Softball Adds Five Players To 2024-25 Roster

MACON – Mercer softball head coach Lindsay Fico added some notable additions to her 2024-25 roster on Friday morning when she announced that five student-athletes have opted to continue their athletic and academic careers with the Bears.

The newest crop of Bears includes junior college transfer catcher Sietske Drijvers (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Florida Southwestern State), as well as four prep standouts – catcher/outfielder Kiera Daniels (Kennesaw, Ga./Allatoona HS), infielder Isabel Fernandez (Ashburn, Ga./Tiftarea Academy), pitcher/outfielder Grace Jones (Jacksonville, Fla./Episcopal School of Jacksonville) and infielder Hannah Rivers (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy).

"This class is going to be very special! We feel like they are the perfect mix of speed and power," Fico said. "Their overall athleticism is impressive, and each of them comes from winning cultures. We look forward to the day they officially step foot on campus."

A standout behind the plate at Allatoona High School for coach Brad Strickland, Daniels earned all-state nods from a pair of organizations this season after hitting .464 with seven homers and 23 RBI. It was an encore to a junior campaign that saw her pick up 2^nd Team All-State laurels after posting a .364 batting average with eight home runs and 36 RBI. Daniels was also a key player in the success of the Athletics Gold travel ball organization under coaches Stacy Tamborra and John Legere.

The daughter of Marisa Mikals and Rock Daniels currently maintains a 3.7 cumulative grade point average at Allatoona High School where she is a three-sport student-athlete, including an all-area performer in flag football.

"Kiera is someone who will change our program immediately," Fico said. "She is an extremely versatile player who plays with a lot of passion and excitement. She's fun to watch and we can't wait to get her on campus."

Drijvers played in 54 games for Florida Southwestern State last season and compiled a .273 batting average to go along with 13 extra-base hits (3 HR), 29 RBI and 37 runs scored. She tallied seven multiple-hit and as many multi-RBI outings, including a 2-for-3, 5-RBI performance at Eastern Florida State College. She also committed just three errors in 243 total defensive chances behind the plate for the Bucs, while also throwing out 10 would-be base stealers.

Prior to trekking to Fort Myers, Fla., Drijvers helped lead Netherlands to three top-3 finishes in the European Championships, including a title in 2019. The daughter of Christien te Linde and Joost Drijvers followed a similar path to college softball as her sister, Charlotte, who helped pace FSW to a pair of national titles.

"Sietske brings a wealth of knowledge behind the plate and is another highly-touted recruit from FSW," Fico said. "She will bring power to our lineup, and is exactly what we need to help guide our younger athletes toward success."

A three-sport standout at Tiftarea Academy in Chula, Ga., Fernandez picked up all-region laurels, as well as an invitation to the all-star game, last season while playing primarily at the shortstop position for the Panthers. She has been a key cog in Tiftarea's run to the consecutive state playoff berths, and has maintained an average better than .300 this season while also sporting a team-best 27 runs scored.

An all-region standout in basketball for Tiftarea, as well as a contributor on the soccer pitch as well, Fernandez also plays travel ball for the GA Girls Hammock 18U squad for coach Jennifer Hammock. The daughter of Lindsay Land and Jamie Fernandez maintains a 3.7 cumulative grade point average at Tiftarea Academy.

"Isabel is also a quiet competitor who lets her play do all of the talking," Fico said. "She is a hard worker and will bring a ton of speed to our lineup. Her speed and athleticism will provide us with a lot of options."

Jones has excelled as a two-way threat for the Episcopal School of Jacksonville and coach Kasse Eppley throughout her prep career, including a junior campaign that saw her pick up team most valuable player honors after hitting .605 with a .720 on-base percentage, while also registering 344 strikeouts from the circle while boasting a 1.02 earned run average. She led the Eagles to an impressive 22-5 clip last season, as well as a deep run in the state playoffs.

The daughter of Michelle and Chris Jones has compiled a 4.24 cumulative grade point average at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, while also playing a key role in the success of the Sante Inferno travel ball organization under coach Jason Nowling.

"Grace is a true two-way athlete. She swings a big bat, but will also help deepen our pitching staff," Fico said. "She is also athletic enough to compete for time in our infield when she's not pitching. Grace is a quiet competitor who lets her work speak for itself."

Rivers earned 1^st Team All-State accolades as a junior at Trinity Christian Academy where she played primarily at the hot corner for coach Anna Diley's Conquerors. Boasting a prep career batting average that hovers near the .400 mark, Rivers has also compiled a .610 career slugging percentage as well with 26 career extra-base hits, including 18 doubles. She hit .450 for Trinity Christian this season.

The daughter of Alveria and Andre Lovett, Rivers maintains a 3.67 cumulative grade point average at Trinity Christian Academy. She also plays travel softball for the Sante Fe Inferno organization under coach Jason Nowling.

"When Hannah's playing, you notice! She plays with high energy, and lifts the game of those around her," Fico said. "Her confident demeanor in the field is unmatched, and she has a strong presence in the box."

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