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Softball Signs Four Players to National Letters of Intent
12/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Tulsa, Okla.- The University of Tulsa softball team added to its ranks with four players signing National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Pitcher Jordan Kinard,middle infielders Kelly Chapman and Kailey Yarmer as well as first baseman/pitcher Lauren Menke selected TU to continue their educations as announced by Tulsa Head Coach John Bargfeldt.
A Mannford, Okla. native, Kinard was also named to the Middle East All-State Team as a pitcher after leading the Lady Pirates to the 2006 Class 4A State Title. She posted a 28-1 record as a senior while setting state records for strikeouts in a game (31) and strikeouts at a state tournament (63). Kinard capped off her final season with 406 strikeouts in 207 innings, a 0.067 ERA and 19 shutouts. For her career she posted 1,108 strikeouts to go alon with 72 wins in three seasons.
Chapman hails from Rowlett, Texas. A three-time all-district first team selection, Chapman won the district's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2006 after winning the Offensive Player of the Year honor in 2005. This season she was named to the First Team All-State Team as an outfielder in the state's largest class. As a junior, she finished the season with an 11-4 record in the pitching circle, including a 0.71 ERA with 117 strikeouts. As a sophomore she led the team in hitting with a batting average of .474, while also posting an 8-2 pitching record with a .062 ERA. A versitle athlete, Chapman also plays shortstop for her summer team, the Texas Heat.
A graduate of Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, Yarmer was also three-year letterwinner at Sandia High School in Albuquerque, N.M., prior to moving to Arizona as a senior. As a freshman at Phoenix College in 2006, Yarmer batted at a .425 clip with 48 RBIs. She posted a .626 slugging percentage and a .512 on-base percentage, including 30 walks. The shortstop helped lead the Bears to their third consecutive national championship, while also being named to the NJCAA All-Tournament team.
As a senior at Midwest City High School Menke posted a 19-10 record on the rubber during the 2006 season with a 0.66 earned run average. On offense, Lauren batted .378 with three home runs and 12 doubles for the Bombers. Menke also helped lead her summer team, the Oklahoma Babes to a ninth-place finish at the ASA Gold 18/U National Championships. She was also named to the 2006-07 Large West All-State Team as a pitcher.
"I am excited at the talent level of this class," said Bargfeldt. "We are looking at bringing at least one more player to round out the class, but the overall athleticism of this group is very exciting. With the caliber of athletes that are coming in, we feel that some, if not all, should be able to contribute immediately to the program."
Tulsa opens the season on Feb. 8 at the Alexis Resort Kick-Off Classic, hosted by UNLV. TU finished the 2006 campaign by winning its first conference title in program history. Tulsa won both the regular-season and the C-USA Tournament Championship last season, posting a final 34-24 record.
