Murray State University Athletics
Amundson Inks Four For 2015-16
11/12/2014 9:42:00 AM | Softball
Head coach Kara Amundson is pleased to announce that four outstanding student-athletes have chosen to further their academic and softball careers at Murray State. Morgan Edwards of Bloomington, Illinois, Brenna Finck of Maroa, Illinois, Leah Kesel of Loose Creek, Missouri, and Amber Van Duyse of De Pere, Wisconsin will all enroll at MSU next fall and take the field for the Racers in the spring of 2016.
"I am excited about the signees of the 2015 class," said Amundson. "They all embody what it means to be a student-athlete and I am proud that they will be representing Murray State on the field, in the classroom and in the community for the next four years."
Morgan Edwards is a 5-5 utility player from Bloomington, Illinois and University High School. Last season, she helped lead her Pioneer squad to its second Cornbelt Conference title in three years. She finished the season with a .385 average on 40 hits with 38 RBIs, 14 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and a whopping .875 slugging percentage. She has now led her team RBIs and doubles in each of the last two seasons, along with leading in home runs in 2014.
Edwards is a three-time All-Cornbelt selection, earning a second team nod her freshman year and first team honors in each of the last two season. In addition to her all-conference honor last season, she was also named to the Illinois Coaches Association Class 3A All-State third team.
Amundson on Edwards: "We are thrilled to welcome Morgan into our program. Morgan is a talented power hitter that will add more depth to our line up. We cannot wait to see how much she continues to grow."
Brenna Finck is a 5-4 utility player from Maroa, Illinois and Maroa-Forsyth High School. Her Trojans are the three-time defending Okaw Valley conference champions and also took home the regional title in 2012. She has played an integral role in Maroa-Forsyth's unbelievable 75-7 record over the past three seasons.
After sitting out the majority of her freshman season due to injury, Finck made an immediate impact on the Trojans by earning All-Macon County and All-Okaw Valley honors in each of her last two seasons. In 2013 and 2014, Finck also earned second team All-State honors from the Illinois Coaches Association.
Amundson on Finck: "We are very excited about Brenna and the athletic ability she will bring to our program. Brenna will be an offensive and defensive threat with her speed on the base paths and her range on the dirt."
Leah Kesel is a 5-8 outfielder from Loose Creek, Missouri and Fatima High School. Kesel batted .390 this fall, as she helped lead the Comets to the Missouri Class 2A state title. She previously turned in yearly batting averages of .436 in 2011, .474 in 2012, and .439 and 2013 on her way to becoming the school's all-time career hits leader.
Kesel has steadily climbed up the recognition ladder earning honorable mention All-Show-Me Conference honors her freshman year, a second team berth her sophomore year and first-team honors in each of the last two seasons. This season, she was named first team All-State by the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Associations, as well as the Show-Me Conference Most Valuable Player. In addition to excellence on the field, Kesel is currently on pace to graduate as at least co-valedictorian from Fatima with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Amundson on Kesel: "As soon as I saw Leah play, we had to find a way to make her a Racer. She plays the game well and navigates the outfield with poise. We expect her to make an immediate impact to our outfield."
Amber Van Duyse is a 5-11 pitcher from De Pere, Wisconsin and West De Pere High School. She has been an integral part of the Phantom's pitching staff since 2012 and has seen the lion's share of the work in each of the past two seasons, pitching over 120 innings in each. Van Duyse trimmed her ERA by almost two whole points last season, plummeting from 3.04 in 2013 to just 1.39 in 2014. She also fanned 184 batters last year to give her 364 for her career, heading into her senior season.
In 2013, Van Duyse was named second-team All-Bay Conference and honorable mention all-area. In 2014, she was rewarded for her progress by being named first team all-conference, all-region and all-district. She also excels in the classroom where she currently boasts a 4.01 GPA.
Amundson on Van Duyse: "Amber will no doubt make her mark in the circle amongst pitchers in the Ohio Valley Conference. She will be a great addition to our pitching staff with her velocity and off-speed pitches."
Â
"I am excited about the signees of the 2015 class," said Amundson. "They all embody what it means to be a student-athlete and I am proud that they will be representing Murray State on the field, in the classroom and in the community for the next four years."
Morgan Edwards is a 5-5 utility player from Bloomington, Illinois and University High School. Last season, she helped lead her Pioneer squad to its second Cornbelt Conference title in three years. She finished the season with a .385 average on 40 hits with 38 RBIs, 14 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and a whopping .875 slugging percentage. She has now led her team RBIs and doubles in each of the last two seasons, along with leading in home runs in 2014.
Edwards is a three-time All-Cornbelt selection, earning a second team nod her freshman year and first team honors in each of the last two season. In addition to her all-conference honor last season, she was also named to the Illinois Coaches Association Class 3A All-State third team.
Amundson on Edwards: "We are thrilled to welcome Morgan into our program. Morgan is a talented power hitter that will add more depth to our line up. We cannot wait to see how much she continues to grow."
Brenna Finck is a 5-4 utility player from Maroa, Illinois and Maroa-Forsyth High School. Her Trojans are the three-time defending Okaw Valley conference champions and also took home the regional title in 2012. She has played an integral role in Maroa-Forsyth's unbelievable 75-7 record over the past three seasons.
After sitting out the majority of her freshman season due to injury, Finck made an immediate impact on the Trojans by earning All-Macon County and All-Okaw Valley honors in each of her last two seasons. In 2013 and 2014, Finck also earned second team All-State honors from the Illinois Coaches Association.
Amundson on Finck: "We are very excited about Brenna and the athletic ability she will bring to our program. Brenna will be an offensive and defensive threat with her speed on the base paths and her range on the dirt."
Leah Kesel is a 5-8 outfielder from Loose Creek, Missouri and Fatima High School. Kesel batted .390 this fall, as she helped lead the Comets to the Missouri Class 2A state title. She previously turned in yearly batting averages of .436 in 2011, .474 in 2012, and .439 and 2013 on her way to becoming the school's all-time career hits leader.
Kesel has steadily climbed up the recognition ladder earning honorable mention All-Show-Me Conference honors her freshman year, a second team berth her sophomore year and first-team honors in each of the last two seasons. This season, she was named first team All-State by the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Associations, as well as the Show-Me Conference Most Valuable Player. In addition to excellence on the field, Kesel is currently on pace to graduate as at least co-valedictorian from Fatima with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Amundson on Kesel: "As soon as I saw Leah play, we had to find a way to make her a Racer. She plays the game well and navigates the outfield with poise. We expect her to make an immediate impact to our outfield."
Amber Van Duyse is a 5-11 pitcher from De Pere, Wisconsin and West De Pere High School. She has been an integral part of the Phantom's pitching staff since 2012 and has seen the lion's share of the work in each of the past two seasons, pitching over 120 innings in each. Van Duyse trimmed her ERA by almost two whole points last season, plummeting from 3.04 in 2013 to just 1.39 in 2014. She also fanned 184 batters last year to give her 364 for her career, heading into her senior season.
In 2013, Van Duyse was named second-team All-Bay Conference and honorable mention all-area. In 2014, she was rewarded for her progress by being named first team all-conference, all-region and all-district. She also excels in the classroom where she currently boasts a 4.01 GPA.
Amundson on Van Duyse: "Amber will no doubt make her mark in the circle amongst pitchers in the Ohio Valley Conference. She will be a great addition to our pitching staff with her velocity and off-speed pitches."
Â
Friday, May 22
Saturday, February 28
Friday, February 27
Friday, February 27
