Fresno State Athletics
Bulldog Softball Signs Six to NLI's
11/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 18, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State head softball coach Margie Wright unveiled the program's 2012 signing class on Friday after receiving National Letters of Intent from six highly acclaimed student-athletes.
Wright praised the versatility of the class, as she signed three pitchers that can all play in the infield, a pair of outfielders and a catcher/infielder.
"This year's group of signees is multi-faceted," Wright said. "Having players being able to play anywhere in the infield or outfield yields a tremendous amount of versatility and extra opportunities to succeed.
"All of our signees have had extensive travel ball experience and have competed on and against top club teams. All six can make an immediate impact. This is a great young group coming in and I'm excited to have them as Bulldogs."
Included among the pitchers are Jillian Compton (Oceano, Calif.) out of Arroyo Grande High School, Hannah Harris (Santa Barbara, Calif.) from Dos Pueblos High School and Taylor Langdon (Glendora, Calif.) from Glendora High School.
"We have three pitchers coming in and each one can strike someone out whether they do it with power or with movement, finesse or location," Wright said.
Catcher/infielder Paige Gumz (Chino, Calif.) comes in highly acclaimed at the plate, as she batted .392 in the box during her junior season when she led Chino Hills High School to a 25-6 record and the Sierra Conference championship.
"We have a catcher coming in who is solid behind the plate with a very strong arm and power at the plate as well," she said.
In the outfield, Bria Kennedy (Hanford, Cailf.) out of Hanford West High School and Whitney Smith (Loomis, Calif.) out of Del Oro High School bring in speed and Smith is a player that can also play in the infield as well.
"Our outfield will have a speedy addition in Kennedy, a local product out of Hanford West who is crafty with the short game, but also can hit for power as well as cover a lot of ground," Wright said. "Smith is our final addition and is an all-around utility player who is not only a very solid athlete that can play infield or outfield, but also has a strong arm, runs well and hits for power and average."
Fresno State's 2012 Recruiting Class
5-7, P/IF, R-R, Jillian Compton (Oceano, Calif./Arroyo Grande HS) - two-year varsity player
2011 Junior Season
- Team went 17-10 overall and won the Pac-7 conference championship outright for the first time in 11 years
- Threw a perfect game and struck out 14 in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs
- In 20 appearances with 17 starts, she went 11-6 and tallied 198 strikeouts while posting a 1.39 ERA in 115.2 IP; opponents batted .169 against her
- Led the league in ERA and was second in strikeouts
- Batted .304 (24-for-79) with 17 runs, three doubles, seven walks, 3-for-3 on stolen-base attempts, eight RBI and a .342 slugging percentage in 25 games played
- San Luis Obispo County Softball Player of the Year for the Eagles
- Reached the second round of Southern Section playoffs
- Named to the All-Southern Section Division 3 first team
- Named to ESPN Rise's all-state underclassmen second team
- First team all-area
- All-area & league MVP
- First team all-league
- First team All-CIF Division III
2010 Sophomore Season
- Team went 14-12 overall and she was voted the team defensive MVP
- Batted .273 (21-for-77) with eight runs, four RBI, three doubles and was 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts
- In 21 appearances with 20 starts, she went 10-8 with a save after recording 269 strikeouts and a 0.95 ERA in 140.2 IP. Opponents batted .116 against her.
- Set single-game school record with 26 strikeouts (12 inn.)
- Single-season strikeout mark ranked 10th in Southern Section & 24th in state
- Led the league in ERA and strikeouts
- ESPN/Cal-Hi Sports All-State underclassmen second team
- First team all-league
- First team All-County San Luis Obispo
- First team all-area
Travel Ball
2011: Plays for the So Cal Pumas 18U Gold
2010: Team finished ninth at the ESPN Premier Nationals
2010: Team finished fifth at the Champions cup
2009: California Velocity 16U
5-9, C/IF, R-R, Paige Gumz (Chino, CA/Chino Hills HS) - 3 year varsity player
2011 Junior Season
- Starting catcher the last three years. Team went 25-6 overall while capturing the Sierra Conference title with a 13-2 mark and advanced to CIF D-III semifinals.
- Team captain who batted .392 (31-for-79) with three runs, five doubles, nine walks, 15 RBI and a .456 slugging percentage for the Huskies
- Perfect behind the dish with a 1.000 fielding percentage in 174 total chances (159 putouts, 15 assists) while throwing out 11-of-12 runners for a .917 caught stealing
- Daily Bulletin third team All-Valley
- First team All-Sierra League
2010 Sophomore Season
- Team went 20-15 overall while garnering all-conference honors; advanced to CIF D-III semifinals
- Batted .213 (20-for-94) with four runs, a triple, one home run, six walks, 11 RBI and a .266 slug pct.
- Had a .996 fielding percentage in 253 total chances (239 putouts, 13 assists, one error) while throwing out 13-of-23 runners for a .565 caught stealing percentage
- All-Sierra League
- Academic Scholar-Athlete
2009 Freshman Season
- Team was Division III semifinalist
- Academic Scholar-Athlete
Travel Ball
2010-11: Corona Angels 18U Gold (Howard)
2011: 18U ASA Champions Cup, fifth place under Corona Angels (Howard)
2010: 18U Premier Fastpitch Nationals, second place under Corona Angels (McGee)
2010: 18U ASA Champions Cup, fifth place under Corona Angels (McGee)
2009: 14U ASA Nationals, second place under Corona Angels (Holt)
5-7, P/1B, L-R, Hannah Harris (Santa Barbara, CA/Dos Pueblos HS) - 3 year varsity player
2011 Junior Season
- Team went 22-9 overall and captured the Channel conference title with an 11-1 mark
- Batted .356 (36-for-101) with 13 runs, a double, three RBI, 10 walks and a .366 slugging percentage for the Chargers
- In 34 appearances with 30 starts, she went 22-9 overall with 13 shutouts while posting a 1.03 ERA and 233 strikeouts to 23 walks in 210.1 innings pitched
- Led the league in ERA, strikeouts and wins
- Allowing just one run in 45 playoff innings, she led Chargers to the CIF Division 4 championship
- Named the CIF Division 4 Player of the Year
- Named to ESPN Rise's All-State first team (multi-purpose)
- Named to ESPN Rise's All-State underclassmen first team (multi-purpose)
- Named to ESPN RISE Cal-Hi Sports State Athlete of the Week
- Selected Co-MVP Channel League
2010 Sophomore Season
- Team went 12-16 overall
- Batted .456 (36-for-79) with 10 runs, a triple, 10 RBI, 10 walks and a .418 slugging percentage
- In 24 starts she went 10-13 while posting a 1.47 ERA with 160 strikeouts in 138.0 innings
- Led the league in batting average and on-base percentage (.522)
- Second in the league in ERA and strikeouts while third in wins
- Named All-Channel League First Team
- Selected second team All-CIF Division IV
- Second team All-CIF Southern Section
- Honored on the All-Softball County first team
- CIF Southern Section Scholar Team (First Place)
2009 Freshman Season
- Selected All-Channel League first team
- Named second team All-CIF Division IV
- First team All-Santa Barbara County
Travel Ball
2011: Playing for the So Cal Puma's 18 Gold
2011: Jets Gold were a Top 25 finisher at the ESPN Premier Tournament
2010: Jets won the Colorado Sparkler tournament, finished in the Top 10 of the 18 Gold Champions Cup
2010: Jets placed in the Top 20 of the ASA 18U Nationals
2010: Jets were a Top 20 finisher at the ESPN Premier Tournament
5-4, OF, L-R, Bria Kennedy (Hanford, CA/Hanford West HS) - 3 year varsity player
2011 Junior Season
- Team went 13-16 overall and finished second in the West Yosemite Conference; was CIF D-III semifinalist
- Batted .286 (24-for-84) with 27 runs, five doubles, five triples, a home run, 25 RBI, was 7-for-9 in stolen bases, drew eight walks and had a .500 slugging percentage for the Huskies
- Finished fourth in the league in RBI
- First team All-West Yosemite League
- Fresno Bee second team
2010 Sophomore Season
- Went 29-7 overall and won the West Yosemite Conference (11-1); won second straight D-III championship
- Batted .404 (38-for-94) with 36 runs, 10 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 31 RBI, 8-for-12 in stolen bases, 20 walks and a .691 slugging percentage for the Huskies
- Led the league in slugging percentage while finishing third in RBI and on-base percentage (.508), fourth in batting average and fifth in home runs and stolen bases
- Central California Valley Champions
- Fresno Bee second team
- First team All-West Yosemite League
2009 Freshman Season
- Went 20-13 overall and finished third in the West Yosemite Conference; won D-III championship
- Batted .296 (32-for-108) with 16 runs, five doubles, two triples, a home run, six RBI, 3-for-5 stolen bases, two walks, .407 slugging percentage
- Central California Valley Champions
- Honorable mention West Yosemite League
Travel Ball
2011: Central Cal Dirt Dogs
2009: Seventh place at ASA Western Nationals
5-7, RHP/1B, R-R, Taylor Langdon (Glendora, CA/Glendora HS) - 3 year varsity player
2011 Junior Season
- San Gabriel Valley Tribune second team All-Area
- CIF Southern Section Softball, Div I Playoffs
- First team All-Baseline League
- Team Captain, Varsity Softball Team
- Scholar Athlete Award
2010 Sophomore Season
- CIF Southern Section Softball, Div II Quarterfinalist
- Sierra League Champions
- Second team All-Sierra League
- Scholar-Athlete Award
2009 Freshman Season
- CIF Southern Section Softball, Div III Finalist
- Sierra League Champions
- Scholar-Athlete Award
Travel Ball
2011: Plays for the California Angels Gold (Tyson)
2011: California Angels-Gold (Tyson) won the ASA 18U Champions Cup Tournament
2011: Ninth place at Premier Fastpitch 18U National Championship
2010: Second place at Premier Fastpitch 16U National Championships for Corona Angels (Howard)
2010: Ninth place at ASA 16U Nationals for Corona Angels (Howard)
2010: Second place at ASA 16U Champions Cup for Corona Angels (Howard)
2009: California Angles (Tyson) won the ASA 16U Champions Cup Tournament
2009: Second place at ASA 14U Nationals for Corona Angels (Tyson)
5-10, IF/OF, R/R, Whitney Smith (Loomis, CA/Del Oro HS) - 3 year varsity player
2011 Junior Season
- Team captain whose squad went 17-9-1 overall and captured the Sierra Foothill conference title (9-1)
- For the Golden Eagles, she batted .364 (28-for-77) with 18 runs, 21 RBI, eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, was 1-for-1 in stolen base, drew four walks and had a .636 slugging percentage
- Tied for first in the league in RBI while second in home runs and slugging pct.
- Team was the Division II Section runner-up (Sac-Joaquin)
- Selected first team all-league
- Named honorable mention all-metro
2010 Sophomore Season
- Team captain whose squad went 23-4 overall and captured the Sierra Foothill conference title (10-2)
- Batted .429 (33-for-77) with 16 runs, 34 RBI, three doubles, three triples, three home runs, 2-for-2 in stolen base, eight walks and a .662 slugging percentage
- Finished fourth in the league in batting average, second in RBI & home runs, third in slugging percentage and on-base percentage (.489)
- Golden Eagles were the Division II Section runner-up (Sac-Joaquin)
- Named first team all-league
- Named honorable mention all-metro
2009 Freshman Season
- Team captain whose squad went 23-8 overall and won the Sierra Foothill conference title (10-2)
- Golden Eagles were the Division II Section runner-up (Sac-Joaquin)
- Batted .357 (30-for-84) with 23 runs, 22 RBI, seven doubles, three triples, one home run and a .548 slugging percentage
- In league, was first in RBI, third in slugging pct., fourth in on-base pct. (.432) and fifth in batting average
- Named first team all-league
- Named honorable mention all-metro
Travel Ball
2011: Plays for the Lady Magic
2011: Lady Magic finished third at the Boulder Independence Day Tournament
2011: Team also finished seventh at the Premier Nationals
2010: Lady Magic took second place at the Boulder Independence Day Tournament
2009: Mizuno All-American 18 Gold
