Nov. 12, 2014
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Softball head coach Ehren Earleywine announced today that five future student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the program in 2015. The Tigers will welcome Danielle Baumgartner (Mexico, Mo.), Jolie Duffner (Jefferson City, Mo.), Regan Nash (Camden Point, Mo.), Rylee Pierce (Visalia, Calif.) and Kolby Romaine (Chino Hills, Calif.) to their roster next season.
"It's another very good class," Earleywine said. "In looking ahead to who we lose next year, this class should fill in the blanks really well. It's a diverse class in the positions they play and the tools they bring to the table. I am also pleased that we were able to sign three in-state kids. We always want to give our Missouri kids first chance at these spots and it's a good feeling when we find those who can play at this level.
"I say it every year, but Pete D'Amour is the driving force behind all of our recruiting efforts and none of it would be possible without his hard work. We also want to thank and welcome these players and their families into our program. They all had a lot of other schools and choices, but in the end chose Missouri."
Continue to stay up-to-date on Mizzou Softball by following the program on Twitter, @MizzouSoftball.
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MIZZOU SOFTBALL CLASS OF 2015 |
||||||
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Hometown (High School) | Club Team(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danielle Baumgartner | P | 5-10 | Mexico, Mo. (Mexico HS) | St. Louis Chaos | ||
| Jolie Duffner | IF | 5-11 | Jefferson City, Mo. (Blair Oaks HS) | Missouri Stealth | ||
| Regan Nash | OF | 5-7 | Camden Point, Mo. (North Platte HS) | KC Monarchs | ||
| Rylee Pierce | C/IF | 5-9 | Visalia, Calif. (El Diamante HS) | Fresno Force | ||
| Kolby Romaine | IF/OF | 5-9 | Chino Hills, Calif. (Rosary HS) | So Cal Explosion, So Cal A's | ||
Left-Right: Rylee Pierce, Jolie Duffner, Kolby Romaine, Regan Nash, Danielle Baumgartner
Mexico:
• Three-time first team all-region and all-conference player for Mexico High School and head coach Keith Louder who battled back as a senior in 2014 from a torn ACL.
• Returned to action six weeks after surgery to help fuel Mexico to a fourth-place finish at the state tournament, pitching in three games and hitting three home runs.
• Standout classroom performer, earning first team academic all-state recognition as a sophomore in 2012 and again as a junior in 2013.
• Lettered in basketball for three seasons.
St. Louis Chaos: Played for head coach Evan Beatty.
Personal:
• Born Jan. 22, 1997 to parents Gary and Dawn Baumgartner.
• Two siblings, twin brothers Quinton and Cameron.
• National Honor Society member.
Why Mizzou: "Since I've grown up living near Columbia, it has always been a dream of mine to play softball for Mizzou. I've also always wanted to play at the highest level and play the top teams in the country, and playing for Mizzou gives me that opportunity."
Picked Mizzou Over: Texas Tech, Indiana State, Georgia State
Blair Oaks:
• Three-time Missouri First Team All-State performer for Blair Oaks High School and head coach Sharon Buschjost, and also a two-time conference player of the year.
• Career record holder for batting average (.484), RBI (125) and runs scored (126).
• Broke her own single-season batting average record with a .560 mark as a junior in 2013.
• Her .515 batting average as a sophomore in 2012 was the original record mark, with that campaign also featuring 43 RBI and 39 runs scored, both school records.
• Two-time captain for the Falcons.
• Lettered in four sports during her freshman year in 2011 (cross country, softball, basketball and track & field) before deciding to focus solely on softball and track.
Missouri Stealth:
• Coached by Greg Logsdon.
• Helped the Stealth's 95 Gold squad to both ASA and USSSA state championships.
Personal:
• Daughter of Paul and Sharon Duffner.
• National Honor Society president at Blair Oaks HS.
• Four-time class president, as well as stints as president of the student council and Spanish Club.
Why Mizzou: "I chose Mizzou because of the coaching staff and their teaching methods. They have so much to offer in order to help me maximize my potential, and that's what stood out to me."
Picked Mizzou Over: Wisconsin, Illinois, Southern Illinois, Saint Louis
North Platte:
• Batted an outstanding .602 as a senior in 2014 after recording the seventh-best season batting average in state history, .667, as a junior in 2013.
• Racked up 65 hits, tying for first in the state, for North Platte High School and head coach Ron Resler in her final prep campaign.
• Her 48 singles (over 29 games) ranked fourth in the state, while her 2.24 hits per game ranked tied for third.
• Finished her career with 185 hits, the fourth-highest total in Missouri state history, while her career batting average of .540 ranked seventh-best.
• Went 136 at-bats without striking out during her career, the second-best streak in Show-Me State history.
• Posted an impressive .707 on-base percentage as a junior in 2013.
• State champion in the 100-meter dash in 2014.
• All-state track performer as a freshman in 2012 (100-meter), sophomore in 2013 (100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter relay) and 2014 (100-meter, 200-meter).
• Participated in band, FCA and FBLA while at North Platte.
KC Monarchs:
• Helped the Monarchs, coached by Mike Ray, qualify for the club's first-ever 16U Gold National Tournament in Tulsa, Okla., in the summer of 2014.
• Aided club to a championship at the 16U Northern National Tournament in Rochester, Minn., in the summer of 2013.
• Earned 16U Top Gun All-America recognition at the Top Gun Invitational in 2013.
Personal:
• Daughter of Tim and Kim Nash.
• National Honor Society member.
• Competed in gymnastics before high school, claiming a state championship in the uneven bars in 2009.
Why Mizzou: "I've wanted to play softball at Mizzou since I was 12 years old. My goal was to play at a Division I school and still be close to home. Mizzou was a perfect fit."
Picked Mizzou Over: Northwest Missouri State
El Diamante:
• Hit .511 with 51 RBI and 14 home runs as a sophomore in 2013 for El Diamante High School and head coach Brad Pendergast before missing her junior season in 2014 due to injury.
• Her 14 home runs as a sophomore set El Diamante's single-season record, while she also entered the record books with her 23 walks and 1.076 slugging percentage.
• Smacked eight doubles to go along with her slew of long balls as a sophomore.
• Batted .365 with 24 RBI and 16 runs scored as a freshman in 2012, including six doubles.
• Twice earned all-league recognition, as well as an underclass all-state honor.
• Played three seasons of varsity basketball and two seasons of varsity water polo for El Diamante.
Fresno Force:
• Helped the Force's 18U Gold team to the Triple Crown World Series, winning its championship.
• Coached by Jeff Jennings.
Personal:
• Daughter of Bob and Tawnya Pierce.
• Older brother, Blake, and younger brother, Alec.
• Blake currently attends the University of Missouri.
Why Mizzou: "I chose Mizzou because the campus and people are similar to my community. I felt very comfortable with the coaching staff and their philosophies."
Picked Mizzou Over: UCLA, Fresno State, San Diego State, UC Davis, UC Riverside
Club Teams: So Cal Explosion, So Cal Athletics
Rosary:
• Impressive .525 batting average (41-for-78) with 11 doubles and three home runs for 22 RBI and 28 runs scored as a junior in 2014 for Rosary High School and head coach Tom Tice.
• Helped the Royals to a second-place showing in the Trinity League and an overall 26-12 record.
• Earned her third CIF Scholar-Athlete award while at Rosary.
• Missed the first 30 days of her junior campaign due to California high school transfer rules after her move from Chino Hills High School.
Chino Hills:
• First Team All-Sierra League honoree as a sophomore in 2013 for Chino Hills High School, powering the squad to a 25-8 overall record and the CIFSS Division II quarterfinals.
• Back-to-back team championships garnered in the Sierra League, including her freshman campaign in 2012.
• Part of Chino Hills' CIFSS Division III State Championship squad as a freshman in 2012, helping the team to a stellar 32-3 season.
So Cal Explosion:
• Coached by Bret Denio.
So Cal Athletics:
• Helped the Athletics to a PGF National Championship on the 18U level in the summer of 2013.
• Played in the club's third-place showing at the 18Gold ASA Nationals in the summer of 2012.
Personal:
• Born June 24, 1997 to parents Andy and Jackie Romaine.
• Has a younger sister, Sydney.
Why Mizzou: "I loved the coaching staff and the campus. For me, it felt like a home away from home."
Picked Mizzou Over: Oregon, Notre Dame, Michigan, Arkansas