Huskers Sign Five in Early Period

Five players from five states have signed National Letters of Intent to play softball for Nebraska beginning with the 2009-10 season, Head Coach Rhonda Revelle announced on Thursday, Nov. 20.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The class includes players from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon and Texas. Revelle scoured the nation for talented players that would be a great fit for the Husker program, which leads the nation in CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and ranks in the top 10 nationally in all-time NCAA Tournament victories and Women’s College World Series appearances.

 

Along the way, Revelle was able to garner commitments from both new and familiar territory. Revelle picked up one instate signee after inking four last November, while signing a native of the greater Kansas City metro area for the third time in four years. She also signed high school prospects from Missouri, Oregon and Texas for the first time in her Husker career, which enters its 17th season in 2009.

 

While being able to recruit local and regional talent, in addition to branching out into new areas is a highlight of this year’s signing class, Revelle was more concerned with finding the right individual fits for her program.

 

“We are very pleased about our 2009 signing class,” Revelle said. “They are talented, intelligent and versatile. In addition, they are all high-character individuals and will be great additions to our Nebraska softball program.”

 

The five-player class will have an immediate opportunity to compete for playing time as freshmen. Nebraska is poised to lose seven seniors following the 2009 season, the largest senior class in Revelle’s tenure.

 

2008 Nebraska Softball Signing Class

 Player 

 Pos.  

   Hometown (High School/Travel Ball Team) Gabby Banda

INF

   Angleton, Texas (Angleton/Texas Sudden Impact Gold) Kylee Muir

INF

   Portland, Ore. (Lincoln/Northwest Bullets Gold) Keela Scott

INF

   Liberty, Mo. (Liberty/KC Zephyrs Gold) Megan Southworth

C

   Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-LaVista/Omaha Select) Brooke Thomason  

OF

   Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley Northwest/KC Peppers)

 

 

2008 Nebraska Softball Signing Class Bios

Gabby Banda, INF (Angleton HS/Texas Sudden Impact Gold)

Gabby Banda is the first Texas player to sign with Nebraska out of high school in Coach Revelle’s 17 seasons and the first overall since Shae Sloan, who played for the Huskers from 1990 to 1993. Banda played her high school ball for Angleton High School, where she not only excelled on the softball diamond, but on the basketball court as well.

 

Banda, who will complete her prep career this spring, was a 2007 All-Brazoria County first-team selection. Joining Banda on the first team was MVP Rhiannon Kliessing, who was a freshman starter for the Big 12 Champion and national runner-up Texas A&M Aggies last season. Banda also earned first-team all-county honors in 2006 and she is a two-time all-district first-team selection. Banda was named the Brazoria County newcomer of the year in both softball and basketball for the 2005-06 season.

 

On the basketball court, Banda is a two-time all-county selection and two-time all-district pick. In the summer, Banda plays softball for the Texas Sudden Impact Gold. She helped Sudden Impact to a third-place finish at the Under-12 nationals in 2004 and a 25th-place finish at the ASA Gold National Championship in 2008.

 

Coach Revelle on Gabby:

“Gabby adds quickness and a blend of power and finesse to our lineup. She is a player that can virtually play anywhere and play it well. Gabby will make stellar defensive plays and be very crafty on the basepaths as well.”

 Kylee Muir, INF (Lincoln HS/Northwest Bullets Gold)

Kyle Muir is the first Oregon native to sign with the Huskers since the late 1980s. One of the top power-hitting prospects in the country, Muir hit 12 home runs in the summer of 2007 while playing for the Northwest Bullets, an elite travel ball team coached by her father, Dennis. Muir plays her prep ball for Lincoln High School in Portland, Ore.

 

Entering her senior season in 2009, Muir has already earned numerous accolades. She is a three-time all-state selection, earning Class 4A honorable mention honors as a freshman, before garnering second-team honors in 2007 and third-team honors last season in Class 6A, Oregon’s largest classification. Muir is also a three-time, first-team all-Portland Interscholastic League selection, earning co-Most Valuable Player honors in 2007. As a junior, Muir led Oregon’s largest class with a slugging percentage of 1.222 and an on-base percentage of .711. She also ranked second in the state in walks (18) and third with a .519 batting average. Muir has helped lead Lincoln to three consecutive appearances in the state playoffs.

 

In the summer, Muir has put up impressive numbers while helping lead the Bullets to a 17th-place finish at the 2008 ASA Gold National Championship. Previously, Muir was a part of state and regional championship teams in 2003 (12-and-under), 2004 (14-and-under) and 2005 (16-and-under).

 

Coach Revelle on Kylee:

“Kylee Muir can swing the bat. She is a big time offensive threat and presence every time she steps in the box.  Kylee is a student of hitting and look for her bat to loom large in our lineup.”

 

 

Keela Scott, INF (Liberty HS/KC Zephyrs Gold)

Keela Scott is believed to be the first Missouri native to ever sign with the Husker program (Nebraska has never had a letterwinner from the Show Me state). Scott was a standout on the field and in the classroom for Liberty High School. She was a four-year letterwinner on the diamond, although an injury forced her to miss her senior season in the fall of 2008. Despite the injury, Scott started as a freshman, sophomore and junior. She was a first-team all-district and second-team all-conference selection in both 2006 and 2007.

 

In the classroom, Scott ranks first in her class of 672 students. She is a member of the National Honor Society and was awarded the Presidential Education Award. In the summer, Scott plays for the Kansas City Zephyrs Gold, the same team as Husker sophomore Ashley Guile, who played for the Zephyrs until 2007 and served as a volunteer coach for the team this past summer.

 

Coach Revelle on Keela:

“Keela exudes poise and confidence. She is a natural leader with great athletic ability. Keela will be an exciting player for the softball fans of Nebraska to cheer on from the stands.”

 

 

Megan Southworth, C (Papillion LaVista HS/Omaha Select)

The lone in-state product among this year’s signing class, Megan Southworth recently completed her senior season for Papillion LaVista High School. Southworth was a four-year starter for the powerhouse program, earning co-captain honors as a junior and senior. She helped lead the Monarchs to a runner-up finish at the 2008 state tournament, marking the fourth championship game appearance of her career. Papillion LaVista won back-to-back state titles in 2006 and 2007, and earned a runner-up finish in Southworth’s freshman season of 2005.

 

Playing in the state’s largest class, Southworth was a consensus Class A first-team all-state selection in both 2007 and 2008. She also earned first-team All-Nebraska and first-team Super State honors both seasons from the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star, respectively. As a senior, Southworth batted .422 with 11 doubles, two home runs and 29 RBIs.

 

Also a standout defensively behind the plate, Southworth hit .464 with 10 doubles, three homers and 27 RBIs as a junior in 2007. On the heels of her terrific junior campaign, Southworth was tabbed as the top Nebraska Class A player by MaxPreps.com entering the 2008 season.

 

As a sophomore in 2006, she was a first-team all-state selection and earned second-team All-Nebraska honors. Following her freshman season, Southworth earned honorable mention honors for the Journal Star’s Super State squad.

 

Southworth also excels in the classroom, where she served as the junior class Vice President after being the class treasurer as a sophomore. She is also a member of the National Honor Society. Southworth plays her summer ball for the Omaha Select, which is coached by former Husker Kathy Foley, who played at NU from 1977 to 1980.

 

Coach Revelle on Megan:

“Megan is a strong and versatile athlete who has made winning a habit. She has dogged-determination, work ethic and motivation to be an impact player for the Huskers. We are looking forward to her putting on the red jersey."

 

 

Brooke Thomason, OF (Blue Valley Northwest HS/KC Peppers)

Brooke Thomason is the fourth Kansas native to sign with Nebraska since 2006. Entering her senior season in 2009, Thomason has already put together a solid prep career for Blue Valley Northwest.

 

As a junior in 2008, Thomason batted .470 to earn first-team all-metro, All-East Kansas League and All-Star Johnson County Sun honors. She added nine doubles, three triples, 22 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, a .742 slugging percentage and a .527 on-base percentage for the Huskies in her stellar junior season.

 

As a sophomore in 2007, Thomason finished with a .527 average and 24 RBIs. As a junior, Thomason was also honored with first-team selections to the All-EKL, All-Star Johnson County Sun and all-metro squads. A three-time letterwinner, Thomason was Northwest’s MVP as a junior and she has been the team’s offensive player of the year in each of her first three seasons.

 

Thomason plays her summer ball for the KC Peppers, the same team as Husker junior Alex Hupp. The Peppers finished ninth at the 2008 ASA Gold National Championship tournament in Oklahoma City. Previously, Thomason played for the KC Zephyrs Gold from 2005 to 2007, the same team as Husker sophomore Ashley Guile, who played for the Zephyrs until 2007 and served as a volunteer coach for the team this past summer.

 

Coach Revelle on Brooke:

“Brooke is a powerfully explosive athlete who can beat a team with her short or long game. She is a true triple threat offensively and can run down a ball in the outfield with the best of them.”