DeFeo Announces 2012 Recruiting Class
11/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. - Mercer University softball head coach James DeFeo announced Monday the addition of four student-athletes as part of the Bears' 2012 fall recruiting class.
The four players are the first recruiting class for DeFeo after taking over the Bears' program back in September. Two players from Georgia and Two from the state of Texas highlight the group of four newcomers. Natalie Shiver (Fr., Leesburg, Ga.) Ashton Holt (Eastman, Ga.) Kaytlin Haney (Fr., Katy. Texas) and Marissa Botz (Fr. Katy, Texas) all signed national letters of intent recently.
"This year's signing class brings a little bit of everything to the table for the Bears," DeFeo said. "We are adding speed, athleticism, power, and pitching depth to our roster with the signing of these four exceptional student-athletes."
DeFeo has been active on the recruiting trail since coming over from LSU where he served as associate head coach for the Tigers. The four players are all highly decorated athletes at their respective high schools and will provide a level of depth for Mercer's new head coach.
Natalie Shiver – C – Leesburg, Ga. – Lee County High School
Shiver is an incoming freshman with four years of experience under Lynn Avery at Lee County High School. She was the 2011 Region 1-AAAA Defensive Player of the Year and a four-year First Team All-Region player as well. Shiver is also a two-time All-State AAAA performer, garnering First Team honors her sophomore year and Second Team her junior season at Lee County. Her high school team also qualified for the first round of the Georgia AAAA state playoffs and was a 2009 state runner up in Region 1-AAAA.
Shiver was the 2011 Wendy's High School Heisman award winner for Lee County HS and was also a recipient of the University of Georgia Certificate of Merit, which recognizes student-athletes who rank in the top give percent of their junior class. She chose Mercer for the opportunity to play Division I softball and plans to major in business.
Coach DeFeo on Shiver: "Natalie is an incredibly hard working athlete that has a powerful swing and an absolute cannon for an arm. Her primary position is catcher, but Nat could probably play anywhere on the field due to her pure athleticism."
Ashton Holt – IF – Eastman, Ga. – Dodge County High School
Holt is a four-year letterwinner for Dodge County High School and was the Region 3-AA Pitcher of the Year last season. She is the Georgia state record holder in career double and doubles in a season. She was named First Team All-Middle Georgia and First Team Region 3-AA this past season. Holt was also a 2011 Wendy's High School Heisman Top 10 Georgia State Finalist and was recently recognized by middle Georgia news outlet, 13 WMAZ as Athlete of the Week. She was also named to the Georgia Dugout Club's Elite 80 - a list of the state's top 80 softball players.
Holt is no slouch in the classroom as well. She carried the highest academic average in both her freshman and sophomore years at Dodge County and is also a recipient of the University of Georgia Certificate of Merit. She was a state of Georgia Governor's Honors Nominee in math and is ranked second in her graduating class.
Coach DeFeo on Holt: "Ashton is a strong athlete with the power potential to put up big offensive numbers for the Bears. Ashton has the ability to hit for both power and average. She will also bring added depth to the pitching circle as well as the infield."
Kaytlin Haney – IF – Katy, Texas – James E. Taylor High School
Haney comes to Mercer after playing for three years under head coach Billie Powell at James E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas. She is a two-time All-District 19 5A and Academic All-District player while her team was a 2011 regional semi-finalist after winning the district 19 5A championship. She was also named her high school's Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.
In the classroom, Haney is a member of the Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, and was awarded the Texas ACT Council Student Achievement Award in 2010.
Coach DeFeo on Haney: "Kat is a tenacious competitor that every coach would love to have on their team. She is a slick fielding shortstop with a sweet swing from the left side of the plate. Kat is also athletic enough to play anywhere on the field for the Bears."
Marissa Botz – P/IF – Katy, Texas – Morton Ranch High School
Marissa Botz is a four-year letterwinner for Suzanne Schulgen at Morton Ranch High School. Botz is a talented pitcher and offensive threat and was recently selected Second Team All-District in 2010. She has served as captain of her high school team since her freshman year and led the team to Texas state playoffs for the first time in school history. In 2010 she was selected to pitch in the televised "Best of the Best" All-American Game as part of her travel ball squad. She is also a three-year Academic All-District player at Morton Ranch.
Coach DeFeo on Botz: "Marissa is a special athlete that can do many things on the diamond. At the plate, she is a lefty with great speed and power. In the field, Marissa will be a dominant force in the pitching circle. She has smooth enough hands to play middle infield, and the foot speed to track anything down in the outfield for the Bears."
