DeFeo Secures Five in First Full Year of Recruiting
11/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. - Mercer University head softball coach James DeFeo announced the signing of five student-athletes to his 2013 recruiting class during the NCAA early signing period on Monday.
The class is a well-rounded bunch with three out-of-state players and two hailing from the state of Georgia. It is the first full recruiting class for DeFeo since he took over the program last year.
The Bears fill immediate needs all around the diamond with signees, Taylor Miller (Stone Mountain , Ga. – Mountain View HS), Kirsten Stevens (Crystal Lake, Ill. – Prairie Ridge HS), Anna Cizek (Naperville, Ill. – Neuqua Valley HS), Anna O'Neill (Norfolk, Mass. – King Philip HS), and Caroline Taylor(Alma, Ga. – Bacon County HS).
"This year's stellar signing class is a culmination of this staff's first full year of recruiting at Mercer," DeFeo said. "Three different states are represented by the class of 2013 signees (Ga., Ill., and Mass.), and will bolster the Mercer Bears softball program with additional speed, power, and pitching depth for years to come."
Caroline Taylor – Bacon County High School – Alma, Georgia
Taylor was a four-year letter winner for Stephen Tyre at Bacon Country High School. While at Bacon Country, Taylor was twice named the Region 2AA Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011. She is a two-time First Team All-State selection in 2010 and 2011 as well and had the second most homeruns (19) in the state of Georgia in 2011. Her junior year also saw her hit for the fifth-best batting average in the state.
"Caroline will provide us with some game changing power in our lineup in addition to solidifying the infield at the corners," DeFeo said. "Taylor is a special player that will hit for both power and average, and has tremendous power to all fields."
Taylor carries a talent inside the classroom as well as she was recently awarded the University of Georgia Certificate of Merit and maintains the highest math III class average at Bacon County HS.
Anna O'Neill – King Philip Regional High School – Norfolk, Massachusetts
Anna O'Neill is a four-year varsity player for head coach Jim Leonard at King Philip Regional High School. O'Neill is a pitcher/first baseman and was named team captain her senior year while maintaining a .87 ERA. She helped guide her team to the D1 State Championship in 2010 and 2011 and will come in to immediately help DeFeo in a number of ways inside the circle.
"Anna is a power pitcher from the Northeast that, in addition to Taylor, will supply another powerful bat in the lineup," DeFeo said. "O' Neill will be one the hardest throwers on our staff, but has incredible late movement on her pitches that makes her very difficult to hit."
She is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and was an honor student three of her four years at King Philip Regional High School.
Anna Cizek – Neuqu Valley High School – Naperville, Ill.
Cizek comes to Mercer after securing two letters in softball and one in diving at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Ill. She was an academic All-Conference selection for head coach Melissa Wilson. Helped lead her team to regionals in 2012 and attended the Wendy's Classic Tournament held in Ohio.
"Anna is a gifted utility player that can dominate both on the dirt in the infield as well as in the grass in the outfield," DeFeo said. "She is a speedy lefty hitter that is blessed with great softball sense and base-running intangibles that will add another offensive weapon to our lineup."
Cizek played with the New Lenox Lightening in travel ball with head coach Pat Ivers. She made the All-State Tournament team and the travel ball squad finished in the top four at the Illinois state USSSA tournament in 2011. She led the team in hitting and recorded one of the fastest home to first times at the USA Prep Camps with a time of 2.63.
Kirsten Stevens – Prairie Ridge High School – Crystal Lake, Ill.
Lettered three years at Prairie Ridge High School and held a 50-15-1 overall pitching record with a .96 ERA. She recorded 690 strikeouts and threw 22 shutouts in her high school career.
Stevens was listed on the Demarini Top 100 Uncommitted Athletes in the U.S. and was a 2012 Northwest Herald First Team All-Area selection and a class 3A All-State second team member. She carried a 21-9-1 record her junior year and batted .326 with four home runs. She maintained a 1.05 ERA and had 319 strikeouts as a junior.
"Kirsten is an incredibly talented left handed pitcher that with a potent mix of speed and spin, makes the ball an elusive target for the batters that she faces," DeFeo said. "She is a crafty lefty who will look to make her presence felt both in the circle and in the batter's box for us."
She too has succeeded in the classroom being named a Honor Roll student and is a member of the French National Honor Society.
Taylor Miller – Mountain View High School – Lawrenceville, Ga.
Miller comes to Macon after a standout career at Mountain View High School for head coach Maria Sharrett. She was a four-year letter winner and holds the school record for highest batting average and most amount of stolen bases. She finished her senior year with .467 batting average and was a class 5A All-County Team selection all four years at Mountain View. Miller was also a standout in track as the Region 7 AAA 100-meter champion and 200-meter runner up.
"Taylor is unique player that just oozes athleticism," DeFeo said. "The rangy outfielder has the ability to track down anything in the outfield and possesses many weapons from the left side of the plate. Miller has the speed to beat out any ball she puts in play and the power potential to be a threat anytime she has a bat in her hand."
Miller maintains a 3.5 GPA and is active in her high school as a member of Beta Club and Peer Leader with over 40 hours of community service during her career.
