Kansas Softball Adds Dominant Pitcher

Dec. 3, 2012

Softball Signees

Name	Hometown
Lily Behrmann	Overland Park, Kan.
Taylor Dodson	Grove, Okla.
Taylor McElhaney	Talala, Okla.
Harli Ridling	Sentinel, Okla.
Katelyn Schumacher	Hays, Kan.
Sophia Templin	De Soto, Kan.
Beth Wilson	Canton, Ill.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Fourth-year head coach Megan Smith added to her 2013 signing class with six-foot transfer pitcher Beth Wilson, who will take the circle for the Kansas softball team next season.

A native of Canton, Ill., Wilson joins Lily Behrmann (Overland Park, Kan.), Taylor Dodson (Grove, Okla.), Taylor McElhaney (Talala, Okla.), Harli Ridling (Sentinel, Okla.), Katelyn Schumacher (Hays, Kan.) and Sophia Templin (DeSoto, Kan.) in the seven-member recruiting class of 2013.

Wilson signed with Kansas after a highly impressive freshman season at Heartland Community College (Normal, Ill.), where she currently plays for head coach John Bassett. In 2012, the right-handed pitcher struck out 232 batters in 192.2 innings of work. She wrapped up her first collegiate season with a 1.96 ERA, averaging 1.2 strikeouts per inning.

“Beth is a true power pitcher who was highly recruited from a great junior college program and we are very excited that she has chosen to be a Jayhawk,” Smith said. “She is a strong and intimidating pitcher who has great velocity and movement. She is going to step in and be ready to compete at this level and will be a great compliment to the pitchers on our current roster.”

In 2012, Wilson led HCC, a team that was never ranked outside the top six in the nation during its 2012 campaign, to a Mid-West Athletic Conference (M-WAC) title. In 37 starts, Wilson finished the season with a 27-7 record, allowing only 54 earned runs and 88 walks.

Prior to her junior college experience, Wilson was a four-year letterwinner at Canton High School under head coach Bob Barnes. While there, she led the Little Giants to a 2A Regional and Sectional Championship during her sophomore season. The next year, she led her team to another Regional Championship while also earning individual Mid Illini All-Conference and All-State accolades. Wilson wrapped up her senior year with another All-Conference award.

Aside from pitching in high school, Wilson lettered for two years in volleyball, one year in golf and all four years on the women’s basketball team – where she ranks second all-time at CHS for career rebounds. The six-footer was named to the Mid Illini All-Conference Team following her senior basketball season.

At the club level, Wilson played for the Mid Illini Mayhem under head coach Jaime Martindale for two impactful seasons. In 2010, the Mayhem were ASA State Champs, NSA World Series Runner-Up and USSSA State Champs, in which Wilson was also named the USSSA MVP. In 2011, the Mayhem took fourth place at NSA State.

UP NEXT
The 2012-13 Jayhawks will kick off their season on Feb. 8 against NC State as part of the Florida International Tournament in Miami, Fla.

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