Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Announces 2015-16 Signing Class
January 07, 2015 | Cowgirl Softball
Jan. 7, 2015
STILLWATER, Okla - The Oklahoma State softball team will welcome four new additions to the squad next season as part of the team's 2015-16 signing class, coach Rich Wieligman announced today.
"This incoming class has great leadership potential," Wieligman said. "They are strong in the classroom and active in their communities. They'll also bring power and run production from both sides of the plate, and will push to see playing time all over the field."
Berkley Faulkner – Duncan, Okla. (Duncan HS)
Position: C, 3B, 1B
Berkley Faulkner, a catcher/corner infielder, joins the Cowgirls from Duncan, Okla., where she helped the Duncan HS Lady Demons reel off state tournament appearances in three of the last four years. The right-handed slugger was recently honored as the All-Area Player of the Year for the second-consecutive season, in addition to being named starting catcher of the OFSCA 2014 All-State Large West squad. Over her four-year varsity career, Faulkner was a four-time Letter D Award winner, three-time All-Area Offensive Player of the Year selection and a four-time Duncan Banner Player of the Year honoree. Faulkner saw success on the club circuit as well, as her former select team, Oklahoma Force Gold, registered a third-place finish at the prestigious Louisville Slugger Independence Day Tournament in 2012.
Coach Wieligman on Faulkner:
“Berk has an extremely positive attitude and a great catcher's mentality, and she's a great kid, overall. As a leader, she has the ability to take control of the game, so we'll be looking for her to give us solid depth and an effective leadership presence behind the plate. Offensively, she has great power potential from the right side, which gives us a great chance to increase our offensive output as a team.”
Madison Montgomery – Burleson, Texas (Burleson Centennial HS)
Position: IF, OF
Although she has yet to begin her final season of high school ball, Madison Montgomery has already established herself as one of the top contact hitters in the DFW area. After hitting .475 her freshman year, Montgomery's performance at the plate has increased each year, culminating in a career batting average of .547. In 2014, she reached base on more than 61 percent of her trips to the plate, helping her earn numerous honors, including District 8-4A Player of the Year, All-Johnson County MVP and her second-consecutive All-State selection. Her overall athletic ability is also evidenced by her contributions to Centennial's volleyball team, which honored Montgomery as team MVP in 2013. In addition to her success on the softball field and on the volleyball court, Montgomery has also excelled in the classroom, as she will look to become a four-time member of the Academic All-District team in the spring.
Coach Wieligman on Montgomery:
“Madison has played multiple positions in both the infield and the outfield for one of the top programs in the country. She is a great addition that will bring us depth at many positions, and she'll be sure to push for playing time early on. She hits for average on offense, but she also has elements of power and speed in her game.”
Taylor Lynch – Red Oak, Texas (Red Oak HS)
Position: IF, OF
Taylor Lynch, a native of Red Oak, Texas, has developed a unique five-tool skill set to help her become one of the top recruits in the DFW Metroplex. After battling injuries throughout her freshman season, Lynch broke out in 2012 with a .628 average from the plate, helping her earn the titles of District 15-4A Newcomer of the Year, Dallas Morning News Player to Watch and Red Oak High School MVP. The following season, she tallied a blazing .656 batting average, four home runs and 19 stolen bases. Lynch's all-around talent was also backed by her District 15-4A Defensive Player of the Year selection, one of several accolades received after her sophomore season. Over the past few summers, both Lynch and fellow recruit Madison Montgomery have starred for Texas Glory Gold, one of the top select teams in the nation. In 2014, the club finished as the fifth-ranked team in Triple Crown's national polls after winning the Colorado Super 64 and finishing toward the top of numerous high-profile tournaments. Despite primarily being positioned in the middle infield during high school, Lynch's utility skills will allow her to contribute to the Cowgirls at multiple spots in both the infield and outfield.
Coach Wieligman on Lynch:
“As teammates, Taylor and Madison have developed strong leadership traits that have allowed them to take their team to the top of the nation's elite. Taylor is a tough competitor, and she has shown the ability to come up with big hits in clutch situations. Overall, Taylor is a hard-nosed player that knows how to win. She will also add depth at second base and third base, and can move to the outfield if needed.”
Asea Webber – Mannford, Okla. (Mannford HS)
Position: IF, P
Asea Webber, an infielder and pitcher from nearby Mannford, Okla., rounds out Oklahoma State's quartet of incoming freshmen as one of the group's strongest power threats. In 2013, she hit 38 home runs for Tulsa Elite, helping the club to a top ten finish at Triple Crown's Colorado Fireworks tournament. Webber also hit nine homers in her final season at Mannford HS in addition to posting a .520 batting average and 39 RBI's, earning her a spot on the OSFCA All-State Middle East squad. She was also a four-time all-conference selection, two-time offensive player of the year honoree and an all-state selection in 2014. Webber's career accomplishments helped her reach as high as No. 61 in Full Count Softball's Hot 100 National Rankings.
Coach Wieligman on Webber:
“Asea is a great hitter from the left side, and her athleticism will allow her to compete for playing time at multiple positions. She can hit for average and power, and so we're looking forward to having her join the team.”
