DAHLONEGA, GA - North Georgia College & State University
head softball coach Mike Davenport has announced the signing of
seven players to National Letters of Intent for the 2009-2010
season.
“I am excited about this signing class and the compliment
they will have on our softball program at North Georgia as not only
athletes but students as well,” Davenport said. Victoria St.
Clair, Krysten Connelly, Lauren Dykes, Callie Fernandez, Michaela
Hamilton, Megan Kesler, and Shea Wages look to add energy and
strength to the powerful Saints’ roster.
Hampton, Georgia native Victoria St. Clair joins the Saints’
outfield from Luella High School in Locust Grove, Georgia. The
Luella Lions 2008 team captain, under the coaching of Stephen
Adkins, has been the recipient of the Coach’s Award,
Offensive Award, and Defensive Award, as well as academically
receiving the Health Award. During the summer, she plays her travel
ball with the Georgia Mustangs and the Extreme Mavericks under
coaches Mark Sullivan and Mark Redman.
Krysten Connelly hails from Lawrencville, GA and was the 2008
Pitcher of the Year for 5A Peachtree Ridge High School in S uwanee,
GA. During her tenure under Head Coach Duane Wilson, she helped the
Lions
capture a Team of the Month honor in addition to leading the team
to a 5A GHSA Region Championship. She was twice elected to the High
School All-County and the High School All-Region teams, and was
once named Player of the Week. In 2007, she earned Player of the
Year honors after helping her team to a second place finish in the
5A GHSA State Championship Tournament. Krysten will join high
school teammate Callie Fernandez, and will become an addition the
Saints’ pitching staff. Krysten played summber ball for the
Knockouts 18-Gold under the direction of Drew Findling.
Lauren Dykes, a left handed pitcher and first basemen from East
Paulding High School in Dallas, GA, joins the Saints with a
high-school ERA 1.00 and a batting average of .430. A starting and
letter-winning East Paulding Raider since 2005 for Head Coach Rick
Holsomback, she helped her team reach the Georgia High School Final
Four in 2005. She was named All-Region First Team and All-State
Second Team as a freshman and was included as an Honorable Mention
in the 2006 and 2007 All-Region Teams, as well as being named to
the 2008 All-Region First Team. Through her high-school career she
was also named to the Beta Club at East Paulding. With the Georgia
Fire Black in 2007, she reached the 18A ASA Nationals and was named
to the ASA Hall of Fame. She now plays under Head Coach Bill Neglia
with the Georgia Fire Gold during the travel season, leading the
team in the categories of batting, slugging, and on base
percentages with a .448, .594, and .465 respectively, and helping
her team reach the ASA Gold Nationals.
Peachtree Ridge High School senior Callie Fernandez will join the
Saints’ infielders at short stop and second base. Calling
Atlanta, Georgia her hometown, the Peachtree Ridge Lion helped her
team reach fourth place in 2006 in the GHSA AAAAA Tournament and
runners-up in 2007, and they were the 2008 Gwinnett County High
School 7-AAAAA Region Champions as well as placing fourth place at
the AAAAA Tournament in 2008. Her team was named the Gwinnett
County High School Team of the Month in September of 2007. In 2007
she was named to the Gwinnett County High School All-County Second
Team and the All-Region Team as well as the Peachtree Ridge Most
Valuable Player. As a senior she was named to the 2008 Gwinnett
County High School All-County First Team, the All-Region First
Team, and the All-State Fastpitch East Atlanta All-Star Team, as
well as earning the Best Offensive Player title at Peachtree Ridge
after hitting a .386 with 1 homerun, 11 doubles, 4 triples, and 34
RBIs, the most in Gwinnett County. During the summer she plays for
the Dacula Lady Falcons 18 Gold, where she qualified for Nationals
in 2008.
Leftie Michaela Hamilton, a Cataula, GA native playing for the
Harris County High School Tigers in Hamilton, GA, joins the
Saints’ pitching staff. Under Coach Ed Oliver, she earned the
2005 Physical Fitness Award and the Coaches’ Horizon Award
for an exhibiting potential after an outstanding season, as well as
being named to the All-West Georgia (All Bi-City) Second Team. The
Tigers were the 2006 and 2007 2-AAA Region Champions and made it to
third place at the GHSA AAA Tournament both years. She earned the
Most Valuable Player Award at Harris County High School in 2006 and
the Pitcher of the Year Award in 2007 and was named to the All-West
Georgia (All Bi-City) First Team and the All-State Second Team in
2006 and the All-West Georgia (All Bi-City) First Team and the
All-State First Team in 2007. As a senior she led the Tigers to
runners-up in the 1-AAAA Region and was again named to the All-West
Georgia (All Bi-City) First Team. Her academic awards include the
United States All-American Scholar Award and the United States
Mathematics Achievement Award. Her travel ball team, the Georgia
Challengers led by Coach Jill Carlson, made an appearance at the
2006 16A Southern Nationals, were the 2007 ASA Georgia State
Champions and again appeared at Nationals, and reached ninth place
at the 2008 ASA 18A Nationals.
Megan Kesler will join the Saints’ squad from Madison County
High School in Danielsville, GA, where she completes a successful
senior season under Head Coach Doug Kesler. She racked up 13 wins
as a starting pitcher, while only suffering 5 losses. She had a
1.43 ERA in 107 innings of work and produced 3 no-hitters. She is a
NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete and is ranked among the top 5 in
her senior class. Megan garnered a 1st Team GHSA All-Region
selection in 2008 and was a member of the Georgia Dugout Club
All-Star Game (North Team.) In 2007, Kesler earned a 2nd Team All
Region selection and received the Red Raider Award on her high
school team. Upon completion of the 2006 season, Megan captured the
Most Valuable Pitcher award. She also received the President's
Educational Award, was a member of the National Honor Roll, earned
the Georgia Certificate of Merit, and was awarded the DAR Good
Citizen Award. Megan will play for the GA Outlaws and Nikki Pittman
during the summer travel ball season.
Shea Wages is a native of Statham, GA and was a member of the North
Oconee High School softball and basketball programs in Bogart, GA.
Shea finished her softball career with a 108-42 record in 4 years
under Head Coach Bryan Eades. During her senior season, the left
handed hitting Wages appeared in 34 games, had 117 at bats with 43
hits an average of .417, with only 2 strike outs. She was
responsible for 30 runs scored and 13 RBI’s while
contributing 22 stolen bases out of 26 attempts on the base paths.
The North Oconee Titans finished the 2008 season as the 8-AA Region
Champs and advanced to the State Playoffs. Shea earned the Varsity
Academic Award for having the Titans highest GPA. In the 2007
season, Shea was awarded Oconee Enterprise Player of the Week
honors, and was named to the 1st Team All Northeast GA and 1st Team
All-Region teams. She made 2nd Team All-State, received the Varsity
Academic award for highest GPA, and was selected as the North
Oconee Titans Most Valuable Offensive Player having batted a .487
with a perfect 30 for 30 stolen bases. In 2006, Shea helped the
Titans win the 8-AA GHSA Region and State Championship titles,
while earning 1st team All-State, All-Region, and All Northeast
Georgia team honors. She was also a varsity starting point-guard
for the North Oconee Titans basketball team. She grabbed the
Varsity Hustle award and Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 and
2006 respectively. Shea has added to her list of accomplishments by
being a member of the Beta Club, serving as her Senior Class Vice
President, 4 year recipient of the Honor Roll and the 2008
Homecoming Queen. Shea will join the Saints’ as an outfielder
in 2009-10. During the summer, Wages plays for the Atlanta Phoenix
coached by Ted Watson, Tim Smith, and Bill Young.
- Quotes from Head Coach Mike Davenport -
“Bringing in quality kids, not only quality athletes but
quality people, from the state of Georgia was a priority to our
recruiting philosophy.
All sevenof these players are multidimensional athletes that will
address our future needs on the field. We are very honored to have
them become part of our Saints Softball Program.”
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