Huskers Sign Talented Duo

The Nebraska softball team will add a pair of talented freshmen to its roster next season. Head Coach Rhonda Revelle announced on Wednesday, Nov. 13 that Bri Cassidy and Alyvia Simmons signed National Letters of Intent to join the Huskers for the 2015-16 season.

Cassidy is a catcher from San Bernadino, Calif., while Simmons is an outfielder from Overland Park, Kan.

“This year’s class may be small in number, but both players bring big strengths to our program,” Revelle said. “Both are already fully Huskers, and we look for them to step on campus and hit the ground running. They are not only gifted on the softball field, but in the classroom as well, and Husker Nation will love them.”

Bri Cassidy, C, San Bernadino, Calif. (Cajon HS/Corona Angels)

A returning high school All-American, Bri Cassidy will enter her senior season at Cajon High School in 2015 as one of the nation’s top catchers. As a junior in 2014, Cassidy was one of two catchers named to the 2014 NFCA High School All-America first team. At Nebraska, Cassidy will look to become the latest in a long line of successful catchers. The Huskers have produced an all-conference catcher in five of the past six seasons, including two-time All-American Taylor Edwards, the 2014 NFCA Division I Catcher of the Year.

Entering her senior season at Cajon in 2015, Cassidy has put up impressive statistics. She owns a .431 career batting average (85-for-197) with 23 doubles, five triples, 10 homers and 69 RBIs. Cassidy also boasts a .751 slugging percentage and a .536 on-base percentage. Defensively, Cassidy has allowed only five stolen bases in 21 attempts through her first three seasons.

As a junior in 2014, Cassidy hit .556 (35-for-63) with eight doubles, three triples and six homers. She slugged six of Cajon’s nine home runs as a team, helping her produce 25 RBIs. In addition to leading the Cowboys in home runs, Cassidy led her team in triples, runs scored (25), walks (15), on-base percentage (.646) and slugging percentage (1.063). She hit safely in 18 of Cajon’s 23 games, producing nine multi-hit efforts, including a trio of 4-for-4 performances. Cassidy was outstanding in back-to-back games against Redlands East Valley, going 8-for-8 with a double, two homers and four RBIs. Her next two games came against Eisenhower, and Cassidy was 4-for-8 with a pair of homers and three RBIs. During her 12-for-16 stretch, Cassidy recorded back-to-back multi-homer games. In addition to her nine multi-hit games, Cassidy totaled four games where she drew multiple walks, helping her reach base safely in every plate appearance six times on the season. Cassidy also stole 12 bases in 13 attempts as a junior, while committing only one error defensively and throwing out all eight base runners who attempted to steal against her.

Cassidy also excelled as a sophomore in 2013, batting .407 (24-for-59) with six doubles, one triple and three home runs. She posted a .532 on-base percentage with a .750 slugging percentage while adding 18 RBIs, 13 walks and 10 runs scored. Cassidy produced eight multi-hit efforts on the season to go along with five games with multiple RBIs. She enjoyed an outstanding performance against Redlands, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs. Defensively, Cassidy committed two errors on the season to post a .986 fielding percentage. She also threw out six of eight would-be base stealers.

Cassidy also contributed as a freshman in 2012, when Cajon finished with a 22-5-1 record. She produced a .347 batting average (26-for-75) as a freshman with nine doubles, one triple and one home run. Cassidy added 26 RBIs, while posting a .419 on-base percentage and a .533 slugging percentage. She produced seven RBIs in her first two career games and had 10 RBIs after only four games. Cassidy totaled six multi-hit games and seven contests with multiple RBIs, including a 4-for-4 performance with three doubles and four RBIs against Golden Valley. Defensively, Cassidy threw out a pair of base stealers, while allowing only three stolen bases.

A native of San Bernadino, Calif., Cassidy plays her club ball for the Corona Angels, coached by Marty Tyson, the father of Husker junior Dawna Tyson. Previously, Cassidy played for the Firecrackers.

Coach Revelle on Bri:
“We have yet to meet a player that puts more heart into every aspect of her game than Bri. This young lady was born to be a catcher, she lives to be a catcher and she loves to be a catcher. She works hard to do a great job for each pitcher, and she also takes a lot of pride in shutting down the opponent’s running game. Bri is the real deal, and we are proud she is going to wear the scarlet and cream."

Alyvia Simmons, OF, Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley Northwest HS/Nebraska Gold)

A talented athlete, Alyvia Simmons will be a senior at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kan., this spring. Despite her senior status, Simmons will be playing just her second season of high school softball in 2015.

Simmons missed her freshman season because her family moved to Nebraska in January after the Nebraska high school softball season was complete. Simmons then starred at Millard West High School as a sophomore before her family moved back to Kansas. Last spring, Simmons chose to play with her club team, Nebraska Gold, instead of playing for Blue Valley Northwest. Due to Nebraska playing its high school season in the fall, the Gold played an extensive spring schedule and Simmons chose to play with the Gold, which included current Husker freshmen Kaylan Jablonski, Gina Metzler and Madison Unzicker.

In her lone prep season as a sophomore at Millard West, Simmons earned first-team Super State accolades from the Lincoln Journal Star after hitting .471 with 13 doubles, four homers and 25 RBIs. She was not only outstanding at the plate but also in the field, as she did not commit an error. Simmons was one of only three underclassmen to earn a spot on the Super State first team, and she was joined on the team by Metzler, Unzicker and Husker sophomore Kat Woolman. Simmons was also named a first-team Class A all-state selection.

Before she begins her senior softball season, Simmons will travel to Irvine, Calif., in January, when she will participate in tryouts for the USA Junior National Team.

Simmons has also been a productive player on the club level with the Nebraska Gold. With the Gold, she hit 14 home runs in a single summer season, while slugging .720. Simmons helped Nebraska Gold qualify for the 2013 Premier Girls Fastpitch national championship, where the team finished in the top 20. Previously, she had helped Nebraska Gold qualify for ASA Gold Nationals.

Coach Revelle on Alyvia:
“Alyvia is a power-hitting lefty who has competed and excelled at a high caliber softball for several years. She has Husker roots deeply embedded in her DNA as her father, Matt, was a member of the Nebraska football team. We anticipate that Alyvia will have a large impact on our program. Don’t be surprised if this young lady ends her career with some offensive records under her name.”