July 10, 2007

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State softball team finalized its recruiting class for 2007-08, and it includes Cheboygan teammates Sam Beaubein and Chevie Peralta-Everts, along with White Cloud's Katie Brandt, who is the sister of LSSU center fielder April Brandt.

LSSU's other incoming freshmen who have signed National Letters of Intent include Frankfort pitcher Jennie Elliott and Sault High shortstop Kylie Anderson. Laker coach Don Myers also picked up North Branch pitcher Kim Curell, who is attending LSSU on an academic scholarship, and New Boston-Huron pitcher Claire Ostrowski.

Beaubein and Peralta-Everts, who both earned Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association All-State Honorable Mention in Division II, helped lead Cheboygan to a 31-5 record and the school's first regional championship. Beaubein posted a 0.98 earned run average and was 27-3 record as a pitcher. She totaled more than 235 strikeouts in 2007 and over 780 career strikeouts. Peralta-Everts, who played third base and outfield for the Chiefs, batted .356 with 35 RBIs, 10 doubles and five home runs during the regular season. She also homered to lead her team to a regional championship victory over Cadillac.

"We have watched Sam throw for Cheboygan High School, and she gets the job done," LSSU coach Don Myers said. "She has several pitches and always leaves a few people standing at the plate. Chevie is a straight-away hitter with good power, and she, too, should make her mark in a Laker uniform."

Brandt was a third baseman for two seasons at Kalamazoo Community College. In 2007, she batted .343 with 46 hits and 45 RBIs in 49 games. She was ranked fourth in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association in RBIs and seventh in home runs with nine.

"Katie will bring added strength to our batting lineup as she has a quick swing and dedication for the game," Myers said. "She is a hard-nosed player who will make an immediate impact on our team."

Anderson batted .299 for the Blue Devils this season, leading the team in doubles with nine and home runs with two. She also totaled 54 putouts and 51 assists at shortstop. As a four-year starter, she played a role in more than 400 putouts for the Sault High defense.

"We have watched this athlete compete over the years, and feel she will be a great asset to our program," Myers said. "She shows range and flexibility, which are needed in the center of our infield. We are happy Kylie has chosen LSSU over all other schools."

Elliott topped off an outstanding prep career by leading Frankfort High School to the Division IV state finals in 2007. She finished 29-6 as a senior, totaling more than 300 strikeouts and posting an ERA of 0.30. She also batted .517 with 41 RBIs and 13 home runs. During her career, she tossed 49 shutouts and 10 perfect games, and totaled more than 970 strikeouts.

"This high school standout on the mound should help us in our starting rotation," Myers said. "She can also hit with power as she had 15 round trippers this year alone."

Curell, who pitched North Branch to a Division II regional title, is an honors student with a 3.9 grade point average and plans to study forensic chemistry at LSSU. She was 29-14 with a 1.13 ERA and struck out 271 of the 919 batters she faced. She also batted .354 while earning All-Tri Valley Conference, all-district and all-area honors.

"Anyone who pitches their Class B team to the state quarterfinals has to have something on the ball, and we will give her every chance she needs to make our pitching lineup," Myers said.

Ostrowski earned most-valuable player, All-Huron League and Division II all-district honors as a senior at Huron High School after being a three-time MVP at Plymouth High School. She was 70-20 at Plymouth and 15-15 as a senior at Huron. During the 2007 season, her ERA was 1.47 with 171 strikeouts, and she batted .365.

"Claire's off-season coach, who has coached college-level pitchers in the past, feels she can do it on the mound for any Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team," Myers said. "We will give her a shot at becoming one of our hurlers."

These recruits join fall signee Chelsea Maynard, who helped lead Marquette High School to its first Division I district title this spring. Maynard earned all-district honors after leading the Redettes in batting (.343), RBIs (24), extra-base hits (12) and sacrifices (14). Her on-base percentage was .408.