ATLANTA – Head coach Roger Kincaid announced his 2019 signing class last week, welcoming 10 new Panthers to the softball program.
All 10 signees call the Peach State home, a testament to the quality of prep softball in the state and the ability for Kincaid to keep the state's talent in Georgia.
“This is a large class with ten members. They address all our needs. This group is athletic, fast and can play multiple positions,” Kincaid said. “They all will compete, play hard and they are winners. Academically this is one of the best classes that we have ever signed. I am extremely proud that they are Panthers! We can't wait to get started with them.”
Maddie Clay (INF, Silver Creek, Ga., Pepperell HS, Ga Academy Power)
2016/17 Most Improved for GAP… Georgia Dugout Club All Star Team… Superintendents Advisory Committee at school… Will be graduating on November 14th with a 4.0 GPA… Four years of National Honors Society… Freshman first team All-County… Freshman second team all-region… Freshman Honorable Mention All-State… Freshman Starter State Champ… Broke high school home run and RBI records.
“Maddie is a third baseman that swings very well from the left side of the plate. She is a very aggressive defender that plays the game with great passion and effort. Her development as a player the last 12 to 18 months has been fun to watch and we expect that to continue.” – Coach Downes
Emily Brown (OF, Suwanee, Ga., North Gwinnett HS, Georgia Impact)
Four-year Varsity Starter… 2015 NGHS Region 7-AAAAAA Champions… 2015 NGHS Elite Eight Region 7-AAAAAA… 2016 NGHS Scholar Athlete… 2016 NGHS State Champions Region 7-AAAAAAA… 2016 Gwinnett Daily Post Second Team All-County… 2016 Gwinnett Diamond Club All County Team… 2016 Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Second Team All-State… 2017 Gwinnett Daily Post First Team All-County… 2017 Gwinnett Diamond Club All-County Team… 2017 Gwinnett Diamond Club Player of the Month… 2017 Georgia Athletic Coaches Association First Team All-State… 2017 Region Champions Region 6-AAAAAAA… 2017 NGHS Scholar Athlete… 2018 Final Four Region 6-AAAAAAA… 2018 Nominated for GADC All-State Team… 2018 Gwinnett Diamond Club All-County Team… 2018 Gwinnett Diamond Club Scholar-Athlete… National Honor Society… Key Club.
“Emily is an outfielder that can flat out go get the ball. She is a speed kid that will be a tough out in our lineup. She will get on and steal bases.” – Coach Kincaid
Emily Buck (RHP, Loganville, Ga., Loganville HS, Georgia Impact)
Key Scholar… National Honors Society… Leader in tutoring program at school… Region 8 5A Pitcher of the Year… Recognized by FloSoftball as “one of the top pitchers in the southeast” in 2018.
“Emily Buck is a fierce competitor that we will rely on in the circle. Her ability to make pitches in big moments will bolster our pitching staff immediately this Spring.” – Coach Stockdale
Julia Allen (RHP, Fayetteville, Ga., Landmark Christian HS, Georgia Impact)
Started on the varsity softball team at Landmark all four years... All-region as a senior... Four state appearances... Region runner-up in 2018... Started on the varsity basketball team three years... All-region recognition as a junior... Honor Roll... National Beta Club... National Honors Society... National Chinese Honors Society... President of Chinese Club
“Julia Allen's athletic ability will add depth to our pitching staff. We are excited to watch her develop and grow over the next 4 years.” – Coach Stockdale
Sophie Mooney (RHP, Lawrenceville, Ga., Collins Hill HS, Atlanta Vipers)
Varsity starting pitcher all four years… 2018 first team all-region… first team all-county… GADC all-state… Gwinnett Daily Post Player of the Week in 2018… Pitched 89 innings with 111 strikeouts during senior year… Had the highest batting average at .487 with six home runs senior year… Led high school team to three Sweet 16's and one Elite 8 game throughout high school career… Made first team all-region, first team all-county and Player of the Month in 2017… Player of the Month and all-county in 2015… 2009 Hit, Pitch and Run 8U top three in nation and competed at MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis.
“Sophie Mooney is an incredible athlete. Her dominance in the circle will help our team accomplish the goals we have set. Sophie is a good hitter and has the opportunity to help as a position player as well. We look forward to her arrival on campus next year.” – Coach Stockdale
Daisy Hess (INF, Acworth, Ga., Allatoona HS, Ga Academy Power)
Athletic Leadership (four years)… Scholar-Athlete (four years)… Starting shortstop on Varsity all four years… All-Region (2015-2017)... All-Region Golden Glove Award 2017… First Team All-Cobb County shortstop 2017… Nominated Positive Athlete 2018… TPN (Top Prospect Network) Athlete of the Month 2016… Varsity Track and Field as a freshman 2015… Elite 8 2015… Region Champs 2017… State Runner-Up 2017… Georgia Power Coaches Award 2015… Stephanie Phillips Award for commitment and dedication 2015… Georgia Power Defensive Player of the Year 2016-2017… Team finished No. 19 in the 18U NPS U.S. club softball ranking… Finished seventh at USA softball junior Olympic Cup… Finished first in Triple Crown SE Nationals in 18U group as 16U team… Earned the 1st GA ASA berth for ASA nationals (finishing 13th out of 92 teams at ASA nationals in College Station, Texas)… Finished third at ASA Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.
“Daisy is right handed athletic infielder that can play multiple positions on the field. Her versatility allowed her to be a lead-off hitter in high school while she also has middle of the order type skills. She comes from a very successful high school program that has helped prepare her to be a college athlete.” – Coach Downes
Hollynn Lott (Catcher, Douglas, Ga., Coffee County HS, Atlanta Vipers)
Played for the Atlanta Vipers Moore 18u Gold… Region 1 6-A Second-Team all-region 2015… Region 1 6-A First-Team all-region 2016-18… 2015 Defensive Player of the Year… 2015 Coaches Award… 2015 3-5A all-region Catcher… 2016-18 1-6A all-region Catcher… 2016-18 Slugger Award… 2017-18 Gold Glove… 2017-18 MVP… 2018 Region 1-6A Player of the Year… Led Region 1-6A in home runs… Four-year varsity starting catcher… Honor Roll, 4.0 GPA… More than 200 hours community service.
“Hollynn is a catcher that can also play a corner position. She is strong and athletic. Hollynn swings the bat well and will add some pop to our lineup.” – Coach Kincaid
Cheyenne Miller (OF, Guyton, Ga., South Effingham HS, Georgia Impact)
Honor Roll (2015-18)… Academic Award-Softball ('15-'18)… Varsity Letter-Softball ('15-'18)… 2nd Team All Region- ('16)… Savannah Morning News All Greater Savannah Best of Preps Honorable Mention-('16)… 1st Team All Region- ('17)… 1st Team All State- ('17)… 2017 Region 2 AAAAA Player of the Year-('17)… SEHS Offensive Player of the Year ('17)… Savannah Morning News All Greater Savannah Best of Preps 1st Team- ('17)… Savannah Morning News Player of the Week- ('17)… Effingham Herald Player of the Week- ('17)… Georgia Dugout Club All-State team (12)… Effingham Herald Player of the Week- 3 different times/weeks ('18)… 2018 Region 2 AAAAA Player of the Year ('18)… 1st team All-Region ('18)… SEHS Most RBI's -35… Batting Average .421 ('18).
“Cheyenne can really swing the bat. She hits the ball well to all fields and will be tough to defend. She can also play infield or outfield which gives us a lot of options.” – Coach Kincaid
Bailee Richardson (INF, Locust Grove, Ga., Locust Grove HS, East Cobb Bullets)
2015 second team all-region… 2015 Region Runner-up… 2016 second team all-region… 2016 Region Runner-up… 2016 Offensive Player of the Year… 2017 first team all-region… 2017 first team all-state… 2017 Defensive Player of Year… 2017 4-5A Region Champions… 2017 5A State Champions… 2018 4-5A Region Player of the Year… 2018 Defensive Player of Year… 2018 4-5A Region Champions. 2018 5A State Champions… Involved in Student Government and also played varsity basketball… 3.89 GPA ranked 17th in Graduating class of 380… Top-15 finalist at every national event competed in with the East Cobb Bullets for four years straight… Currently playing on the nationally ranked No. 1 team in the country with East Cobb Bullets Gold Schnute… IDT top-10 finishers past two years in a row in Colorado.
“Bailee is a winner. She is coming off back to back State Championships. She knows how to get it done. Bailee is a great hitter and can play multiple positions. She is really going to help our team get better.” – Coach Kincaid
Sofia Tunon (Catcher, Woodstock, Ga., Woodstock HS, Ga Academy Power)
Four-year starter at Woodstock H.S… Four-year letterman… First team all-Region 4 (7A) 2015, 2018… All-Region Catcher 2015 Region 4 (7A)… All-County Honorable Mention 2016… Lamp of Knowledge Award recipient (90 and above average 3 years of high school)… Academic Letter 2017, 2018… Varsity Academic Award - Woodstock High School Softball… 2016 Stephanie Phillips Award (Award is the highest honor given to players in Woodstock program)… Played six seasons for Georgia Power DeMarini Gold team that accomplished the following results during the 2018 season with a record of 60-10-2… Finished No. 19 in the 18U NPS US Club Rankings… Finished ninth at Colorado Fireworks, 18U Super 64 bracket, Denver, Colo… Finished ninth at Triple Crown US Nationals, Atlanta, Ga… Finished seventh at USA Softball Jr. Olympic Cup, St. Louis.
“Sofia is an athlete that we have seen play since the 9th grade and are excited to be adding to our program. She is a right-handed hitter with a strong presence behind the plate that demonstrates great leadership skills. She's a coach's kid and understands how the game needs to be played.” – Coach Downes
