FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2009

Softball signs four high school players for 2011

Joplin, Mo. - Missouri Southern softball coach Bill Gray has announced the signing of four high school players to national letters of intent to attend Southern and play softball beginning in the 2011 season.

Brooklyn Farrell (Webb City HS), Shelby Romines (Ozark HS), Chasity Henson (Carthage HS), and Madison Reed (Muskogee HS) all announced their intentions to come to Missouri Southern and play softball for the Lions.

"This group of young women will have an impact on the way we play the game at Missouri Southern," Gray said. "Brooklyn and Madison will add a great deal of speed to our offensive line up and improve our defense on the dirt and in the grass. Chasity and Shelby will give us solid depth on the mound. They both are competitors and want the ball in the big game."

Farrell, a 5-0 second baseman, played four years, starting three, for coach Walter Resa at Webb City High School. In 2008, Farrell was an All-Conference, All-District, All-Ozarks and All-Area selection, while being named first-team All-Region and second-team All-State. She hit .421 with 45 hits, 35 runs scored, 5 triples and led the team in triples, stolen bases and runs. As a senior this past season, she was an All-Conference and All-District selection. She hit .366 and led the Lady Cardinals in hits, average, doubles, stolen bases and tied for the team lead in triples, while striking out just six times all season.

While at Webb City, the Cardinals were undefeated in conference play in 2006, won the state championship in 2007, finished third in the state in 2008 and were district champs this past year. The daughter of Monty and Tammy Farrell, Brooklyn plans on majoring in education at Southern.

"Webb City has had a very solid program for years with great athletes," Gray said.  "By signing a player of Brooklyn's caliber it is definitely a good step for our program. Her speed matched with her versatility at the plate makes her a great weapon."

Romines is a 5-6 pitcher/third basemen that played for coach Yancy Little at Ozark High School in Ozark, Mo. Romines started all four years for the Tigers where she was an All-State selection in 2008. She was also a four-time All-Conference and All-District pick. She holds the Ozark HS records for most games won (58) and most games played (123), while ranking second in most career assists (309), most strikeouts pitching (430), career RBI's (93) and lowest ERA in a season (1.30).

Romines helped the Tigers to back-to-back berths in the state quarterfinals in 2006-07, while helping the team to a fourth-place finish in 2008. The team was district champs in three of her four seasons. The daughter of Brian and Elizabeth Romines, Shelby plans on majoring in psychology at Southern.

"Shelby will help us both on the mound and with her bat," Gray said. "She has power to go yard every time she steps to the plate, but understands the game and will move the runners up when the game calls for it. On the mound she competes and works a variety of pitches."

Henson is a 5-8 pitcher that played for former Lion Shally Lundien at Carthage High School. A three-year player, Henson was a first-team All-Conference and All-District selection this season after posting a 0.50 ERA and 169 strikeouts in her senior season. She was also a member of the 2008 Academic All-State team and was her team's MVP this past season.

The daughter of Brent and Twyla Henson, Chasity plans on majoring in the sciences at Southern.

"Chasity is a young women who competes every time she takes the mound," Gray Said. "She was hidden for three years at Carthage and in her senior season, with good coaching she made huge strides. She fights from her first pitch and makes the offense work for everything they get."

Reed is a 5-4 outfielder/catcher that played for coach Keith Coleman at Muskogee High School in Muskogee, Okla. A four-year starter in both fast and slow pitch at MHS, Reed was a four-time All-Conference and All-Area selection, while being named All-State this past year after hitting .413 with 34 runs scored, 45 hits, seven doubles, 1 triple and 34 stolen bases. She helped lead her team to it's first regional championship and state appearance in 2008.

In slow pitch, Reed and her teammates won the Oklahoma 6A state championship in 2009 where she hit .566, with 58 runs, 52 RBIs, 69 hits, 14 doubles, 10 triples and two home runs. She was a three-time All-Conference, All-Area and Academic All-Conference selection, while being named the conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 as a junior. The daughter of Tim and Cheryl Reed, Madison plans on majoring in Biology at Southern.

"Madison Reed is just plain fast," Gray said. "She puts so much pressure on the defense it makes things work for your offense. She will vie for playing time in the outfield and could end up behind the plate with her arm strength. In her senior season, she had to be moved because of injuries on her team and she was named All-State in Oklahoma in its largest class."

"All of this young women compete. As we were recruiting them we explained that was their most attractive feature. They are good players, but when the game gets tight they want the ball or to be at bat and that is the type of athlete we are looking for at Missouri Southern."