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Written by James L
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Thursday, 15 November 2007 06:33 |
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Softball: Mountain Lions sign five to national letters of intent By Doug Fitzgerald
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs softball coach Scott Peterson announced the signing of five players to national letters of intent on Wednesday. 
All five players are from Colorado high schools. Joining the Mountain Lions for the 2009 season will be Allie Benkert of Pine Creek, Christina Blanton from Cherokee Trail, Taryn Duncan from Columbine, Chara Horsley from Loveland and Megan McGinnis from Holy Family.
“This is another great group,” said Peterson, who has strung together several consecutive strong recruiting classes. “We keep looking to add athletic kids who are good citizens and students. All of these kids are athletic and are great leaders on their respective teams.”
Benkert hit .377 this past season while leading the Pikes Peak region in doubles with 11 and placing third in triples with four. She was named to the Class 5A team for the Metro League All-Star Game, which was played on Oct. 24 at Mountain Lion Field. She played second base in high school.
Blanton was a first-team all-Colorado selection by the Rocky Mountain News in 2007 after hitting .488 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs in just 82 at bats. A catcher in high school, she also had nine doubles and three triples to give her a ridiculous 2.841 slugging percentage. Blanton had at least one base hit in 20 of her 23 games this past season and had three or more hits seven times.
Duncan was the starting catcher for a Columbine team that made it all the way to the state Final Four. Aside from playing outstanding defense, she hit .274and stole seven bases. Duncan displayed outstanding plate discipline, striking out only three times in 73 at bats.
Horsley continues a strong relationship between Peterson and Loveland High School. His first big-time recruit, Amber Colton, was a Loveland grad and his best player, Crystal Krebs, also played for the Indians. Horsley hit .370 with four doubles while striking out just once in 54 at bats. A first baseman, she also stole six bases.
“It feels really good; I’m really comfortable, especially (at UCCS),” said Horsley. “This is where I really wanted to go.”
McGinnis was named the Rocky Mountain News Class 3A Pitcher of the Year and was also on the paper’s 3A all-state team She was named the Denver Post’s Class 3A Player of the Year as an outfielder in 2006. Posted a 19-2 record with a miniscule 0.88 ERA in 2007, striking out 169 while walking just 19 over 144 innings. McGinnis also impressed with the bat, hitting .475 with eight stolen bases, six doubles, two triples and two home runs in 80 at bats. Hit .452 in 2006. http://www.uccs.edu/~athletic/story.php?id=1423
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 July 2008 19:35 )
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