Nov. 12, 2010

By Meredith Danner
Athletic Media Relations

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State softball Head Coach Jen Fisher announced the signings of five new players to National Letters of Intent on Friday  The class, Fisher's first at Colorado State, includes four of the top players from the state of Colorado. 

Haley David, Taylor Hutton, Molly Randle, Shae Rodriguez and Danielle Wikre will be additions to the Rams' 2011-12 roster.   

"We're pleased to have just come on board in August and have such a quality in-state recruiting class," Fisher said. "The four in-state signees all played in their respective classifications' state championship game this fall. That championship experience will certainly be something that we will look to draw upon."

Haley David (5-4, IF, Erie, Colo./Erie HS)
David is four-time letterwinner for the  Erie High School Tigers in Erie, Colo. In each of her four high school softball seasons, her team won both the Tri-Valley League and 4A state championship. She holds the record for career steals at Erie and was named all-state in 2010. David received academic letters in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and is on the honor roll. She competed against fellow signees Hutton and Rodriguez. 

Fisher on David: "Haley David is a dynamic base-runner who can really put pressure on the defense.  She is naturally gifted in the middle infield where she can really range for balls, as well as shut down our opponents' bunt and slap defenses.  She has the attitude of a winner and four state championships to her name."

Taylor Hutton (5-5, OF, Platteville, Colo./Valley HS)
Hutton is a four-time letterwinner for the Valley High School Vikings in Gilcrest, Colo., where as team captain she led her team to the 3A state championship in 2010. She was named first-team all conference all four years and garnered Denver Post first-team 3A all-state honors in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Hutton holds career records at Valley in eight categories, including home runs, RBI, hits, pitching strikeouts and pitching wins. She was named 2010 3A state tournament co-MVP along with her sister, Haley, as well as the Greeley Tribune Softball Athlete of the Year in 2009 and Senior All-State Game Player of the Game in 2010. Hutton competed against fellow signees Wikre and David while in high school. Academically, sge was named Colorado High School Activities Association academic all-state her junior and senior years. Her mother Christine Oglesby Hutton, and uncle Luke Oglesby, played softball and baseball, respectively, at CSU, while her grandfather, Fred, was CSU's head athletic trainer for more than 30 years before retiring in 2005.

Fisher on Hutton: "It's very exciting for us to have gotten a commitment from Taylor Hutton, whose mom was a two-time conference champion in softball at Colorado State.  It's great to see Taylor so comfortable and in her element here.  She is very versatile and can play almost any position from pitcher to shortstop, but we primarily expect to utilize her speed in the outfield."

Molly Randle (5-9, P, Beaumont, Texas/Clifton J. Ozen Magnet HS)
The Rams' only out-of-state signee, Randle is four-time letterwinner for the Beaumont High School Panthers in Beaumont, Texas.  She was named team captain all four years, garnered all-state honors in 2009 and 2010 and was named to the Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold team. Randle is a member of National Honor Society and received the Academic Achiever, Citizenship and Biology awards.

Fisher on Randle: "Assistant coach Dedeann Pendleton had already laid the groundwork with the only out-of-state early signee, Molly Randle, and we're ecstatic that Molly remained steadfast in her positive feelings for Colorado State and her future teammates.  She is a dynamic athlete, with whom we expect to add depth on the mound.  Not only is she a solid pitcher, Molly could also challenge for a starting role in the outfield with her speed and tools at the plate.  She comes from an athletic family, as both of her parents played college sports.  Not only is Molly a tremendous athlete, she also brings the determination, and work ethic that has come to be expected of members of the Rams squad."

Shae Rodriguez (5-1, OF, Westminster, Colo./Legacy HS)
Rodriguez is a four-time letterwinner for the Legacy High School Lightning in Broomfield, Colo., where she led her team to the 5A state championship as team captain in 2010. The team was also state champion in 2007, 2008 and 2009, as well as league and district champion all four seasons. Rodriguez garnered first-team all-conference and first-team all-state honors in 2010. She also received an honorable mention for the MaxPreps All-Colorado Player of the Year in 2009. Rodriguez competed against current Ram Brianna Donahue while at Legacy. 

Fisher on Rodriguez: "Shae Rodriguez is another four-time state champion.  We think Shae is an awesome center fielder with all the tools: glove, range, arm and leadership.  Like Haley, fans should look for Shae to make things happen at the plate and on the bases.  Like all of our signees, Shae comes from a wonderful family and we are just so thrilled to be growing our Rams extended family with such quality people."

Danielle Wikre (5-4, 3B, Berthoud, Colo./Berthoud HS)
Wikre is a four-time letterwinner for the Berthoud High School Spartans in Berthoud, Colo., where her team was the district and regional champion in 2010. After the 2010 season she received all-Colorado honors and received all-conference honors in 2008 and 2010. Wikre holds school season records for batting average, hits, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, doubles, triples, RBI and home runs. She also holds the all-time career record in five categories. Wikre competed against fellow signee Taylor Hutton while with Berthoud. Her older brother, Trevor, is a graduate assistant with the CSU football team.  

Fisher on Wikre:  "Danielle Wikre is a hard-nosed, power-hitting third baseman who we anticipate will raise the level of our offense, and challenge the other heavy hitters in our program.  She too comes from an athletic family with two older brothers who played football at Mesa State College."

"I expect that all of our signees will continue to raise the bar high for Ram Softball both academically and athletically," Fisher said. "We really have recruited some quality young people here.  I'm so thankful to the university and its commitment to provide an environment where young people can compete and get a first-class education."

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