TAMPA, Fla. November 9, 2023 – Head softball coach, Ken Eriksen, announces six softball players have signed their National Letter of Intent to play for the University of South Florida Softball team for the 2024-25 season.
Eriksen’s signing class is comprised of five Florida natives and a Pennsylvania native. He is adding three utility players, two pitchers, and one outfielder.
Anne Long | Pitcher | Sanford, Fla. | Seminole High School | Windermere Wildfire
Long is a three-time letter winner at Seminole High School under head coach Aimee Halpin. In her career so far, she has posted 11 wins. She posted a 2.38 ERA in her junior season with 60 strikeouts and only 11 walks. She finished with a .329 average at the plate and hit four home runs. Anne was named to the All-Seminole Athletic Conference team twice, as well as being named the Team Most Valuable Player. Long is also a member of the Windermere Wildfire Club team under head coach George Paulson. In the summer of 2023, Long helped pitch her team to the Alliance National Championship in Chattanooga.
“Anne has shown me over the last couple of years that hard work and determination pay off,” said Eriksen. “Her relentless attitude is a bonus. She does things with the ball that baffle hitters. Long will complement our style of pitching.”
Alice DeWaters | Utility | Hobe Sound, Fla. | South Fork High School | Tampa Mustangs Rene
DeWaters is a two-time letter winner at South Forks High School under head coach Trevor Rolle. During the 2020-21 season, she was a letter-winner at Donovan Catholic High School in New Jersey. During her junior season, Alice posted a .429 batting average with 34 hits. Her on-base percentage was .565 and hit five triples. A threat on the bags, DeWaters stole 21 bases in her junior campaign. She was named to the All-State and All-District team. Alice is also a member of the Tampa Mustangs Rene under head coach Rene Ciccarello. In the classroom, her hard work earned her a spot on the All-Academic Team twice.
“Another intelligent ball player comes to us with a knack for undertaking this game,” said Eriksen. “I feel Alice is the “sleeper” of the 2024 signing class. The way she thinks out at first base and the way her approach is at the plate reminds me of Keith Hernandez from baseball. I’ll take that all day!”
Grace Rawn | Utility | Loxahatchee Groves, Fla. | Seminole Ridge Community High School | Florida Bandits
Rawn is a three-year softball letter winner at Seminole Ridge Community High School under head coach Candace Navarro. In her career, she has recorded 90 hits and 11 home runs. In her freshman season, she posted a .508 batting average, the highest of her career so far. Rawn has been nominated for the All-County First Team in the Palm Beach Post and the Sun Sentinel three years in a row. In 2023, she was nominated for the Palm Beach County Player of the Year. Rawn is also a member of the Florida Bandits under head coach Joseph Alba. In the classroom, she is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the National English Honors Society.
“Grace will provide us with another very athletic player that roams the outfield,” said Eriksen. “Her passion and work ethic fit in well with the type of players we have here.”
Karhys Pierce | Utility | Crystal Beach, Fla. | East Lake High School | Tampa Mustangs Rene
Pierce is a three-year letter winner at East Lake High School under head coach Kristine Delk. In her three years, she has posted above a .450 batting average with her highest coming in her freshman campaign when she finished with a .609 average. Karhys is a two-time Pinellas County All-Conference First Team and a Pinellas County All-Conference Second Team member. During her freshman season, Pierce broke the Pinellas County Hit Record and was named to the All-State 7A Team as well as the Extra Inning All-American High School Infielder. Pierce is also a member of the Tampa Mustangs Rene under head coach Rene Ciccarello. In the classroom, Pierce has excelled, earning herself early enrollment and a spot on the Principal’s Honor Roll at St. Pete College in 2023.
“One of the best all-around ball players from the Tampa Bay Area, Karhys is a smooth switch-hitting infielder,” said Eriksen. “Her instincts and positive approach to high-level softball will fit in with us immediately.”
Grace Chin | Outfield | Lithia, Fla. | Newsome High School | Florida Impact Gold-Ladd
Chin is a two-time letter winner at Newsome High School under head coach Allyson Ledenham. She has played in 40 games in her two years and has scored 30 runs. Chin has posted a perfect fielding percentage in her career. A threat on the bags, she has stolen 23 bases. Grace is also a member of Florida Impact-Gold Club team under head coach Deena Ladd. At the plate, she is 55 for 148 for a .372 batting average. Chin earned a spot on the Principal’s Honor Roll al three years and is a member of the National Honors Society.
“Grace has a head for the game,” said Eriksen. “Her outfield play is solid and her left-handed slap game is so diversified that it’ll be tough to play her one way or another. More than anything else she loves to play this game.”
McKenna Schroding | Pitcher | Green Lane, Pa. | Souderton Area High School | TNT East Gold 18U
Schroding is a four-time letter winner at Souderton Area High School under head coach Carol Atkinson. In her sophomore campaign, Schroding posted a 0.88 ERA. In her junior season, she finished with a 2.03 ERA. She was named captain of her high school team for her final two seasons. Schroding is also a member of the TNT East Gold 18U Club team under head coach Justin Ertel. McKenna is a three-time captain of her club team. Her hard work in the classroom has earned her a spot on the Distinguished Honor Roll as well as the Honor Roll.
“We feel very fortunate to be able to get an athlete in the circle for this signing class,” said Eriksen. “The ceiling for McKenna when I first saw her was very high and true to form her work ethic has evolved her into a hard-throwing pitcher who works all zones. I am excited for her to come in and join our staff.”
About USF Softball
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
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