Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech Athletics Department, along with head softball coach Scot Thomas, announced Friday the signing of five athletes to National Letter of Intent. These five players make up the 2009 class and will see their first game action in spring, 2010. The class includes one of the top catchers in the country - who is from Virginia, a strong California pitcher, a JUCO third baseman from Florida and a pair of versatile utility players from the region.
Courtney Liddle is one of the top catchers in the country, as she was named an Under Armor All-American as a junior. She led Battlefield High to a state runner-up finish last year and was an All-Met first-team selection by The Washington Post. The Haymarket, Va., resident was the team’s leader last year, batting .471 with five home runs, 14 RBI and 11 extra-base hits in leading Battlefield to its best season in school history. Liddle was also the Cedar Run District Player of The Year, a second-team Group AAA all-state choice and an all-region first-team selection. Heading into her senior season, she has a career batting average of .502. Liddle was shown major interest by some national powerhouses, but chose Tech as the place she will play her college ball.
Kristina Cruz signs out of Santa Fe Community College and is from Tampa, Fla. She is strong defensively and is expected to take over for Charisse Mariconda at third base. Last year, she hit .322 with eight doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBI at Santa Fe and was selected to the 2008 National All-Tournament Team after hitting .583 with a home run and nine RBI at the NJCAA National Tournament where her team finished second in the nation. She was also named to the Mid-Florida Conference Team. Cruz, who graduated from Academy of the Holy Names before enrolling at SFCC, will be a junior when she enrolls at Tech.
Jasmin Harrell is a strong pitcher who is also expected to contribute at the plate. She attends Beckman High in Tustin and lives in Irvine, Calif., the same city current Hokie Erin Ota is from. She was the Tustin News’ 2008 All-City Softball Team's Most Valuable Player after going 14-3 with a 0.66 ERA last year. She had 135 strikeouts in 116 innings and also hit .410 with 21 RBI.
Brittany “BK” Smith is a utility player who can catch, play shortstop or in the outfield. She attends Southern Lee High and resides in Cameron, N.C. She earned Cape Fear Valley All-Conference honors as a sophomore and junior, as well as all-district and all-state honors in softball last year. She has earned letters in volleyball, softball and basketball and is president of her senior class.
The final player is Hollee Warlitner from Clifton Forge, Va. Another local product, she is a utility player who can catch or play in the outfield. Warlitner attends Alleghany High and is a two-time All-Timesland first-team pick by The Roanoke Times. She hit .480 with three home runs and 15 RBI as a junior last spring, earning All-Region III and honorable mention all-state honors. She also scored 22 runs and stole 19 bases.
Tech is coming off its best season in program history after advancing to the Women’s College World Series and finishing eighth in the country. The Hokies will open their 2009 campaign in February at the Chattanooga Challenge in Tennessee.