Aggie Softball Signs Four

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Four high school seniors signed national letters of intent to play softball at Texas A&M, head coach Jo Evans announced on Wednesday.

Melissa Dumezich (Whiting, Ind.), Meagan May (Spring, Texas), Lauren Schwirtlich (Corpus Christi, Texas) and Sydney Shannon (Marlow, Okla.) join the Aggies for the 2009-10 season.

"This is a very solid recruiting class," said Evans. "It is one of the most versatile classes we have recruited in the past several years. They all excel at the plate and defensively they give us so many options. It will be fun to watch them develop over the next few years."

Dumezich comes to A&M from Whiting High School in Whiting, Ind., where she holds high school state records for most shutouts (24), strikeouts (489), home runs (15) and runs scored (69) in a season. She led her team to two undefeated seasons and two state championships in addition to earning all-state, all-area and all-conference honors three years, including all-state rookie of the year as a freshman. The two-time Hammond Times and Post Tribune Softball Player of the Year and their Athlete of the Year as a junior, was also an Under Armour All-American. Dumezich is a three-year letterwinner in volleyball and played basketball for one season. The right-handed pitcher also plays for the Illinois Southern Force who finished second at the ASA Nationals in 2007 and fourth at nationals in 2008. She is on the honor roll and a member of the German Club and the Booster Club.

"Mel is very athletic," Evans said. "She pitches and plays shortstop, has speed on the base paths and can hit for power.  It isn't often you find an athlete who is equally as competent on the mound as she is at shortstop.  She is a player who can do it all."

May is a catcher and a three-time academic all-district honoree in softball from Klein Oak High School in Spring, Texas. As a junior she was a TSWA all-state selection. May plays travel ball for the Impact Gold who had a ninth place national finish in 2008. Her team was the Colorado Fireworks Champions in 2007 and finished third in the same tournament this past summer. May also played for the Texas Rage. She is in the top 10 percent of her class, a member of the National Honor Society and Vice President of the Art Club. May also played volleyball and was the district champion in discus as a sophomore.

"Meagan is a very good hitter," Evans said. "She can hit for power to all fields and does a nice job behind the plate. She is a great student and works very hard in the classroom. She is a student of the game and will be a great asset to our program."

From Tuloso Midway High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, Schwirtlich is a two-time all-district selection and a two-time CC Caller All-South pick at both shortstop and center field. In addition to being a three-year letterwinner in softball, Schwirtlich earned four letters in track and one in volleyball. She is a region champion and a two-time district champion in the 300-meter hurdles. As a junior Schwirtlich was also the district champion in the 100-meter hurdles, securing her second all-district award. In the classroom, Schwirtlich received the U.S. Achievement Academy National Science Merit Award as a freshman. She is on the National Honor Roll, a member of the National Honor Society, an All-American Scholar and an academic all-district honoree in softball.

"Lauren is athletic and is someone we will be able to use in various positions," said Evans. "She can play infield and outfield, has great speed and is very explosive."

Shannon is a four-year letterwinner for Coach Brian Miller at Marlow High School in Marlow, Okla. She was named all-area three times and earned all-state honors in 2008. A catcher and outfielder, Shannon holds school records for the best single season batting average and the most doubles in a season. She played summer ball for the Texas Impact Gold, Babes Gold and Jitterbugs Gold and is a member of the GT (Gifted and Talented) Program.

"Sydney is a versatile player," Evans said. "She is a catcher, an outfielder and has also played the infield. Her versatility will give us great depth. She does a nice job at the plate and knows how to compete."

Evans is at the helm of Aggie softball for her 13th season, returning nine letterwinners and welcoming five newcomers to the 2009 squad.