Softball Inks two Recruits to 2014 Class
4/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University softball coaching staff has signed two players to the 2014 recruiting class this week, officially making Emma Andrew and Quirisa Mauga Bears.
Both Andrew and Mauga come to Mercer after impressive high school careers from two different parts of the country. Andrew is from Jacksonville, Fla. and Mauga is from San Diego, Calif.
Emma Andrew lettered all four years of high school at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville where she also made the Dean's List each year. Under Coach Mike Rickey, Andrew won the coach's award in both her junior and senior year. She also honed her skills at the AAU level with the Florida Force and the Florida Select.
Andrew had a breakout year in her junior campaign as she was named to the FACA All-State team in 2013 along with the All-First Coast Third Team. She is not the only member of her family to show her skills on the diamond as her brother, Carson Andrew, pitched in the Los Angeles Angels farm system.
"Emma (Andrew) will add power to the lineup," co-head coach Stephanie DeFeo said. "She is a great defensive player and can play anywhere in the infield."
Quirisa Mauga hails from San Diego, Calif. but was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She lettered all four years of high school at Mira Mesa High School and played AAU ball for coaches Trey Ybarra and Dave Lastraps. She was also named her school's team captain in her senior year.
Mauga has a laundry list of awards that are punctuated by defensive player of the year awards for both 2012 and 2013. She was named to the All-Section First team in 2013 and the All-Section Second team in2012 on top of All-Eastern League honors in both years. She made the All-Eastern League Second Team in her freshman year.
"Quirisa (Mauga) has the best hands I have ever seen at the shortstop position," DeFeo said. "She is an explosive player and has a ton of potential at the plate."
Mauga turned down offers from some high-profile California schools like Cal State Fullerton to come to Macon and Andrew chose Mercer over Palm Beach Atlantic.
"Both of these athletes will be impact players for our program. We are very excited to have them as a part of our Bear family."
