GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro softball coach Jennifer Herzig announced Wednesday the signing of Carolyn Boyd and Katie Stripling during the National Letter of Intent signing period earlier this month.
Stripling is a right-handed hitting outfielder and catcher from Baytown, TX. Boyd, also a right-handed hitter, is a catcher and first baseman from Germantown, TN. They will enroll at the University in the fall of 2007.
“I am extremely excited about the signing of Carolyn and Katie,” said Herzig, who is in her second season as the Spartans’ coach. “They are both extremely talented athletes who, in addition to being true competitors on the field, are outstanding in the classroom as well. They each play for highly competitive summer ball teams, and I am confident that the instruction they are currently receiving from their respective coaches will prepare them to have an immediate impact upon our roster, and I am eager to have them join our program next fall.
“We are extremely fortunate to have signed two athletes who both possess an amazing work ethic, and as Spartans, I firmly believe that Carolyn and Katie will never settle for anything less than greatness.”
An honors student, Boyd hit .462 last year for Houston HS in Germantown and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. A nominee for the Wendy’s High School Heisman, she was an All-Metro selection in both softball and basketball last year. She was one of five finalists for area Player of the Year honors as a junior last year in softball. She played her club softball for the Germantown Lady Red Devils, who won the AFA National Championship last year, and batted .384 for the summer season.
“We project that Carolyn will see the majority of her playing time at first base, although she will bring significant catching experience to our team as well. She is an outstanding infielder, and at 5-9 will be a major presence on the field for us. As a member of the Germantown Lady Red Devils, the 2006 AFA National Champions, Carolyn has played against some of the best teams in the nation, and she knows what it takes to win at that level.”
Striping is a two-time All-District selection, hitting .425 as a sophomore and .300 last year at Barbers Hill HS in Mont Belview, TX. She also earned All-Area honors last year as her team won their regional for the first time ever and advanced to the state finals. She was named the team’s defensive MVP last season.
“Katie possesses a great combination of power and speed, and as an outfielder and catcher, she will provide us with a great deal of flexibility and depth. I am extremely excited about her potential as a hitter -- she shows the ability to both hit for average and for power, which is something we are looking for in the student-athletes we sign in this class.”
UNCG open the 2007 season at the Jacksonville University Tournament in Jacksonville, FL, on Feb. 9.
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