EVANSVILLE, Ind.-- The University of Evansville softball team has announced five players that will join the team for the 2010 season including Evansville native Tamara Robey. Robey, Alicia Betancur (Riverside, Cal. / John Wesley North), Kendall Kautz (Greeley, Colo. / Northridge), Halie Malone (Westminster, Colo. / Pomona), and Brianna Villanueva (Poway, Cal. / Poway) have signed national letters-of-intent to play softball at UE next season.
“The 2009 class should be nicknamed the ‘middle class’ for two reasons,” said head coach Gwen Lewis. “First, every player’s position is in the middle of the field which is the place most say you have to be the strongest on the field. Second, like the notion of middle class, I see this group of players to be the ‘blue collar workers’ of the future.”
Robey was a second team all-conference selection as a junior for Reitz High School. She played in the outfield and batted .341 with 14 stolen bases. She was also an honorable mention selection at first base as a sophomore and was named Rookie of the Year as a freshman for the Panthers.
“Tamara is loaded with potential,” said Lewis. “She is extremely fast, has a rocket arm, and can chase down any ball that is hit in the outfield. With her speed and arm. Tamara will be a strong candidate for centerfield.”
Betancur is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year for John Wesley North High School playing at second base and in the outfield. She is a scholar-athlete who was been named second team all-league for the past two years.
“Big things come in small packages,” said Lewis. “Although she is small in stature, she gets it done. She is one of the most well coached athletes and will be prepared from day one.”
Kautz is the reigning Northern Conference Player of the Year while leading the Grizzlies to a conference championship. The right-handed pitcher is a three-time Academic All-State First Team selection and was a 2008 All-State First Team pitcher. She has been and all-conference pitcher for three years and was Northridge’s MVP for the past two years. During her high school career, Kautz has pitched back-to-back perfect games, two no hitters and ten shutouts.
“Kendall is a presence on the mound,” said Lewis. “She is 5'10" and very powerful. Her work ethic on the mound and in the classroom will be hard to match by most of her competition. She will have an immediate impact on the mound.”
Malone is a two-time first team all-conference selection for Pomona High School. She was named the Panthers’ defensive MVP as a freshman as the Panther’s finished second in the state. As a junior, Malone hit .478 and has a career batting average of .361.
“Halie has all of the qualities you look for in a catcher,” said Lewis. “She is the field general. She is vocal, and probably most important she is the type of catcher that pitchers trust and want to work hard for.”
Villanueva is a senior at Poway High School and plays travel ball for the San Diego Legacy.
“Brianna is probably the most versatile player in the class,” said Lewis. “Brianna can easily play seven of the nine positions on the field if we needed her to. She has a great attitude and a great glove.”
“What strikes me the most about each one of these young ladies are their work ethic, selflessness and dedication. They strike me as a class that will not care who gets the credit in the end. They all seem to be very team oriented and focused.”
