Illini softball signs five for 2013
Updated: November 14, 2012
Urbana, Ill. (UI Release) - The University of Illinois
softball team welcomes five signees for the Fall of 2013, Nicole Evans, Alyssa Gunther, Brandi Needham, Ruby Rivera and Jade
Vecvanags.
The incoming class consists of two players from Illinois, two from
California and one from Texas. The Illini bring in two pitchers, two
middleinfielders and an outfielders, all of whom
have also been dominant at the plate. The Illini look forward to the
speed, power and poise of the five signees.
"With the upcoming graduation of Pepper (Gay) and Jackie (Guy), the top priority in this class was pitching,"
said Head Coach Terri Sullivan.
"In Brandi and Jade we struck gold, finding not just complete pitchers,
but players. In the circle,
they both are fierce competitors and workhorses who hit their spots.
Their pitching numbers are IMPRESSIVE, but another exciting thing about
the two of them is that we expect them to be the first pitchers at
Illinois to be regularly in the offensive lineup
as well...Brandi and Jade are athletes!
"Athlete
is also what best describes the three position players that join our
pitchers in the class of 2017. Gunny (Alyssa), Nicole and Ruby are'make
it happen' players who have exceptional and rare game instincts; they
can think three plays ahead. It is those types
of players who consistently leadtheir teams into the championship arena.
"Nicole will bring power to the speed of our current outfield. She can hurt you with one swing of the bat
and has a contagious positive attitude.
"Gunny is a no-nonsense, even keeled infielder. This makes her thrive under the type of pressure our aggressive
scheduling brings game in and out.
"Ruby makes all the routine plays, and
the ESPN ones! However, she makes those special plays look routine!
Every time our coaching staff watches her play, she does something that
NO OTHER player we have EVER watched does.
"Jade,
Brandi, Nicole, Gunny and Ruby have another thing in common that we
believe makes this a special
class; they have had some of THE BEST coaching from both their high
school and travel ball coaches and their pitching and hitting
instructors. They reallyhave learned from teachers who are among the
best in the country, thereforetheir so called 'Softball IQ'
is very high. "
MEET THE 2013 SIGNING CLASS:
Name: Nicole Evans
Position: Outfield
Hometown: Glen Ellyn, Ill.
High School: Trinity High School
Travel Team: Illinois Chill
Nicole Evans,
an outfielder from Glen
Ellyn, Ill., is a three-year starter for Trinity High School. Last
spring, she hit .429 on the season with 11 doubles, five triples, eight
home runs, 41 runs scored and 35 RBI. Additionally, she walked 12 times,
stole nine bases and had an on base percentage
of .478 and a .798 slugging percentage. In her first three seasons at
Trinity, the slugger accumulated a total of 30 career home runs.
A three-time Girls Catholic Athletic All-Conference player, she was named second-team all-state twice by
the Chicago Tribune and picked up an all-state honorable mention
as a freshman. Additionally, as a sophomore, the Chicago Sun Times
named her as one of the Top 35 Softball Players to Watch and as one
of the Top 100 Softball Players. Evans led the Trinity Blazers to a
second place finish in the State 3A division as a freshman, won
regionals as a sophomore and sectionals as a junior.
"We
are so excited that Nicole picked Illinois," said Trinity Softball
Coach Bob Osborne. "I believe she
is going to have a great career there. Nicole is the type of girl that
isn't only great for the softball program but great for the school. Nicole
strives for greatness in every part of her life. She
is a great student, a great leader and a great athlete. Nicole has led
us to three regional
championships, two sectional championships, and one second place finish
in state during her three years. Nicole is also #3 in her class and she
volunteers coaching younger kids in her spare time. We
at Trinity are so proud of her."
A
three-year member of the Illinois Chill, Evans led her travel team to a
second place finish in Chicago
Metro in 2012. Last spring she put together 35 hits, including nine
doubles, two triples and five home runs, and added 23 runs and 32 RBI.
The outfielder hit .302 with 17 walks for a .393 on base percentage and a
.543 slugging percentage.
"Nicole's
tireless work ethic and her leadership skills are exceeded only by her
ten-thousand watt smile,"
said Illinois Chill Head Coach Pat Morris. "Hard to believe, but I know
that Nic's best days as a softball player are still ahead of her!"
Evans
also shines off the field, earning several academic awards, including
being named Trinity High Student
of the Year as a freshman and sophomore, earning the Chemistry award in
10th grade and the English Award in 11th grade. She was also named #2 in
her class as a sophomore and #3 in her class as a junior.
Name: Alyssa Gunther
Position: Second Base/Outfield
Hometown: Tinley Park, Ill.
High School: Tinley Park High School
Travel Team: Orland Park Sparks
Alyssa Gunther
comes to the Illini from
Tinley Park, Ill. A three-year starter for Tinley Park High School,
Gunther led the Titans to two regional championships, a sectional final
and a sectional semifinal. A consistent hitter, Gunther batted over .400
all three seasons, including hitting .559 with
40 stolen bases as a junior. A three-time all-conference player, Gunther
was named all-area by the Southtown Star in
2012 and all-area
honorable mention in 2010. She received the Golden Bat award all three
seasons, the Golden Base award in 2011 and 2012 and the Golden Glove
award as a freshman. Prior to the 2012 season, the Chicago
Sun-Times named her as one of the Preseason Top 100 Players.
"When
Alyssa Gunther came to Tinley Park High School, we all knew she was
going to be a good softball player/athlete,"
said Head Coach Wendy Podbielniak. "What we have learned over the past
four years is how truly special she is as an individual. Watching this
young lady grow as an athlete and as a person has been an experience of a
lifetime for myself, the Tinley Park staff
and the administration. We are confident and excited to see Alyssa pave a
new path for her fellow teammates and peers at the University of
Illinois. The future is filled with uncertainties, but one thing we can
all look forward to is 'Gunny' accomplishing wonderful
feats for the Fighting Illini! Thank you to the Gunther family for
allowing me the distinct honor of coaching this amazing young lady.
Gunny, you will be missed, but we will be watching proudly one day in
the stands at the University of Illinois!! Way to go
kid!!!"
Outside
of school, Gunther plays for the Orland Park Sparks under Head Coach
Joe Tholl. She has led her
team to three noteworthy national finishes, placing ninth at the 12U
Northern Nationals, and 25th at both the 14U and 18U ASA Nationals.
"The
phrase that describes Gunny is 'a student of the game,'" said Tholl.
"She is one of the top three kids
I have had in my years that understands the game the best. Work ethic,
she issecond to none. I wish I could be blessed with at least six Gunnys
on everysquad I coach."
In
addition to softball, Gunther was a two-year captain of the Trinity
High JV volleyball team, and has
always been an exceptional student. A member of the Mathletes, Gunther
was in the top five in her class in 2011 and has been in the top 1% of
her class all through high school. She is a Titan Scholar, and a member
of the Academically Talented Program and the
National Honor Society.
Name: Brandi Needham
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Dripping Springs, Texas
High School: Dripping Springs High School
Travel Teams: Texas Bombers Gold (2012-13);
Texas Royals Gold (2010-11)
Brandi Needham
is a decorated pitcher
from Dripping Springs, Texas. A three-year player for Dripping Springs
High School, Needham has accumulated a 57-12 career record, including
going31-3 with a 0.70 ERA in 210.1 innings pitched in 2011 and leading
the Lady Tigers to the AAAA State Finals. Needham
has tallied 414 strikeouts in her three seasons, and had perfect
defensive seasons in 2010 and 2012, tabbing a .967 fielding percentage
her sophomore year. Needham also shines at the place, hitting well over
.300 every year, including .436 last spring as a
junior.
"Brandi
is the epitome of hard work," said Dripping Springs Softball Coach
Keith Tuck. "She has improved
every year since she was nine years old. Usually you don't see a kid
with that much ability work that hard, but Brandi does!! Each year she
sets out to make whatever weakness she has a strength, and she has done
that every year. She is a great young lady that
makes any coach she plays for proud. I can't wait to see her take the
field for the Illini for the next four years!!"
Needham
began her high school career by being named 26 AAAA Newcomer of the
Year to go along with a First-Team
All-District nod. The following season she repeated as a First-Team
All-District pitcher in 25 AAAA, and was named District Pitcher of the
Year. The Dripping Springs Lady Tiger Team MVP, Needham was named
All-Centex Player of the Year, TSWA AAAA State First-Team
pitcher and the TSWA AAAA State Player of the Year. In the spring of
2012, she was named District MVP, DS Lady Tiger MVP and First-Team
All-Centex. Additionally, she was named Academic All-District all three
years.
The
star pitcher has played with two different travel teams over the past
two seasons, hitting .412 with
a 1.05 ERA with the Texas Royals Gold team in 2011, and hitting .364
with a 1.17 ERA and a 1.000 fielding percentage with the Texas Bombers
Gold team in 2012.
"Brandi
is without a doubt one of the top pitchers to come out of the state of
Texas in the 2013 class,"
said Texas Bombers Gold Head Coach Scott Smith. "Her ability to get
people out with a variety of pitches makes it very difficult on hitters
to sit on any one pitch. She really reminds me of Stephen Strasburg of
the Washington Nationals. She has the ability
to throw her fastball by you on one pitch and then break off a screw,
curve or changeup to really bear down on you in every zone that a hitter
has to cover. With the awesome coaching she will receive at the
University of Illinois, the sky is the limit for her!"
Name: Ruby Rivera
Position: Shortstop
Hometown: Garden Grove, Calif.
High School: Pacifica High School
Travel Teams: Orange County Batbusters
Ruby Rivera
is a talentedshortstop from
Garden Grove, Calif. A three-year starter for Pacifica High School,
Rivera led the Mariners to back-to-back CIF second round appearances in
2010-11 and a third-round finish in 2012. The shortstop was named Rookie
of the Year and Second-Team All-Empire League
as a freshman, then earned first-team all-league honors in 2011 and
2012. Additionally, in her junior season, Rivera was named Defensive
Player of the Year and to the All-Tournament team at the Carew
Tournament.
"Ruby
is one of the most athletic young ladies I have ever coached," said
Pacifica Softball Coach Mark Campbell.
"She plays at such a high level and makes it look easy. Ruby is the
perfect role model for younger players to watch, so they can work hard
and dream that one day they could play like her."
A
travel player since 2007, Rivera currently plays for Gary Henning on
the 18U Orange County Batbusters.
The Garden Grove, Calif., native led the Corona Angels to a third-place
14Ufinish in Texas in 2008 and a second-place 14U finish in Georgia in
2009. After joining the 16U Batbusters in 2011, she led her team to a
second-place finish at the Colorado Tournament.
This past season, she returned to Colorado where her 18U Batbusters team
took first place at the tournament.
"Ruby is an extremely talented and very versatile athlete," said Hanning. "She can play any position on
the field other than pitcher, and she has the ability to be a dangerous hitter."
In addition to softball, Riverais also a four-years starter for the Pacifica High basketball team, who made
it to the CIF second round in 2012.
Name: Jade Vecvanags
Position: Pitcher/Outfield
Hometown: Orange, Calif.
High School: Orange Lutheran High School
Travel Team: Explosion (2012-13); Corona
Angels (2006-12)
Jade Vecvanags
comes to Champaign-Urbana
from Orange, Calif., where she pitches for Orange Lutheran High School.
Vecvanags led the Lancers to back-to-back CIF quarterfinal appearances
in 2011-12, and capture two straight league titles including going
undefeated in 2011. The hurler was named one of
the top-10 freshmen in the county in 2010, and followed with a pair of
first-team all-league selections the next two seasons. As a junior in
2012, Vecvanags went 16-1 in the circle with a 0.86ERA, while striking
out 155 batters in 114 innings. At the plate,
she hit .407 with 10 home runs and 26 RBI. Following the season, she was
named Trinity League MVP and Most Valuable Pitcher, first-team
all-country, first-team all-state and a MaxPreps All-American.
"We
are so excited for Jade to be signing with the University of Illinois,"
said Orange Lutheran Softball
Coach Steve Miklos. "Jade is a complete player who put up some lofty
offensive numbers and dominated in the pitching circle last season. We
are looking forward to her senior year at Orange Lutheran and her future
career at Illinois.
Jade is a
winner and will be an immediate asset to the Fighting Illini program.
She will be missed and we wish her all the best as she moves on to the
next level."
A
member of the Corona Angels since 2006, Vecvanags joined the Explosion
travel team in 2012. The Orange,Calif.,
native led her team in the 2008 12U ASA National Championship. Two years
later, she return to the ASA National Finals in the 14U division, and
was in the 16U Premier Top 10 in 2010 and 2011. Her team was then in the
18U ACA Gold Nationals Top 10 in 2011.
"Jade has been an outstanding student," said pitching coach Richard McArther. "She learns very well, she's
a real hard worker and has a great attitude. She will just get better."
Off the field, Vecvanags excelsin the classroom, earning High Honor Roll her first three years of high school
and becoming a member of the National Honor Society this fall.
