Photo by: Mary Holt/American Athletic Conference
Tulsa Softball Adds Five to 2024 Signing Class
11/10/2023 9:39:00 AM | Softball
TULSA, Okla. –– The University of Tulsa softball program has signed five players to its 2024 signing class, head coach Crissy Strimple announced.
Whitney Holcomb, Brookley Foster, Annika Dill, Amber Turner and Katie Dunakin all signed their National Letters of Intent to play softball for the Golden Hurricane.
"This 2024 class is exciting group of athletes with power, versatility and experience playing competitively," Strimple said. "Annika, Brookley, Whitney, Katie and Amber are exceptional student-athletes who our program needs to continue competing at a high level. These five ladies are big additions to Tulsa and our softball program."
Holcomb is a local product from Coweta. The 5'11" outfielder was a three-year starter at Coweta High School under coach Blake Dunn, where she primarily played in left. Holcomb earned the starting role her freshman campaign, and kept the spot throughout her career, but missed her senior season due to injury.
She hit .400 over her three seasons and recorded a .978 fielding percentage. In her final healthy season as a junior, Holcomb hit .411 with nine doubles, two home runs and 29 driven in. She posted a .460 on-base percentage with a 1.040 slugging percentage.
The Tigers saw a lot of success in Holcomb's time with the program. She helped the team to 97 wins in three years, a 5A State Championship in 2020 and two runner-up finishes. She was named to the All-5A-3 District First Team in her junior and sophomore years and was an honorable mention as a freshman. She also lettered in track once.
"Whitney is a right-handed hitter from Coweta, Okla., with a cannon in the outfield," Strimple said. "She has the ability to come in and throw out runners looking for extra bases and will bring a ton of speed and athleticism to our offense."
Foster is another local player, joining Tulsa from Owasso. The 5-6 infielder is a four-year letterwinner and starter from Owasso High School, where she played for coach Shane Eicher. Primarily as a shortstop or third baseman, she helped the Rams to 142 wins over her career, including a 42-1 record her senior season. The team finished runner-up at state twice and third place twice.
For her career, Foster hit .435 with 52 doubles, 12 triples and six home runs. She held a .667 slugging percentage and came around to score 128 runs. Foster was selected to the all-district team all four of her seasons and was tabbed to the all-region and all-state teams as a senior.
Her mother, Angela Foster (Wedlake), was a two-year letterwinner at Tulsa before finishing her career at the University of Oklahoma.
"Brookley is a left-handed hitter with pop and great glove defensively in the middle infield," Strimple said. "She has helped lead her high school team, Owasso, to several state tournament appearances. We can't wait to have her in the blue and gold."
A 5'9" utility infielder from Poteau, Dill is the third Oklahoman in the 2024 class. She is a utility player who lettered and started three seasons at Poteau high school for her father, Ryan Dill.
As a senior, Dill helped lead her team to a 32-8 record and to the quarterfinals of the state tournament, Poteau's first state tournament appearance in 15 years. She hit above .500 in her sophomore and senior seasons after missing her junior campaign with an injury. Dill provided power at the plate, hitting 13 home runs and adding 28 doubles as a sophomore. She improved her hitting as a senior with a career-best .540 batting average. On top of her hitting, Dill also got it done in the circle as one of the team's top pitchers. She tossed a no-hitter in late September of her senior season.
Dill was selected to the all-county team in all three of her seasons. She made all-district teams three times, including All-District Player of the Year honors as a senior. She also added all-region and all-state accolades in her final year.
"Annika brings a lot of power to the plate as a right-handed hitter," coach Strimple said. "She is a tough out for any pitcher and looks to do damage in her at bats. We are excited to see her in a Tulsa jersey representing the state of Oklahoma."
Turner hails from Cave Springs, Ark. and is a 5'3" catcher and utility player who could feature in the outfield or at the hot corner. She plays high school ball at Bentonville High School under coach Kent Early.
The two-year starter has hit .365 for her career with 11 home runs and 61 driven in. Turner helped lead the Tigers to 53 wins in her two seasons and a state championship as a sophomore. The team fell just short in her junior season, losing in the semifinal.
As a junior, Turner batted .418 with four home runs, 41 hits and 33 run's batted in. She was a Class 6A All-Conference selection. Her senior season begins in the spring.
"Amber is a right-handed hitter from Arkansas with a ton of pop in her bat," coach Strimple said. "She is a true utility who can go behind the plate, in the outfield and play the corner defensively. We are excited to watch Amber flourish in a Tulsa jersey."
A 5'11" pitcher, Dunakin makes the furthest journey to join the University of Tulsa. The Aliso Viejo, Calif. native is a three-year letterwinner and starter at Aliso Niguel High School under head coach Randie Baldwin. Softball season in California isn't until the spring, so Dunakin still has one last high school season ahead of her.
As a junior, she helped the Wolverines to a 24-4 finish and an appearance in the CIF Southern Section Quarterfinals. Dunakin spun 52 innings in the circle, recording a 1.37 ERA with 48 strikeouts and a 13-1 record. She also was impactful at the plate. In 58 plate appearances, she held a .519 batting average with 28 RBI.
Dunakin received multiple accolades last season, including South Coast League MVP, All-CIF and ANBS Most Outstanding Player. A two-sport athlete, Dunakin has also lettered twice in basketball at Aliso Niguel.
"Katie is a right-handed pitcher and power hitter from California," coach Strimple said. "She has such a passion for the college athletic model, and we can't wait to get Katie here full-time to show off her two-player skill set on the mound and in the box.
Whitney Holcomb, Brookley Foster, Annika Dill, Amber Turner and Katie Dunakin all signed their National Letters of Intent to play softball for the Golden Hurricane.
"This 2024 class is exciting group of athletes with power, versatility and experience playing competitively," Strimple said. "Annika, Brookley, Whitney, Katie and Amber are exceptional student-athletes who our program needs to continue competing at a high level. These five ladies are big additions to Tulsa and our softball program."
Holcomb is a local product from Coweta. The 5'11" outfielder was a three-year starter at Coweta High School under coach Blake Dunn, where she primarily played in left. Holcomb earned the starting role her freshman campaign, and kept the spot throughout her career, but missed her senior season due to injury.
She hit .400 over her three seasons and recorded a .978 fielding percentage. In her final healthy season as a junior, Holcomb hit .411 with nine doubles, two home runs and 29 driven in. She posted a .460 on-base percentage with a 1.040 slugging percentage.
The Tigers saw a lot of success in Holcomb's time with the program. She helped the team to 97 wins in three years, a 5A State Championship in 2020 and two runner-up finishes. She was named to the All-5A-3 District First Team in her junior and sophomore years and was an honorable mention as a freshman. She also lettered in track once.
"Whitney is a right-handed hitter from Coweta, Okla., with a cannon in the outfield," Strimple said. "She has the ability to come in and throw out runners looking for extra bases and will bring a ton of speed and athleticism to our offense."
Foster is another local player, joining Tulsa from Owasso. The 5-6 infielder is a four-year letterwinner and starter from Owasso High School, where she played for coach Shane Eicher. Primarily as a shortstop or third baseman, she helped the Rams to 142 wins over her career, including a 42-1 record her senior season. The team finished runner-up at state twice and third place twice.
For her career, Foster hit .435 with 52 doubles, 12 triples and six home runs. She held a .667 slugging percentage and came around to score 128 runs. Foster was selected to the all-district team all four of her seasons and was tabbed to the all-region and all-state teams as a senior.
Her mother, Angela Foster (Wedlake), was a two-year letterwinner at Tulsa before finishing her career at the University of Oklahoma.
"Brookley is a left-handed hitter with pop and great glove defensively in the middle infield," Strimple said. "She has helped lead her high school team, Owasso, to several state tournament appearances. We can't wait to have her in the blue and gold."
A 5'9" utility infielder from Poteau, Dill is the third Oklahoman in the 2024 class. She is a utility player who lettered and started three seasons at Poteau high school for her father, Ryan Dill.
As a senior, Dill helped lead her team to a 32-8 record and to the quarterfinals of the state tournament, Poteau's first state tournament appearance in 15 years. She hit above .500 in her sophomore and senior seasons after missing her junior campaign with an injury. Dill provided power at the plate, hitting 13 home runs and adding 28 doubles as a sophomore. She improved her hitting as a senior with a career-best .540 batting average. On top of her hitting, Dill also got it done in the circle as one of the team's top pitchers. She tossed a no-hitter in late September of her senior season.
Dill was selected to the all-county team in all three of her seasons. She made all-district teams three times, including All-District Player of the Year honors as a senior. She also added all-region and all-state accolades in her final year.
"Annika brings a lot of power to the plate as a right-handed hitter," coach Strimple said. "She is a tough out for any pitcher and looks to do damage in her at bats. We are excited to see her in a Tulsa jersey representing the state of Oklahoma."
Turner hails from Cave Springs, Ark. and is a 5'3" catcher and utility player who could feature in the outfield or at the hot corner. She plays high school ball at Bentonville High School under coach Kent Early.
The two-year starter has hit .365 for her career with 11 home runs and 61 driven in. Turner helped lead the Tigers to 53 wins in her two seasons and a state championship as a sophomore. The team fell just short in her junior season, losing in the semifinal.
As a junior, Turner batted .418 with four home runs, 41 hits and 33 run's batted in. She was a Class 6A All-Conference selection. Her senior season begins in the spring.
"Amber is a right-handed hitter from Arkansas with a ton of pop in her bat," coach Strimple said. "She is a true utility who can go behind the plate, in the outfield and play the corner defensively. We are excited to watch Amber flourish in a Tulsa jersey."
A 5'11" pitcher, Dunakin makes the furthest journey to join the University of Tulsa. The Aliso Viejo, Calif. native is a three-year letterwinner and starter at Aliso Niguel High School under head coach Randie Baldwin. Softball season in California isn't until the spring, so Dunakin still has one last high school season ahead of her.
As a junior, she helped the Wolverines to a 24-4 finish and an appearance in the CIF Southern Section Quarterfinals. Dunakin spun 52 innings in the circle, recording a 1.37 ERA with 48 strikeouts and a 13-1 record. She also was impactful at the plate. In 58 plate appearances, she held a .519 batting average with 28 RBI.
Dunakin received multiple accolades last season, including South Coast League MVP, All-CIF and ANBS Most Outstanding Player. A two-sport athlete, Dunakin has also lettered twice in basketball at Aliso Niguel.
"Katie is a right-handed pitcher and power hitter from California," coach Strimple said. "She has such a passion for the college athletic model, and we can't wait to get Katie here full-time to show off her two-player skill set on the mound and in the box.
Monday, February 02
Friday, February 28
Friday, February 28
Tuesday, February 25