NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State head softball coach Melinda Fischer announced the signing of seven players to National Letters of Intent (NLI) to continue their athletic and academic careers at Illinois State. Fischer, who will enter her 29th season at the helm of the Redbird softball program, inked two infielders, two outfielders, one pitcher, one catcher and one utility player who will join the ISU softball program in the fall of 2014.
"This is the kind of class that is going to make the whole team better because they are going to come in and push everyone at all positions," Fischer said. "They expect to win and they will work hard to do so. You have some similar personalities within this group, but for the most part it is one of the most eclectic classes we have recruited. A wealth of talent, a wealth of potential, and a wealth of commitment will help continue the Redbird Way."
The 2014-15 Illinois State recruiting class includes: Payton Billups (Streator, Ill./Lincoln Land CC), Alex Caliva (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North), Caitlyn Daly (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South HS), Sarah Finck (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria Community HS), Lauren Prader (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault Catholic HS), Riley Strandgard (Sherrard, Ill./Sherrard HS) and Abby Turczyn (LaSalle, Ill./LaSalle-Peru Township HS).
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| Name | | | | | Hometown (Last School) |
Payton Billups | | | | | Streator, Ill. (Lincoln Land CC) |
Alex Caliva | | | | | Carol Stream, Ill. (Glenbard North HS) |
Caitlyn Daly | | | | | Downers Grove, Ill. (Downers Grove South HS) |
Sarah Finck | | | | | East Peoria, Ill. (East Peoria HS) |
Lauren Prader | | | | | Waterloo, Ill. (Gibault Catholic HS) |
Riley Strandgard | | | | | Sherrard, Ill. (Sherrard HS) |
Abby Turczyn | | | | | LaSalle, Ill. (LaSalle-Peru Township HS) |
| *2014-15 Classification |
Payton Billups | OF | Streator, Ill. | Lincoln Land CC
Notable: Has played one year at Lincoln Land CC and will play there one more year before enrolling at ISU...All-MWAC First Team selection her first season with the Lady Loggers...hit .342 with six home runs and a team-best 36 RBI...also stole 15 bases...helped lead Lincoln Land to an 11th place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament...four-year letterwinner at Streator HS for head coach Kelly Coons...three-time all-conference selection...also played basketball and volleyball...academic all-conference selection from 2010-12...plans to major in math.
Fischer on Payton Billups...
"Payton's experience at Lincoln Land and with the Lady Hearts ASA team has prepared her to be able to contribute immediately in our program. She is a powerful naturally left handed hitter who is fearless at the plate. She's a tough kid who plays with a lot of heart. Her speed and game knowledge will fortify our outfield."
Alex Caliva | IF | Carol Stream, Ill. | Glenbard North HS
Notable: Three-year letter winner for head coach Joshua Sanew at Glenbard North High School...three time academic all-conference selection and two-time all-conference choice...hit .331 as a junior, helping lead the Panthers to a 27-5 record and regional title...named all-area as a sophomore after hitting .365, as the Panthers went 34-3 and won regional and conference championships...hit .325 and posted a .996 fielding percentage as a freshman...member of Bulls/Sox Academy ASA/PGF summer team coached by Kathy Young...hit above .300 for the last three seasons...helped lead the squad to a top-10 finish at nationals...plans to major in business.
Fischer on Alex Caliva...
"Alex has a lot of versatility on defense and swings a steady and consistent bat. She is a very positive, energetic, and encouraging player who will provide that spark to make her teammates better. She has competed at the highest ASA and PGF levels, which have prepared her very well for Division I softball."
Caitlyn Daly | OF/1B | Downers Grove, Ill. | Downers Grove South HS
Notable: Two-year starter for head coach Ron Havelka at Downers Grove South High School...two-time all-conference selection...earned all-area accolades as a junior in 2013 after hitting .478 with seven home runs, 30 RBI and 38 runs scored...led Mustangs to an appearance in the super sectionals...played every game as the cleanup hitter for the Mustangs as a sophomore in 2012...also played for Dirt Devils Elite 18U ASA/PGF summer team coached by Michael Jerman...hit .543 in the 2013 season...finished second at the PGF Midwest nationals in 2013...plans to major in special education.
Fischer on Caitlyn Daly...
"Caitlyn has a great work ethic and a tremendous upside. She loves to compete and will be a fun player to watch develop. The combination of size and speed enables her to cover a lot of territory in the outfield and provides her power at the plate. Her defensive versatility will also help with depth at first base."
Sarah Finck | P/UT | East Peoria, Ill. | East Peoria HS
Notable: Three-year starter at East Peoria Community High School, first for head coach Debi Neff and now for Denee Menzione...two-time all-state, three-time all-area and three-time all-conference selection...named first team all-state as a junior in 2013 after posting a 0.72 ERA...captained the Raiders to a 33-2 mark and regional title...earned second team all-state honors as a sophomore in 2012, helping EPCHS to a 32-2 record and conference title...posted a 0.92 ERA as a freshman in 2011...named Peoria Journal Star Player of the Year...led Raiders to regional title...played for Midland Magic ASA summer team coached by Ed Heineman...posted a 1.06 ERA with the squad, averaging one strikeout per inning, en route to a 16UA state championship...also a four-year volleyball player.
Fischer on Sarah Finck...
"Sarah is the type of pitcher everyone likes to play behind. She is a leader, she is a fierce competitor, and she will do whatever she needs to do to win. She has great command of her pitches and will continue to develop as she gains more strength. Her athleticism gives her the possibility of playing first and also contributing in the offensive lineup."
Lauren Prader | C/UT | Waterloo, Ill. | Gibault Catholic HS
Notable: Three-year starter for head coach Dave Gregson at Gibault Catholic High School...three-time all-area selection...hit .460 with a team-best seven home runs and 40 RBI as a junior in 2013...second team all-state selection...struck out only four times in 114 plate appearances...posted a .378 batting average and .420 on-base percentage as a sophomore in 2012...named Gibault's MVP...hit .333 with a .419 on-base percentage as a freshman in 2011...two-time Junior Olympic ASA Metro All Star Game participant...member of Midland Magic ASA summer team coached by Dale Shelton...three-year letterwinner in basketball as well...plans to major in biology or exercise science...NHS member...currently ranked second in her class.
Fischer on Lauren Prader...
"Lauren will work as hard as she possibly can to be the best player she can be. She is a strong leader, and in the catching role, that is extremely important. She has a great deal of catching experience entering the program and she could also solidify depth at the corners. She is very solid at bat and can provide that consistency anywhere in the lineup."
Riley Strandgard | UT | Sherrard, Ill. | Sherrard HS
Notable: Three-year starter at Sherrard High School, first for head coach Bob Phelps and now for Mike DeLoose...two-time second team all-state selection...currently ranks 12th in IHSA history with 34-career home runs...three-time all-area and all-conference choice...has started every game for three-straight seasons...Argus Dispatch All-Area Player of the Year as a junior in 2013...crushed 11 home runs and drove in 57 RBI...led the Tigers to a 24-8 mark and regional title...broke her own school record with 12 home runs as a junior in 2012...also hit .412 and recorded 49 RBI...Tigers placed fourth in the state, finishing with a 29-7 record...set school-record with 11 home runs as a freshman in 2011, also hitting .432...won a regional championship, as the Tigers went 27-4...played for Milan Aces ASA summer team, originally coached by Burnett Moody and now coached by Olie Johnson...won 2013 USFA World Series and the NSA state title...also a two-year member of the Sherrard volleyball team and three-year player for the basketball team...plans to major in elementary education.
Fischer on Riley Strandgard...
"Riley is a true utility player whose athletic physique allows her to be a viable candidate in eight defensive positions. She is a strong, powerful and aggressive hitter who is a tireless worker and knows how to win. She is capable of putting up some big numbers at this level."
Abby Turczyn | IF | LaSalle, Ill. | LaSalle-Peru Township HS
Notable: Two-year letterwinner for head coach Mike Schmidt at LaSalle-Peru Township High School...two-time all-state selection, including first team as a junior in 2013...two-time all-conference choice...advanced to the sectional championship with the Cavaliers as a junior...hit .341 as a sophomore in 2012, stealing 15 bases...brought up for the post-season as a freshman in 2011, as the Cavaliers finished second in the state...member of Midland Magic ASA summer team coached by Ed Heineman...16UA state champion in 2012...also a two-year starter for L-P volleyball team, helping lead them to the state finals in 2013...sister, Kelsey, is currently a junior for the Redbirds...will become part of first set of sisters coached by Fischer in her career...plans to major in business.
Fischer on Abby Turczyn...
"Abby has good speed and quickness and will exude tremendous positive energy on the field. She is a great student of the sport and communicates extremely well throughout the game. Consistency is her strength and she will provide that stability on both sides of the ball."
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