Mizzou Softball Inks 28th-Ranked Recruiting Class
11/13/2019 4:06:00 PM | Softball
Tigers sign eight prep players on National Signing Day
| MIZZOU SOFTBALL SIGNING DAY CLASS OF 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAME | POSITION | B/T | HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL | CLUB TEAM |
| Riley Frizell | 1B/RHP | R/R | Willoughby, Ohio | Willoughby South | Beverly Bandits DeMarini |
| Riley Heckenkamp | C | R/R | Jefferson City, Mo. | Helias Catholic | Iowa Premier Gold |
| Alex Honnold | SS/OF/C | L/R | West Des Moines, Iowa | Valley | Iowa Premier Gold |
| Laurin Krings | RHP | R/R | Loveland, Colo. | Loveland | Nebraska Gold |
| Jenna Laird | SS | R/L | East Meadows, N.Y. | East Meadow | Long Island DeMarini |
| Kelsee Mortimer | 1B/3B | R/R | Liberty, Mo. | Liberty | Select Fastpitch |
| Taylor Nicholson | SS/UT | S/R | Toano, Va. | Warhill | EC Bullets |
| Chantice Phillips | OF | R/R | Kansas City, Mo. | Park Hill South | Select Fastpitch |
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Entering her second season in Mid-Missouri, Mizzou Softball head coach Larissa Anderson fortified the future of the program with the signing of eight prep players, she announced Wednesday on National Signing Day.
The Tigers inked players from across the nation – signing prep athletes from Virginia, New York, Colorado, Ohio, Iowa, alongside three true daughters of Missouri – in-line with Anderson's goal of actively recruiting the Midwest.
The collective group of Riley Frizell, Riley Heckenkamp, Alex Honnold, Laurin Krings, Jenna Laird, Kelsee Mortimer, Taylor Nicholson and Chantice Phillips give Mizzou the 28th-ranked recruiting class in the nation, per Extra Innings Softball.
"This class has a great amount of pride in Mizzou," Anderson said. "They love and want to be a part of the family that we're building here, and they are excited about the future of this program. Our staff did a great job of recruiting a blend of speed and power in this class, and I'm excited about the legacy this group will build at Mizzou."
Today is an exciting day for @MizzouSoftball. We can't wait to welcome our new Tigers to our family. #NationalSigningDay #OwnIt pic.twitter.com/RQui8TOBSs
— Larissa Anderson (@CoachLarissaA) November 13, 2019
Riley Frizell – RHP/1B (Willoughby, Ohio)
The 37th-ranked recruit, according to Extra Innings Softball, Frizell displays tremendous power at the plate. During her junior season at Willoughby South High School, Frizzell batted .635 and slugged 1.416, en route to hitting 14 home runs, and batting in 61 runs. As a result of her extraordinary play she was named conference player of the year three times, and was a Gatorade Player of the year nominee following her junior season. Frizell is tied for No. 18 on Ohio's all-time career home run rankings with 32.
She chose Mizzou over Ohio State, Oregon, Kentucky, Maryland, Auburn.
Anderson on Frizell: "Riley is going to be a force and will make an impact right away. She has amazing power, and some of the best bat speed I've seen. Riley is a player we want in the lineup every day."
Riley Heckenkamp – C (Jefferson City, Mo.)
With Heckenkamp, the Tigers add a defensive presence behind the plate. A Jefferson City native, she led Helias Catholic High School to a state championship during her 2019 senior season. Heckenkamp was an All-Region selection her senior year, and she earned an academic All-State selection.
She chose Mizzou over Notre Dame, Arkansas, Illinois, Harvard.
Anderson on Heckencamp: "Riley is a local talent that has a tremendous amount of upside. She's coming off a great high school season, and she absolutely bleeds Black and Gold."
Alex Honnold- SS/OF/C (West Des Moines, Iowa)
A proven winner, Honnold has led her high school team to a top five finish at the state championship each of the last three seasons – including a state title this past spring. Her high school team has gone 103-24 the last three ears combined. In 2019, Honnold batted .504, knocking in 27 extra-base hits on the season. She has 26 career home runs to her name as well. She has also been named all-conference, all-district and all-state each of the last three seasons.
A member of the Iowa Premier Gold, Honnold chose Mizzou over Iowa, Minnesota and North Carolina State.
Anderson on Honnold: "Alex is another player with unbelievable talent that
Laurin Krings – RHP (Loveland, Colo.)
Krings is a force to be reckoned with in the circle. She set the Colorado single-season strikeout record of 392 with a 0.65 ERA this past fall. She led Loveland to a conference championship and a top eight finish in the state playoffs. During the 2019 regionals, she threw 52 strikeouts in three games in one day. In her career at Loveland, Krings recorded 949 career strikeouts with a 0.98 ERA. She can deliver on the other end of the pitch as well, with a career batting average of .482 and 38 career homeruns. Krings has taken home several accolades in her career, being named to the Front Range all-league and 5A all-state first team as a junior and senior, a share of the league player or pitcher of the year twice, as well as the Gatorade State Softball Player of the Year as a junior.
Krings played her travel ball for the Nebraska, and she chose Mizzou over Wichita State, Cal State Fullerton, Colorado State, South Dakota and Tulsa.
Anderson on Krings: "Laurin is a power pitcher that throws in the upper 60s and into the low 70s. She has the ability to hit, but the biggest thing she brings to Mizzou is a great presence in the circle."
Jenna Laird – SS (East Meadows, N.Y.)
An explosive shortstop, Laird joins the Tigers as an athlete who knows how to contribute to a winning organization. East Meadow H.S. was conference champions in 2016, New York state champions in 2017, and Long Island champions in 2018 and 2019. Laird was named All-State first team and to the all-county teams all four years of high school, and was selected as MVP in the 2018 playoffs. She holds the 13th all-time batting average with .663 from her 2018 season and tied for sixth all-time hits with 59.
Laird played her club ball for Long Island DeMarini, and she chose Mizzou over Hofstra, UNC, Syracuse and Penn State.
Anderson on Laird: "Jenna is very, very athletic. She has tremendous speed and is a threat on the bases every time she gets on. As a five-tool slapper, she can hit it out of the ballpark or drop a bunt."
Kelsee Mortimer – 1B/3B (Kansas City, Mo.)
Mortimer is a valuable addition to the Tigers' lineup. A Kansas City, Mo. native, her performance at the plate during her time at Liberty High School earned Mortimer a pair of first-team all-state selections. She recorded a staggering 56 RBI during her senior season, a record for Liberty and ranking top 10 all time in Missouri history for RBI in a single season.
Mortimer chose Mizzou over Iowa, Kansas, Kansas City, Valparaiso, South Dakota.
Anderson on Mortimer: "Kelsee has tremendous upside. I love the fact that she's a local talent. She's very athletic and plays a very good first base. Her athleticism and power potential will make a tremendous impact on our program."
Taylor Nicholson – SS/UT (Toano, Va.)
Nicholson, an excellent athlete, starred in the infield and the outfield during her time at Warnhill High School. Nicholson comes to Mizzou as the 85th-ranked recruit in the nation, according to Extra Innings Softball. Her defensive play is only topped by her performance at the plate where she hit .605 with four home runs, five triples, 24 RBI and 31 stolen bases during her senior season. Nicholson was twice selected to the all-state first team. She holds several Warnhill records including career home runs, stolen bases, and batting average. Her parents, Angela and Richard, are both on the coaching staff at Hampton University – with her mother helming the program.
Nicholson chose Mizzou over Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina, Auburn and Alabama.
Anderson on Nicholson: "Taylor is very, very athletic and has great hands on defense. She has some pop on her bat, and brings a lot of versatility to our program."
Chantice Phillips – OF (Kansas City, Mo.)
Phillips is a four-time letterwinner from Riverside, Mo. A well-rounded player, she hit six home runs and scored 36 runs this past fall, for a batting average of .489. Phillips also stole 18 bases on the season. She's won multiple championships as a player, placing second at the PGF Platinum National Championship, where she was also named to the All-Tournament team.
Phillips played travel ball for Select Fastpitch, and chose Mizzou over Kansas, Pittsburgh and Valparaiso.
Anderson on Phillips: "The first time I saw Chantice play, I knew we had to get her to Mizzou. She's a gamechanger with great speed and tremendous instincts."
