Softball Signs Four in 2017 Recruiting Class
11/08/16 | Softball
In the photo above (L-R): Shaye Bowden, Olivia Kinsey, Mary Iakopo and Lauren Burke.
EUGENE, Ore. - Head coach Mike White and the four-time defending Pac-12 champion Oregon softball program have signed four standout high school players to National Letters of Intent for the 2017 recruiting class.
"I'm excited, we have some really excellent talent in this class," White said. "We wanted to add depth to our pitching and catching with this group and we definitely did that. It's also great to have a local recruit for the first time in a while. All four players are excellent students and come from prominent travel ball teams from around the country."
The class, ranked No. 8 in the nation by FloSoftball.com, features C/OF Mary Iakopo, OF Lauren Burke, C/IF Shaye Bowden and P/1B Olivia Kinsey. It is the highest ranked class in the nation featuring four-or-less signees.
Mary Iakopo – C/OF – R/R
Los Alamitos, Calif. / Los Alamitos HS / Firecrackers
Rated the No. 8 prospect in the nation by FloSoftball...Invited to the USA softball junior national team tryouts in December 2016...Considered the top defensive catcher in the high school ranks...Named the Sunset League MVP as a junior after hitting .426 with eight homers and 20 RBIs...Helped the Firecrackers reach the PGF U18 Premier National title with a three-run homer in the championship game.
Head coach Mike White - "Mary is one of the strongest catcher in the country with a cannon arm. She also has the versatility to play the outfield as well. Her hitting has really improved under the guidance of Tony Rico. She's a good gap hitter from the right side."
Lauren Burke – OF – L/L
Eugene, Ore. / Marist HS / Beverly Bandits
Rated the No. 18 recruit in the nation by FloSoftball...2016 Gatorade Oregon Player of the Year....First team all-state and 5A state player of the year...Conference player of the year...Hit .701 in her junior season with a 75 hits, 67 runs, 18 doubles, 21 homers, 59 RBIs and went 24-of-26 on stolen base attempts...Slugged a whopping 1.510...Also named first team 5A all-state as a sophomore and a freshman...Named a first team NFCA All-American after helping the Beverly Bandits to a PGF U16 national championship...Played for head coach Mike White at the club level when she was 7 to 11 years old.
Head coach Mike White - "Lauren is a lefty who hit 21 homers in high school last year, which is a tremendous feat. I know her very well, having coached her when she was young. It has been amazing to see her develop over the years and become one of the best players in the country."
Shaye Bowden – UTIL – R/R
Phoenix, Ariz. / Sunnyslope HS / Birmingham Thunderbolts
Rated the No. 23 recruit in the nation by FloSoftball...Hit .595 as a junior with 44 hits, 40 RBIs, 11 doubles, six triples and eight homers...Tallied a career-high 14 homers as a sophomore....A first team all-Arizona selection as a junior and a second team choice as a sophomore...The MaxPreps/NFCA national player of the week on March 7, 2015.
Head coach Mike White - "Shaye is a very versatile athlete. She will give us a lot of different options defensively. She can play catcher, third base or the outfield. At the plate she's a very tough out. She can drive the ball to all fields and is tenacious in her approach."
Olivia Kinsey – P/1B – R/R
Riverside, Mo. / Park Hill South HS / Aces
Rated the No. 40 recruit in the nation by FloSoftball...2016 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year…The 5-foot-8 right-handed pitcher led the Panthers (25-4) to the district finals as a junior...Posted a 17-3 record with a 1.03 ERA and 236 strikeouts in 122.1 innings in the circle while batting .429 with six home runs and 28 RBIs...The Kansas City Star all-Metro player of the year.
Head coach Mike White - "Olivia has a variety of pitches and throws in the mid-60s. She's a strikeout pitcher with exceptional movement. Olivia can swing the bat too and might have a chance to hit for us as well."
"I'm excited, we have some really excellent talent in this class," White said. "We wanted to add depth to our pitching and catching with this group and we definitely did that. It's also great to have a local recruit for the first time in a while. All four players are excellent students and come from prominent travel ball teams from around the country."
The class, ranked No. 8 in the nation by FloSoftball.com, features C/OF Mary Iakopo, OF Lauren Burke, C/IF Shaye Bowden and P/1B Olivia Kinsey. It is the highest ranked class in the nation featuring four-or-less signees.
Mary Iakopo – C/OF – R/R
Los Alamitos, Calif. / Los Alamitos HS / Firecrackers
Rated the No. 8 prospect in the nation by FloSoftball...Invited to the USA softball junior national team tryouts in December 2016...Considered the top defensive catcher in the high school ranks...Named the Sunset League MVP as a junior after hitting .426 with eight homers and 20 RBIs...Helped the Firecrackers reach the PGF U18 Premier National title with a three-run homer in the championship game.
Head coach Mike White - "Mary is one of the strongest catcher in the country with a cannon arm. She also has the versatility to play the outfield as well. Her hitting has really improved under the guidance of Tony Rico. She's a good gap hitter from the right side."
Lauren Burke – OF – L/L
Eugene, Ore. / Marist HS / Beverly Bandits
Rated the No. 18 recruit in the nation by FloSoftball...2016 Gatorade Oregon Player of the Year....First team all-state and 5A state player of the year...Conference player of the year...Hit .701 in her junior season with a 75 hits, 67 runs, 18 doubles, 21 homers, 59 RBIs and went 24-of-26 on stolen base attempts...Slugged a whopping 1.510...Also named first team 5A all-state as a sophomore and a freshman...Named a first team NFCA All-American after helping the Beverly Bandits to a PGF U16 national championship...Played for head coach Mike White at the club level when she was 7 to 11 years old.
Head coach Mike White - "Lauren is a lefty who hit 21 homers in high school last year, which is a tremendous feat. I know her very well, having coached her when she was young. It has been amazing to see her develop over the years and become one of the best players in the country."
Shaye Bowden – UTIL – R/R
Phoenix, Ariz. / Sunnyslope HS / Birmingham Thunderbolts
Rated the No. 23 recruit in the nation by FloSoftball...Hit .595 as a junior with 44 hits, 40 RBIs, 11 doubles, six triples and eight homers...Tallied a career-high 14 homers as a sophomore....A first team all-Arizona selection as a junior and a second team choice as a sophomore...The MaxPreps/NFCA national player of the week on March 7, 2015.
Head coach Mike White - "Shaye is a very versatile athlete. She will give us a lot of different options defensively. She can play catcher, third base or the outfield. At the plate she's a very tough out. She can drive the ball to all fields and is tenacious in her approach."
Olivia Kinsey – P/1B – R/R
Riverside, Mo. / Park Hill South HS / Aces
Rated the No. 40 recruit in the nation by FloSoftball...2016 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year…The 5-foot-8 right-handed pitcher led the Panthers (25-4) to the district finals as a junior...Posted a 17-3 record with a 1.03 ERA and 236 strikeouts in 122.1 innings in the circle while batting .429 with six home runs and 28 RBIs...The Kansas City Star all-Metro player of the year.
Head coach Mike White - "Olivia has a variety of pitches and throws in the mid-60s. She's a strikeout pitcher with exceptional movement. Olivia can swing the bat too and might have a chance to hit for us as well."
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