Bears Ink Eight for 2019 Recruiting Class

MACON, Ga. – Mercer Softball Head Coach Stephanie DeFeo has announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. The Bears are showing their reach in this year's class, pulling student-athletes from six different states.

The Bears will graduate four players in the spring of 2019 before welcoming Rachel Baker, Destiny Colgate, Kylie Helm, Riley Hickok, Elisa Rosado, Sophie Sumner, Sarah Taylor and Diamond Williams to the Mercer family.

"We are extremely excited about our 2019 signing class," commented DeFeo. "We can describe this class in three words: competitive, explosive and versatile. These student-athletes are winners and approach everything with a champion's mindset."

Rachel Baker
Huntsville, Ala.
Madison Academy
3B
5-5

Baker comes to Macon from Madison Academy in Huntsville, Ala., playing for head coach Dean Clark. Baker primarily plays third base, while also jumping in at the six-hole to play shortstop. Baker was a two-time state champion while competing in Tennessee as a freshman and sophomore. Baker has twice been named a team captain since moving to Madison Academy and has been named All County First Team, All-Region and Alabama All-State First Team. Baker was also named a FloSoftball Top 500 "Players to Watch" in the class of 2019, ranking 254^th nationally. Baker played for NJ Intensity and the Birmingham Thunderbolts for AAU ball, placing second in the PGF Nationals Runner-Up.

Why Baker Chose Mercer
"I chose Mercer because I want to study medicine and the university has a great reputation in the medical field. I also chose Mercer because I literally fell in love with the campus, my future college softball coaches and my teammates. My parents and grandparents were all born in Georgia so I feel like I will be coming home when I get to Mercer in the fall."

Destiny Colgate
Winter Springs, Fla.
Winter Springs HS
Catcher – OF
5-4

Destiny Colgate will transition from the Winter Springs Bears to the Mercer Bears in the fall of 2019. Colgate is a four year letterwinner for Winter Springs, playing both the outfield and catcher position. The Florida native is also a three-time letterwinner for varsity weightlifting, competing in both the clean and jerk and the bench. Colgate was a district and regional champion in 2017 and 2018 for softball, while also claiming a district/conference championship in weightlifting in 2016 and 2017. Colgate's 2017-18 weightlifting team won district and regionals, later playing sixth in states. For AAU ball, Colgate played for Hatters Gold, finishing fifth in ASA Nationals (2015), ASA State Champions (14u) and won several power polls in both 14u and 16u at Rising Stars, Scenic City, Alabama Prospex and Atlanta Legacy.

Why Colgate Chose Mercer
"After touring multiple campuses, none compared to the beauty and homey feel that Mercer University had."

Kylie Helm
Anderson, Mo.
McDonald County HS
Catcher – 3B
5-6

Kylie Helm is a four-year letterwinner for the McDonald County Mustangs and head coach Skylar Rawlins. With the Mustangs, Helm has primarily played in the catcher's spot. Helm was named Co-MVP her junior season and has been a First Team All-League honoree each season. Helm was named All-District all four years, three-time All-Region and is a two-time All-State recipient. Helm is a career .517 batter with 14 homers and 142 runs batted in. As a senior, Helm was named Conference Player of the Year. In 2016, Helm finished sixth in the state record books for hits per game.

Why Helm Chose Mercer
"I chose Mercer because I really gelled well with the team and the coaching staff and I felt like being at Mercer was the right place for me."

Riley Hickok
Warner Robins, Ga.
Westfield School
RHP
5-7

Riley Hickok is a local player having played high school softball at Westfield School in Warner Robins, Ga. Hickok is primarily a pitcher, but has also played second base for the Hornets. Hickok also is a two-year letterwinner for the soccer squad (midfield) and a three-year letter recipient for cross-country. Hickok was named All-Region and All-State once in her career with Westfield. As a senior, she batted .300 with 16 runs batted in, but more importantly held an 11-1 record in the circle with a 1.30 ERA and 73 strikeouts. On Aug. 30, 2018, Hickok tossed her first-ever perfect game. Hickok led her team to Region 4 and GISA AAA State Championships in both 2017 and 2018.

Why Hickok Chose Mercer
"I chose Mercer because at Mercer I can receive a high-level education and have the opportunity to participate in a collegiate sport that I love."

Elisa Rosado
Plano, Texas
Plano West Senior HS
Outfield
5-2

Elisa Rosado has played both infield and outfield in her four-year career with the Plano West Senior Wolves. In 2017-18, Rosado was named Team MVP as well as First Team All-District. Rosado is a two-time First Team All-District honoree, having garnered the award in 2016. As a junior, Rosado batted .461 with one homer and 17 runs batted in. Rosado played for Team Mizuno Impulse Gwyn, placing 9^th in the 14u PGF 2016 Nationals, 1^st in the Tulsa Elite Invite (2017), 3^rd in the KC Nationals (2017) and received an invitation to Canada Junior National Cup for Summer 2019.

Why Rosado Chose Mercer
"I chose Mercer because it offers both a competitive continuation of my softball career and an education that will put me on the path to success as an adult."

Sophie Sumner
Valdosta, Ga.
Lowndes HS
Catcher
5-4

Sophie Sumner is a four-year catcher for the Lowndes High School Vikings and head coach Stewart Thomas. With the Vikings, Sumner was named team captain in 2018 and is a four-year All-Region Honoree and a two-time All-State Second Team recipient. During her career, Sumner batted .424 with 19 long balls and 107 RBIs. As a senior, Sumner was named Region Player of the Year and received a spot on the GACA All-Star Game Selection. Sumner won the Golden Glove Award as both a sophomore and junior, just after winning the Silver Slugger Award as a freshman in 2015.

Why Sumner Chose Mercer
"I loved the campus and I am so excited to get the opportunity to play softball for Mercer while receiving one of the best educations in the state of Georgia."

Sarah Taylor
Santa Ana, Calif.
Orange Lutheran HS
1B
5-10

Sarah Taylor played four seasons with the Orange Lutheran Lancers and head coach Steve Miklos, competing at both corners of the infield. In 2017, Taylor was named Second Team All-Trinity League. Taylor has batted .317 in her career with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs. Taylor has guided her squad to two Trinity League Titles (2016, 2017), in addition to winning the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in 2018. Taylor played AAU ball for the So-Cal Athletics Briggs and is one of three captains on the team. She led her team to a third-place finish in the PGF National Tournament and in the Boulder IDT Tournament.

Why Taylor Chose Mercer
"I chose Mercer because as soon as I walked on campus, it felt like home. The softball coaches teach with similar styles to my current travel coach and not only care about softball, but how you are doing in school and as a person in general. I was really excited when I was told I would be able to do my intended major as well as play softball for a high academic college."

Diamond Williams
Grovetown, Ga.
Evans HS
1B/OF
5-6

Diamond Williams arrives in Macon after playing first base all four seasons with the Evans High Knights and head coach Ricky Beale. With Evans High, Williams was named Player of the Year as a sophomore and is a four-time First Team All-Region honoree. As a junior and senior, Williams garnered a spot on the All-State First Team. In the last three seasons, Williams has accumulated a .478 batting average with 17 homers, 70 RBIs and 64 stolen bases. Williams led her squad to the regional championship in 2017, a third-place finish in states in 2017 and the Elite 8 in both 2017 and 2018. Williams played her AAU ball with the Atlanta Vipers, claiming the 18u Gold Cup Championship. Williams was also tabbed as an All-American her senior season.

Why Williams Chose Mercer
"My parents have always preached to me about having a good education and Mercer is one of the best academic schools in the United States. Mercer also allows me to continue playing the game I love at a competitive level."

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