Amanda Burnard is one of five recruits for 2011.
Wayne State University softball coach Gary Bryce has announced the signing of five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. All five will join the Warrior softball program for the 2010-11 academic year.
Signing with Wayne State are catcher/infielder Amanda Burnard (Canton, Mich.), infielder Nikki Fulton (Stratford, Ont.), pitcher Ali Herbert (Portage, Mich.), pitcher/infielder Lauren McLaughlin (Oakville, Ont.) and infielder/outfielder Logan White (Brantford, Ont.).
Burnard, a 5-9 catcher and corner infielder, will graduate this spring from Plymouth High School. She batted .435 in 2009 as the Wildcats won their third consecutive district title. A two-time all-region selection, Burnard was an honorable mention all-state pick last spring. A National Honor Society member, she has played the last three summers for the PC Pride Elite. The daughter of Michael and Jule Burnard, Amanda plans to major in health sciences.
Fulton, a 5-8 middle infielder, will graduate this spring from St. Michael Catholic Secondary School. In addition to playing summer ball for the USFA U-18 national champion Guleph Gators, she also participated in track field, volleyball and basketball at SMCSS. A honor student at SMCSS, Fulton is the daughter of Paul and Helen Fulton, and plans to major in kinesiology.
Herbert, a 5-6 pitcher, will graduate this spring from Portage Central High School. She helped the Mustangs to back-to-back Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference titles in 2008 and 2009. Herbert plays summer ball for the Great Lakes Lightning where she compiled a 17-7 mark in 2009 with 129 strikeouts and a 1.45 earned-run average. She participated in the Big League World Series helping her squad to the District #2 team title. The daughter of Bud and Laurie Herbert, Ali plans to major in criminal justice.
McLaughlin, a 5-9 pitcher/first baseman, will graduate this spring from Holy Trinity. She was MVP of the 2009 USSSA World Series U-16 Class A in Plano, Texas as a member of the Oakville Angels midget Tier 1 World Series championship team. She was named the World Series top pitcher and pitched six consecutive games to beat four U.S. state champions and win the USSSA World Series title. The daughter of Don and Jeanette McLaughlin, Lauren hopes to work in the sports medicine field upon graduation from college.
White, a 5-5 infielder/outfielder, will graduate this spring from Pauline Johnson Collegiate & Vocational Secondary School. She was a member of the 2009 Team Ontario this past August along with current Warriors Steph Foreman and Rebecca Stanley. White plays summer ball for the Brantford Bobcats, while participating in basketball, volleyball, badminton, track and field and soccer at PJCVSS. She is the daughter of Bill and Lori White.
The Warriors have four seniors on the 2010 team -- pitcher Nicole Abel, outfielder Stephanie LeClair, pitcher Casey Hanes and shortstop Jaci Banton -- which will try for the fifth consecutive NCAA post-season tournament berth for WSU.