Smith Adds Pair of Transfers to 2016 Roster
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas softball head coach Megan Smith added even more experience to her veteran roster after announcing the addition of a pair of transfers for 2016 on Tuesday morning. Jordan Zolman and Andie Formby have signed grant-in-aid agreements to play for the Jayhawks.
Zolman, an infielder from Arbyrd, Missouri, comes to Kansas after two seasons at Missouri, while Formby, a pitcher from Orange, California, spent her freshman campaign at Virginia.
“We are very excited to welcome Andie and Jordan to the Jayhawk family,” Smith said. “They will both add valuable experience and depth to an already talented roster.”
Last season with the Tigers, Zolman batted .346 (9-for-26) with two doubles, a pair of home runs and 10 RBIs. She recorded three runs scored while posting a .645 slugging percentage and .485 on-base percentage. During her freshman year, Zolman appeared in 15 games and registered 15 at-bats. She recorded her first career hit, a single, against North Dakota State (3/22/14).
“Jordan will definitely add a powerful bat to our offensive lineup and I believe she will be an impact player for us,” said Smith. “She has pure power and has been successful against some of the top pitchers and teams in the country. It will be exciting to see what she will do in a Jayhawk jersey.”
Prior to Missouri, Zolman prepped at Southland High School where she helped the Rebels win four conference championships. She was named Tri-County Conference Player of the Year after hitting .741 with three home runs, 19 RBIs and 27 intentional walks. She earned player of the year and first-team all-conference honors all four years of high school.
Zolman played travel ball with Nationals Gold and the Birmingham Thunderbolts.
“I chose KU because of the family atmosphere and it felt like home,” Zolman said. “The softball program and facilities are amazing. The coaches made me feel like family the moment I walked through the door.”
During the 2015 campaign, Formby made 33 appearances and 24 starts in the circle at Virginia. She registered an 8-17 record and 5.56 ERA in 148 and two-thirds innings of work. Formby tossed 12 complete games and struck out 102 batters. On two occasions, she struck out a career-best eight batters in a single game. Formby threw the final four innings of a no-hitter against Virginia Tech (4/8).
“Andie will definitely add experience to our young pitching staff,” Smith said. “She has been tested against top-level competition both during high school and collegiate competition. She has great movement and great command of her pitches and her work ethic and demeanor is a perfect fit for our team.”
Formby ended her high school career at Mater Dei and helped the Monarchs to a Trinity League Championship in 2013. Formby began her prep career at Los Alamitos High School and aided in the Griffins winning a Sunset League Championship and advancing to the semifinals of the CIF Championship.
“I chose Kansas because of their ability to compete and the high expectations of the program had for its student-athletes,” said Formby. “I loved the amazing support and fantastic facility that KU has to offer. KU is also well respected academically, which allows for student-athletes to be successful both as a student and an athlete.”
In 2011, Formby was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-West Region team and NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete. She earned Sunset League and Long Beach Press Telegram Pitcher of the Year honors, while also being named Orange County Register Freshman of the Year at the conclusion of the 2011 season.
On the travel ball circuit, Formby played for Team Mizuno (OC Batbusters Haning). In 2014, she helped the Batbusters to a Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championship.
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
