Murray State University Athletics
Softball Adds Four to 2011 Class
4/18/2011 3:47:07 PM | Softball
Murray State softball coach Jay Pyron has announced that Katie Bunch (Pinckneyville, Ill./John A. Logan College), CheyAnne Gaskey (Morgantown, Ky./Butler County), Mandi Kellerman (Louisville, Ky./Eastern) and Mallory Richardson (Owensboro, Ky./Owensboro Catholic) have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Racer softball team in the fall of 2011. They will be joining previously-signed Jordyn Amos, Alexa Becker, Casey Castile and Mo Ramsey
“We are excited to add four more players to our incoming class for the fall of 2011,” Murray State head coach Jay Pyron said. “It has been a focus of ours to recruit players in our state and region and this entire class fits that description. This is the first time we have had to replace a senior class and it will be very difficult to fill the gaps left by our five seniors. Jenna Bradley, Taylor Wilson, Kristen Broadway, Lauren Buch and Stephanie Mattocks have been big producers for us and will leave a leadership gap that we will need our returners and new players to fill. We are excited about these four players and the entire class as a whole and are excited to see the impact they'll make when they arrive.”
“Katie is an outstanding student and sets a great example as a student-athlete,” Eastern head coach Dean Taylor said. “On the field, Katie is very competitive and brings a great lefty bat that opposing pitchers hate to face. Katie will bring a lot of character, academics and power to the Racers family.”
She picked up numerous awards following her junior season, being named 7th-region all-star, 7th-region all-tournament team, all-region team, Eastern High School varsity offensive leader award and selected as academic all-state.
“Katie is a first baseman with power,” Pyron said. She comes from Eastern High School in Louisville and plays with the top club team in Kentucky in the summer. Katie is a great student and really fits in nicely with our team. We are very excited to have her in the program.”
Bunch in involved in a number of extra-curricular activities, including National Honor Society, yearbook editor, writing team, Spanish Club and Invisible Children.
“I've known since an early age that I wanted to play collegiate softball,” Bunch said. “In order to have a successful softball team, there has to be chemistry between the players, and it's definitely present among the Racers. The girls are all willing to work hard to reach their goals and work together as a cohesive unit, which is going to help the team succeed. Coach Pyron has an infectious energy and is building a very solid program. I can't wait to be a part of the Murray State Racers.”
“Of the many characteristics that have made CheyAnne an outstanding pitcher and softball player, chief among them is a tremendous work ethic,” said Butler County head coach John Embry. “She always wants to improve to improve her skills and works hard each and every day to do so. “
She helped lead Butler County High School to a 12district championship this past season and is a two-time 12th district all-seasonal team and 12th district all-tournament team member, along with being named 3rd region player of the year last season.
“CheyAnne is one of the top pitchers in KY and on pace to be one of KY's all time strikeout leaders,” Pyron said. “She is a great student and will bring a lot of personality to the team. She comes from a great family and we believe that she is going to really develop her skills as a pitcher here. “
Gaskey is involved in a wide range of activities outside of athletics, participating in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, student government, Future Business Leaders of America along with being first team academic all-state three times.
“I chose Murray State because I really felt like everything fell into place and that was where I should be,” Gaskey said. “I am excited for the chance to be a member of the Racers family because I can see the passion the coaches and team members have for the game and I can't wait to begin my journey as a Racer.”
“Mandi has been a key to our success since the fall of her freshman year,” John A. Logan head coach Angie Jilek said. “Mandi is a hard worker both on the field and in the classroom. She depicts what you want in a student-athlete. We are proud of what she has accomplished and look forward to following her career as a Racer.”
Kellerman helped Pinckneyville High School to four straight regional appearances and a pair of conference championships. She drove in 73 runs over her final two seasons and hit for a .423 average her final year. She was named 1st team all-conference, all-south in both 2008 and 2009 and was 1st team all-state her senior team.
“Mandi is from one of the top high school programs in southern Illinois and appeared in the JUCO World Series last year,” Pyron said. “She is a strong player who really swings the bat well. She is also a great student and very motivated and driven to excel in every area. We look for her to contribute and to bring some leadership to the team.”
She was an accomplished volleyball and basketball player at Pinckneyville, earning team MVP and all-conference honors in each sport.
“I chose Murray State because I knew it was the right school for me as soon as I visited,” Kellerman said. “Coach Pyron and the girls are all really nice and I can see myself fitting in with the team very well as I help the team the best that I can.”
“Mallory is a young lady of high integrity and character,” Owensboro Catholic head coach George Randolph said. “She has an outstanding work ethic and has improved each year she's played. She has helped our program by being an example of what hard work can do and has been rewarded with an opportunity to play division – 1 softball. I'm very proud of her and wish her the best with Murray State.”
She was named most improved player in her junior year last season, hitting .390 with 10 runs and eight stolen bases in 19 JV games. She also appeared in 38 varsity games for Owensboro Catholic.
“Mallory comes from the most decorated high school program in the state,” Pyron said. “Owensboro Catholic players are always very well prepared for the next level and have been coached very well. Mallory is an athletic player who swings with power and can run. She really fits the mold of the players we are trying to recruit. She is a really athletic player who takes her academics seriously and gets along well with our team. We look for her to develop a great deal when she gets here.”
Richardson is also a member of the soccer and swimming teams at Owensboro Catholic. She is involved outside of athletics with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, pep club, Rite to Life, Sisters in Faith and honor roll.
“I am very excited to be going to Murray State,” Richardson said. “One thing I really loved was the team; how they are all friends and get along with each other. I could tell that the coaches had a passion for the game of softball and for the individual student athlete.
