Softball Signs First Two Additions For 2008-09

Nov. 20, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas softball coach Tracy Bunge announced the signing of two new players to national letters of intent Tuesday morning. Sarah Blair and Marissa Ingle will begin their softball careers at <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas starting in the 2008-09 academic year.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Blair, a pitcher/utility player from Katy, Texas, is a two-time all-area and all-district first team selection pitcher from JamesE.TaylorHigh School. In her junior year, Blair was chosen most valuable player by her teammates and earned academic all-district honors. As a freshman, Blair was an all-district honorable mention outfielder where she started every game she did not pitch.

“We are excited that Sarah has chosen to go away from home and come to Kansas,” said Bunge on the signing of Blair. “She is a pitcher who can also hit and will help this team on both sides of the ball. She has been coming on very strong in the past year as a pitcher, and I see her adding to the depth of our pitching staff next year. Offensively, Sarah will add a needed bat off the bench when she isn’t pitching.”

A 5-foot-4 third baseman/utility player out of neighboring Olathe, Kan., Marissa Ingle will also join the Kansas softball team beginning in the fall of 2008. Ingle attended OlatheNorthHigh School where she was recognized as an NCFA first team all-state selection and all-american scholar-athlete three times. She was also selected to the Sunflower all-league team the past three years and has been awarded offensive player of the year by her teammates each of the last three seasons. In 2007, Ingle helped her club team, the KC Peppers Gold, to a first place finish in the 18U Major USSSA Nationals and was chosen to the tournament all-world team.

“Marissa is a wonderful young lady that we have known for a long time through our camps and clinics and we are thrilled that she has joined the Jayhawk family,” Bunge said. “She is an intense player who has the potential to help us in a couple of defensive areas because of her versatility. She is a very tough offensive player and should add a lot to our lineup next year. She is a great fit for our program.”

“We are excited that both of these young ladies have chosen the University of Kansas,” added Bunge. “There is no doubt that they will add to the talent that is already on this team. Just as important, however, is what they will add off the field and what they will do in the classroom and in the community.”