OSU Softball Signs Six for 2016 Season

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State softball team and head coach Laura Berg have announced the addition of six new players set to join the Beavers for the 2015-16 season.

“I’m very excited for the new recruiting class. I’ve been waiting a long time for them to get here. They are going to be fun to watch them develop and will do some very exciting and special things here at Oregon State. “

Madison Anthony, Shelby Weeks, Jessica Garcia, Meehra Nelson, Kayleen Shafer and Savannah Egbert have all signed NLI’s and are set to attend Oregon State starting in the fall of 2015 and will compete in the 2016 season for the Beavers.

Anthony is a utility player from Vancouver, Wash., but comes to the Beavers from Northern Idaho Junior College. She earned first-team All-League at Skyview High School three times in her four years as a letter winner. She was named the All-Region Player of the Year her sophomore year at Skyview High School after hitting .605 that season. In her first year at Northern Idaho Junior College she was named first-team All-Region.

“Madison Anthony is a big, strong, athletic ball player,” said Berg. “She can play anywhere on the field and she’ll get the job done. Madison will be a big RBI producer for us.”

Weeks and Garcia are outfielders from California, Weeks from Tracy, Calif. and Garcia from Hughson, Calif. Weeks played for Merrill West High School while Garcia played for Hughson High. Both played their club softball for All American Softball Academy. Garcia also plays basketball for Hughson, being named All-League last year. Garcia was named All-State and Cal-Hi Sports Player of the Year for her efforts on the softball field.

“Shelby Weeks and Jessica Garcia will roam the outfield,” said Berg. “They are both very fast, have a great first step and get great reads off the bat. They also have strong arms. They both are a triple threat at the plate and will cause havoc on the bases with their speed.

Nelson is from West Hills, California and attends Westlake High School. She was named All-Conference Pitcher of the Year.

“Meehra Nelson is a very talented and highly recruited pitcher,” said Berg. “She will do some amazing things here at Oregon State. She throws very hard and has a great off speed pitch.”

Shafer will join the Beavers as a catcher from Mission Viejo, Calif.  She was named All-League in her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons at Mission Viejo High School. She was also named All-Orange County her sophomore and junior years.

“Kayleen Shafer has already been in some huge pressure situations which will help her in the transition to Pac-12 play,” said Berg. “She had the game winning hit in the championship game of the High School CIF.  She has also handled some very good pitchers.  Kayleen will come in here ready to call her own game which is pretty rare. 

Egbert joins the Beavers from Connell, Wash. She was named All-State during her freshman, sophomore and junior season and was also the 2014 SCAC East League MVP during as a junior.

“Savanna Egbert is a versatile ball player,” said Berg. “She can see some time behind the plate, in the outfield or at third base.” 

Oregon State softball will start the 2015 season Thursday, Feb. 5 when they travel to Tempe, Ariz. to take part in the Kajikawa Classic. It will be the fourth in a ro w that the Beavers will compete in the Kajikawa tournament, this year they will have games against Ole Miss, Pacific, Indiana, Wisconsin, Nevada and Cal Poly.