Trojan Softball Adds Six in Early Signing Period

TROY, Ala. – Troy University head softball coach Melanie Davis announced the signing of six players for the 2012 season in the early signing period this week. This list includes five freshman and one junior college transfer.

“I am extremely excited about the caliber of this entire recruiting class in terms of both their athletic and academic abilities, as well as their character and work ethic,” Davis said. “Each signee brings their own unique potential for important contribution, both on and off the field.

“As the group comes to us from far and wide, I am proud that the common theme that was key to each commitment is the family atmosphere radiating from within the softball program, as well as the entire university.”

Jaycee Affeldt is a pitcher from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. She helped her team win thebronze medal at the Canadian National Championships in 2007, a championship tournament in which she was awarded Top Player honors. The next year, she led her team to the silver medal at the 2008 Canada Cup and the bronze medal once again at the Canadian National Championships. In 2009, Affeldt led her team to the gold medal at the British Columbia Provincial Championships and the silver medal at the Canadian National Championships, earning Top Player and Top Pitcher honors at the latter. This past season, she represented Canada at the ISF World Cup and helped lead the team to a sixth-place finish. Just this past season, Affeldt led her team to the bronze medal at the Canadian National Championships and a gold medal at the British Columbia High School Championships. She was recently chosen for the 2010 Canadian Junior National Team Athlete Pool. Academically, Affeldt has maintained a spot on the “A” Honor Roll throughout her career and is a Garibaldi Order of Distinction recipient. Affeldt is the daughter of Barney and Kitty Affeldt, and plans to major in journalism at Troy University.

“I chose Troy because it is a beautiful campus, has excellent academics and athletics, and is in a very competitive conference,” Affeldt said. “The softball program is outstanding and has a knowledgeable and encouraging coaching staff. I love the family aspect of the softball team and the small town atmosphere; it is a great fit for me.”

Among the signees for the Trojans is Chelsea Eytel who an outfielder in the Oregon Thunder ASA

program and will be a four year varsity letter winner for Rhonda McKenzie at Westview High School in Beaverton, Oregon. She was seen at the Complete Player Softball Camp in Portland, Oregon.

Eytel is a Special Education Peer Tutor and Special Olympics Volunteer.

After visiting campus Chelsea fell in love with the communication's department and the excellent opportunity Trojan Vision provides for its workers.

“Troy was a perfect fit for me,” Eytel said. “It had a great broadcast journalism program, and everybody at Troy was so welcoming. I just loved it there!”

The Trojans also ventured to north Alabama to grab a signee out of Tuscaloosa County to go along with the signees they had gotten from all over the country this early signing period. The signee from Tuscaloosa Country is the only in-state player the Trojans signed in the early period this year for the 2012 season at Troy University.

Ashley Rainey chose Troy University out of Tuscaloosa County High School. The first baseman/pitcher from Northport is a four-year letter winner for Tuscaloosa County and was named the Area 9 Tournament Most Valuable Player last season as a junior. She also earned the Ace of the Staff Award and Golden Glove Award, before being selected as an AHSAA North All-Star. Rainey has started each year in her prep career and had the highest batting average on the team as a freshman. The newly-signed Trojan has earned multiple All-Tournament honors including the Patriot Classic.

During her first three years of varsity softball, Rainey has earned the Tuscaloosa County High School Most Valuable Player Award two times.

During her down time, Rainey plays for the Birmingham Vipers Booth 16U and Mobile Extreme Gen X 16U.

After venturing into the state of Alabama to get an early signee, the Trojans also ventured into the junior college ranks to sign their only junior college player in the early signing period from a nearby institution.

Hannah Renn is the lone junior college signee in the early period for the Trojans, as she will enter her

sophomore season at Gulf Coast Community College. As a freshman last season, Renn played in 55 games and hit .335 as a true freshman; while slugging .737.

She led the Panhandle Conference with 20 homeruns and total bases, while being named Second Team All-Conference. She was also named Academic All-Conference as a freshman.

A native of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. and Choctawatchee High School, where she was a four-year varsity letter winner. Renn plans to major in nursing at Troy University.

"I was really impressed with the softball program, people and facility," she said. " It is going to be a really good fit for me and I am looking forward to it alot."

With their first four signees from the Pacific Northwest, Canada, Alabama and a Florida junior college, the Trojans ventured to the central portion of the United States to sign an infielder for the 2012 season; who will enter the season as a true freshman for the Trojans and head coach Melanie Davis.

Madison Rich is a second baseman from Kearney, Missouri and plays for Mike Schaberg's Missouri Originals and at Kearney High School for Paul Lorbert. She is the career leader at Kearney in hits (125), runs scored (102), stolen bases (41), fewest strikeouts (2), walks (50), and triples (6). A four year letter winner and conference champ at Kearney, they've also been district and sectional champs in '08 and '09, and placed third at state in '09. Individually Madison has been all conference and all district infielder all four years and earned All Region ('08-'09), All Northland ('07-'09), All Metro 1st Team and All State Class 4 in 2009. In 2009 with the Lookouts Gold program Rich was named an All American selection at the Colorado Sparkler tournament and finished fourth at the 16U Hall of Fame tournament. Her Originals team finished third at the Orlando Sparks Invitational, first at the 16U Metro tournament, first at the 16U Fireworks tournament and qualified for 16U Nationals after finishing first at their regional qualifier. She has made the A Honor Roll and earned an academic letter each year of high school so far. Her sisters all played college softball as well.

“I chose to go to Troy University because I believe it is a great opportunity to be a part of a softball program that is very well coached and very successful,” Rich said. “Being a part of a highly competitive D1 program, and competing in the Sunbelt Conference is something I have always wanted to do. Earning a college degree from Troy University will be a great accomplishment and will lead me in the right direction after college. Troy definitely is the perfect fit for me. I look forward to becoming a part of the Troy softball family.”

Kelsey Robinson currently pitches for the Washington Ladyhawks Hawkins Gold ASA team after

previously playing for the Washington Sidewinders. With the Sidewinders, she led her team to a ninth-place finish at the prestigious Champions Cup tournament in California and the Colorado Fireworks Gold tournament in Colorado where she pitched almost every inning at both tournaments. A three year letter winner at Puyallup High School in Tacoma, Washington, she's earned first team ALL SPSL honors all three years. Her freshman year she lead her team to the state tournament for the first time in 10 years, tied the school record for most strikeouts in a season and broke the school record for most league wins in a season. Her sophomore year she broke her own strikeout record and made the All Area team. Last season Puyallup placed second in districts and made an appearance at the state tournament. She was the Tacoma News Tribune Softball Player of the Year and All Area as well as named the Pitcher of the Year by the Seattle Times. She also hit .459 as a junior, bettering her mark of .442 as a sophomore. Robinson was also seen at the Complete Player camp in Oregon. She managed and organized three separate food drives with the help of the local softball community providing food to local food banks. The food drives worked under the umbrella of “Softball Cares of Portland” foundation, founded by Sargent-the former Trojan assistant. A spectacular student, she participates in all honors and A.P. classes and writes for the nationally recognized “Viking Vanguard” school newspaper.

“I loved everything about both the school and softball program,” Robinson said. “I've always wanted to play competitive softball and going to Troy has made this possible for me.”

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Trojan Softball Adds Six in Early Signing Period

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