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Southwest Softball Signs Eight for 2016 Season

For more information, contact:
Keith Gentry
901-333-4114
mgentry@southwest.tn.edu

Southwest Head Softball Coach Keith Gentry has announced the signing of eight student-athletes to national letters of intent for the 2016 season:

  • Megan Collins, a catcher/third baseman from Eastwood High School in El Paso, Texas, was named District 1-6A Player of the Year by the El Paso Men's Fastpitch Hall of Fame and also voted by the coaches as the District 1-6A Most Valuable Player. As a senior, Collins was selected to the El Paso Times All-City team and led Eastwood High with a .588 batting average, nine doubles, two triples, four home runs, 40 hits, 29 runs scored and 28 runs batted in. A three-time first team all-district catcher, she batted .360 as a junior with 12 runs batted in and a .439 on-base average.
  • Sarah Craig, an outfielder from Bartlett High School, was named first team All-District 14AAA and All-District 14AAA tournament as a senior, second team All-District 14AAA and The Commercial Appeal Best of the Preps All-Metro team as junior. Craig batted .320 as a senior with four doubles and 14 runs batted in and as a junior batted .353 with two home runs and 20 runs batted in.
  • Laura Hooker, a shortstop from Bartlett High School, was named All-District 14AAA four years including first team honors as a junior and senior. Hooker batted .391 as a senior with five doubles, one home run and 15 runs batted in and as a junior batted .315 with five doubles and one triple. Hooker was also selected All-District 14AAA tournament and was twice named to The Commercial Appeal Best of the Preps All-Metro Team.
  • Jodie King from Fayette-Ware High School in Somerville, Tennessee, is a utility player who can play nearly any position on the field. King played two seasons at Fayette-Ware and was named the Lady Wildcats' Most Valuable Player. In addition, she has played travel ball for several teams including the Sharks, Tennessee Thunder, Phoenix Fastpitch, Lady Tigers, and Blue Angels.
  • Maddie Lane, an outfielder/pitcher from Covington High School, was a three-time all-district tournament honoree and was named the District 15AA tournament Most Valuable Player as a senior. In addition, Lane was named All-District 15AA and to The Commercial Appeal Best of the Preps All-Metro team, and played in the Tennessee Softball Coaches Association and West Tennessee All-Star Games. An outstanding student with a 3.8 grade point average this year, she was named to the District 15AA All-Academic team and Academic All-State Team.
  • Shelby Palmer, a pitcher from Tharptown (AL) High School, played six years of varsity softball, leading her team to the area championship five times. She was twice named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class A All-State team and also to The Times Daily All-Area team. Palmer batted .379 as a senior with one home run and 29 runs batted in and as a junior won 25 games as a pitcher with a 1.57 earned run average and 148 strikeouts, and had a .412 batting average. Her sophomore year, Palmer also won more than 20 games and pitched back-to-back no-hitters including a perfect game. At the plate, she batted .461 with 23 doubles and five home runs.
  • Abby Ripp, a pitcher/outfielder from Bartlett High School, was named second team All-District 14AAA in both her junior and senior seasons. Ripp batted .262 as a senior with five doubles and 18 runs scored and as a junior batted .241 with three doubles and two triples. As a pitcher, Ripp appeared in 14 games her junior year and struck out 23 batters in 35-1/3 innings.
  • Autumn Sutter, a catcher/infielder from Tharptown (AL) High School, batted .392 as a senior with seven doubles, three triples, 20 runs batted in, .433 on-base average, .500 slugging average, and .978 fielding average. She led Tharptown to the area (2010-14) and county (2010-15) championships and was selected to the All-Area and All-County teams. During her career, Sutter received team awards for Best Defensive Player (2011, 2013), Best All-Around (2011), Hustle (2012) and MVP (2012).