Nebraska Softball Signs Three

Lincoln -- Nebraska softball head coach Rhonda Revelle announced the signing of three newcomers who will join the team next season. Jordan Keen, a pitcher/infielder from Sarasota, Fla., Elizabeth Rock, an outfielder from Sante Fe Springs, Calif. and Cassie Kleinsmith, an infielder/outfielder from from Omaha, Neb., have all signed letters of intent to compete for NU in 2005.

"We went coast-to-coast in signing our recruits this season," NU Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "In doing so, we signed three outstanding student-athletes.

"Jordan brings to us international playing experience in the circle, while Cassie and Lizzy offer us very good athletic ability."

Jordan Keen, P/IF, Bats-Right, Throws-Right, Sarasota, Fla.

Keen, who was born in Toronto, Canada and moved to Florida in 1995, was the youngest player on the Canadian Junior National Team in 2002-03. One of only seven players from the team to participate in all three tournaments, she helped lead Team Canada to silver medals at the 2002 Junior Pan-Am Games and the 2003 Canada Cup Futures tournament and a fifth-place finish at the Junior World Cup in China, posting a 2-0 record in the circle.

Keen also brings an impresive high school record to Nebraska. As a junior last season at Out of Door Academy, she lead her team to its first regular-season title, tossing six shutouts, six no-hitters, four one-hitters and a perfect game. Keen recorded 300 strikeouts in 122.2 innings, holding opponents to a .070 batting average.

"Jordan has an excellent arsenal of pitches and also has the ability to change speeds well," Revelle said. "Her international experience will give her a running start into the college game."

Cassie Kleinsmith, IF/OF, Bats-Right, Throws-Right, Omaha, Neb.

Kleinsmith is the lone Nebraska recruit in this year’s class. A four-time letterwinner at Omaha Marian, she hold three Nebraska state high school records.

Her .595 batting average in 2003 is a single-season state record and her 10 triples in 2003 are also a single-season state record. She also hit four doubles in one game as a junior to set the state record for most doubles in a game. For her career, Kleinsmith hit .478, which ranks fourth all-time in Nebraska high school history. The 14 doubles she collected in her junior season were just two short of the state record.

Voted the Omaha Metro Softball Player of the Year, Kleinsmith was also named to the All-Nebraska first-team by the Omaha World-Herald. She was named Marian’s Softball MVP in both her junior and senior seasons.

"Cassie is a great athlete," Revelle said. "She has all the tools of quickness, hand-eye coordination and strength to be an outstanding player in our program."

Elizabeth "Lizzy" Rock, OF, Bats-Left, Throws-Right, Sante Fe Springs, Calif./Mt. San Antonio Junior College (Walnut, Calif.)

Rock is the only junior college recruit in this year’s class and will bring instant speed to the Huskers. She was successful on 27 of 29 stolen base attempts in 2003 in her first year at Mt. San Antonio junior college and has a chance to break the school stolen base record in 2004, according to her coach. She helped lead Mt. San Antonio to the conference, regional and state championships in 2003, hitting .590 in the California state playoffs and swiping nine bases.

Defensively, Rock recorded a .996 fielding percentage last season. In her high school and junior college career she has been named to the first-team All-Area, All-CIF, All-South Coast Conference and All-State Tournament teams.

In the classroom, Rock is a member of the Dean’s List and is a NFCA Academic All-American and Honors student at Mt. San Antonio.

"Lizzy is a seasoned veteran with a lot of high level playing experience," Revelle said. "She is a spirited player who blends in beautifully with our brand of play."