Six Sign with Alabama Softball During Early Signing Period
11/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama Softball signed six student-athletes during the early signing period, bringing in Reagan Dykes, Caroline Hardy, Andrea Kindrick, Merris Schroder, Madi Moore and Mari Cranek.
"This could be one of our more complete classes," said Head Coach Patrick Murphy. "We added two pitchers, two legitimate utility athletes and two power hitters who can play multiple positions. More importantly, we added six tremendous young ladies who are all strong academically and come from great families. It's going to be fun watching their progress over the next few years."
Reagan Dykes is from Collins, Miss., and attended Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, where she was named the 2011 MAIS AAA Player of the Year. She led the team to a 2010 MAIS AAA State championship and was named to the All-Tournament team. She is a six time All-District honoree, three time MVP and two time All-State award winner. In 2012 and 2013, she played club softball with the Germantown Red Devils, placing second at the 2012 16U ASA Nationals and fourth at the 2013 nationals. In 2014 she competed with the Birmingham Thunderbolts, placing fifth at the PGF Premier tournament. She was also a talented basketball player at PCS, leading the team to a 2014 state championship, earning All-Tournament and All-State honors in the process.
"Reagan is our first signee from the state of Mississippi," says Murphy. "She was a highly recruited catcher who is capable of playing multiple positions on the field."
Caroline Hardy hails from nearby Vestavia Hills, Ala., where she was a starting first baseman at Vestavia Hills High School. She was named All-State and All-Metro in each of her three seasons, was named the Birmingham News 2013 Hitter of the Year and was a member of the 2014 North/South All-Stars. She was twice named a Max Preps All-American and also competed in the shot put during the indoor track and field season. She previously played club softball with Tennessee Fury, placing third at the ASA 16U Nationals in 2013 and winning the Adidas Futures and TCS Fireworks tournaments in 2012. This upcoming season, she will play with the East Cobb Bullets.
"Caroline comes from a great high school program at Vestavia Hills where she was a great power hitter," says Murphy. "She can also play multiple positions to go along with her great bat."
Andrea Kindrick is a Russellville, Ark., native, where she was a dual-threat for Russellville High School. There, she helped guide the team to a 2013 State Championship and a 2012 Championship Runner-Up finish. This past season, RHS went undefeated and captured a conference championship. Individually, she is a two-time Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year winner and has been named All-Conference, All-State and All-Tournament in all three of her seasons with the team. She played two club seasons with the Germantown Red Devils 16U team, placing second and fourth at the ASA Nationals, and was a member of the fifth-place Birmingham Thunderbolts Club 18-Premier squad in 2014.
"Andrea is our first signee from the state of Arkansas," says Murphy. "She is a right-handed pitcher who can also hit for power."
Merris Schroder is a native of Houston, Texas, and plays for Cy-Fair High School, where she was named the 2014 team MVP after earning First Team All-State honors. In her freshman season, she earned First Team All-District accolades and was named the high school's Rookie of the Year. She currently plays club softball with the Texas Cy Fair Intruders.
"Merris has a great combination of speed and power who throws right and hits left," says Murphy. "She and Mari [Cranek] are two of the latest from Texas to sign with Alabama. Merris reminds me of [current junior] Haylie McCleney in that she will be a true triple threat for us."
Madi Moore is a left-handed pitcher out of Winfield, Ala., and helped guide Winfield High School to its first state championship last season. She was named the state tournament MVP and earned the Alabama Sports Writers Association Miss Softball title for 2014. She was MVP of the North team in the 2014 North South All-Star game and was a Wendy's Heisman state finalist. She has earned All-State honors five times at Winfield High School. She plays club softball with the Birmingham Thunderbolts, who earned a top five finish at the most recent PGF Nationals.
"Madi is our first lefty pitcher since Charlotte Morgan (2007-10)," says Murphy. "She led Winfield High School to its first state championship last spring. Having a lefty on the staff will be a huge bonus for us."
Mari Cranek hails from Needville, Texas, where she plays prep softball at Needville High School. There, she was named the 2012 Newcomer of the Year and was an All-District selection in 2012 and 2013. With her club team, Texas Aces Jacoby, she finished runner-up at the 2012 ASA National Championships. She has also received an invite to the U.S. Junior National Team Tryouts in 2015.
"Mari is another in a long line from Texas to sign with Alabama," says Murphy. "She is another triple threat who hits from the left side and can play multiple positions on the field."
