged at WKU in 1-0 pitcher's duel
March 11, 2012
Holly Thomas pitches Tech to marathon victory at APSU
March 10, 2012
Golden Eagles start off OVC on right foot
March 8, 2012
Thursday doubleheader with Belmont rained out
March 6, 2012
Mastadons pick up a pair of wins in Tech's home opener
March 5, 2012
Golden Eagles open home play with pair of doubleheaders
March 2, 2012
Georgia State narrowly escapes Tennessee Tech
February 29, 2012
Golden Eagles look to make noise at Buzz Classic
February 26, 2012
Tech tops Cardinals with two-out walkoff
February 25, 2012
Troy, Belmont squeak by Golden Eagles in Chattanooga
February 24, 2012
Golden Eagles split first day of Frost Classic
February 22, 2012
Golden Eagles head to Scenic City for Frost Classic
February 19, 2012
Offensive fireworks lead Tech to 9-7 win over Connecticut
February 18, 2012
Golden Eagles edge Winthrop in nine innings; UConn game suspended
February 15, 2012
Former Tech softball star Dallmann selected as Teacher of the Year
February 15, 2012
Golden Eagles look to improve record at Georgia Softball Classic
February 12, 2012
Thomas pitches Golden Eagles to season's first win
February 11, 2012
Softball team opens season this weekend at Florida State tourney
February 11, 2012
Ain't no sunshine: Softball team handed two losses by Florida State
February 10, 2012
Rebels, 'Jacks top Tech in first day of Seminole Classic
February 9, 2012
Leadership a key to Golden Eagles' return to prominence in '12
September 29, 2011
THE BEST: Softball team tops Division I in academics...again
September 23, 2011
Golden Eagles lend helping hand to Habitat for Humanity
September 16, 2011
A day in the life of: Golden Eagle pitcher Holly Thomas
September 15, 2011
Softball team hosts Chattanooga State in pair Saturday afternoon