Nov. 20, 2009
Columbia, Mo. - The nationally-ranked Missouri softball team signed four women to the fall 2010 roster as announced today by Tiger Head Coach Ehren Earleywine.
"We feel very good about the 2010 class and are confident that they will fill some important roles for us in the years ahead," Earleywine said. "We appreciate their enthusiasm for coming to Missouri and are looking forward to having them with us next fall. I especially want to thank all of my staff and players for all of their sacrifice and hard work in making this another great signing class for Missouri Softball."
Brianna Corwin (Kansas City, Mo.),Taylor Duplechain (Pearland, Texas), Maddison Ruggeberg (Davenport, Iowa) and Mackenzie Sykes (Blue Springs, Mo.) have all committed to the Missouri softball team and will begin their collegiate careers in the fall of 2010.
Corwin, a catcher on the Platte County High School softball squad, was a three-time conference, district, region and state first team selection. Notching a career best .521 batting average and .699 slugging percentage her senior campaign, Corwin helped the Pirates to a fourth place finish at the Missouri State Championships, earning Conference, District and Regional Titles in 2009. As a junior, Corwin and her teammates finished first in the conference, district, region and state. In four years, Corwin stole 108 bases and scored 118 runs.
As a senior at Glenda Dawson High School, Duplechain, an outfielder, led the district with a .562 average. One year prior, she led the district in stolen bases, 19, and managed a .666 batting average. In 2006, Duplechain was named to the 14-and-under USSA All-World Team. A member of the Lady Eagle track team, Duplechain finished fourth in the 4x200 at the Texas State Track Meet and took first at the district meet in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400. For her work on the track, Duplechain was awarded All-Brazoria County accolades.
The starting shortstop on the West High School softball squad, Ruggeberg and her teammates qualified for the state championships in 2006 and 2008. The right handed hitter earned all-conference honors in 2008, notching a .477 batting average, .521 on base percentage and .640 slugging percentage. In 2009, Ruggeberg was named a 2009 All-American on the 18-and-under Colorado Sparkler softball team. A member of the Falcon varsity basketball team, Ruggeberg was the starting point guard.
A four-time all-district honoree, two-time all-area honoree and 2008 first-team all state selection, Sykes managed 137 hits during her four year career at Blue Springs High School. In 2008, the Wildcat softball squad claimed the state title, finishing the season with a spotless 31-0 record. Sykes, a third baseman, notched a .357 batting average, scored 102 runs, recorded 73 RBI and stole 51 bases.