SAN ANTONIO — UTSA head softball coach Lori Cook announced Monday that Courtney Buchman (Katy, Texas/Cinco Ranch HS), Rachel Burton (Cedar Park, Texas/Vista Ridge HS), Molly Fichtner (Houston, Texas/Clear Brook HS), Jori Fox (San Antonio, Texas/Johnson HS) and Shelby Ruderman (Splendora, Texas/Splendora HS) have signed National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2011 campaign.
“We are very excited about the early signing period class,” Cook said. “We feel this group will come in and make an immediate impact in their first season. We have added a lot of power in the lineup, as well as a very athletic group that is versatile in playing several different positions. This group will be very successful not only on the field, but in the classroom, as well. With five seniors on this year’s team, we will be able to fill some spots that will be open and add to an already-solid lineup.”
Below is a breakdown of this fall's signing class.
Courtney Buchman
5-5 · SS/2B · Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch HS)
Standout shortstop and senior captain for head coach Kerry Spiers at Cinco Ranch High School in Katy … earned all-state accolades after her junior season in 2009 … named first-team all-district following her sophomore and junior campaigns … tabbed academic all-district and earned the Cinco Ranch Softball Team Leadership Award in 2009 … batted .386 as the leadoff hitter and registered a .973 fielding percentage as a junior … posted 28 RBIs as a sophomore, which was the second-best total in District 17-5A … has helped lead Cinco Ranch to three consecutive district titles and to the regional quarterfinal round of the 2009 playoffs … played for Texas Aces Gold from 2007-09 … currently plays for Texas Storm Gold Demarini under coaches Larry Durham and Joe Wymer … named best 2010 recruit by Spy Softball in the U.S. and best player of the 2009 New Jersey Tournament.
Cook on Buchman …
“Courtney is a very athletic player that can play a few different positions. She has great range and a very strong arm at shortstop. She has a great bat and can hit the ball to all fields with power. She is an explosive player and hard worker who will be able to come in and play wherever we need her.”
Rachel Burton
5-6 · 3B/UT · Cedar Park, Texas (Vista Ridge HS)
All-state performer for head coach Robin Brady at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park … helped Vista Ridge advance to the 2009 Class 5A State Semifinals and to the 2008 Class 4A Regional Championship Game … named second-team all-state at first base by the Texas Sports Writers Association … member of the Hill Country News Dazzling Dozen and named Newcomer of the Year by the paper … led the team in batting average (.437), RBIs (29), home runs (8) and doubles (14) and also posted 25 runs, 38 hits and a .943 fielding percentage in 2009 … hit a grand slam against A&M Consolidated to secure the Lady Rangers a third-consecutive regional final appearance … plays select ball for Texas Stix Gold under head coach Jeff Staton (played with current Roadrunners Sam Beeson, Nikki Goff and Kristin Wehmeyer).
Cook on Burton …
“Rachel is a strong, power-hitting third baseman that can also play first base and in the outfield. She has a great glove and a strong arm. She is very athletic and hits the long ball often. She has the tools to challenge some hitting records here at UTSA and I look for her to have a great career here.”
Molly Fichtner
5-2 · C/UT · Houston, Texas (Clear Brook HS)
Two-time team MVP for head coach and former UTSA softball player Ashley Pillow (Oswald) at Clear Brook High School … named District 24-5A co-MVP following her junior season in 2009 … tabbed second-team All-Greater Houston … helped lead the Wolverines to the district title and the first round of the Class 5A playoffs … first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state selection by the Texas Sports Writers Association in 2008 … helped Clear Brook to the area round of the playoffs … earned honorable mention all-district accolades at third base as a freshman … played select ball for Texas Aces Gold under coaches Kim Orsak and Kelly Ferguson and currently plays for Houston Power Gold under coaches John Glowacz and Sandra Mader.
Cook on Fichtner …
“Molly is a solid catcher but she also can play the corners on the infield. She has a great glove behind the plate and runs the defense very well. At the plate, she has a strong bat and can hit the long ball, as well. Molly reminds me a lot of (former UTSA catcher and current assistant coach) Michelle Cheatham. Not to put any pressure on Molly, but she plays the game the way Michelle did. She is a hard-nosed player with a big heart and she plays the game with passion. She will be at the field when she has extra time doing whatever it takes to be her best.”
Jori Fox
5-11 · RHP/1B · San Antonio, Texas (Johnson HS)
Two-time all-district performer for head coach and formerRoadrunner Jennifer Fox (Drake) at Johnson High School … earnedall-area honors and led District 26-5A with a .494 batting average, sixhome runs and 33 RBIs as a junior … also struck out a district-best 197batters and posted 16 wins and a 0.76 ERA in 195 innings pitched lastspring … was the winning pitcher and hit the game-winning home run inJohnson’s 4-2 win in 20 innings (city record) over Medina Valley lastApril … first-team all-district pitcher as a sophomore … also plays forAmerican Freedom Gold under head coach Tim Soefje.
Cook on Fox …
“Jori brings a big stick to ourlineup, as well as being able to pitch and play first base. She is verystrong and athletic, and she is one of those players who loves to be onthe field every day working hard to get better. She is solid at theplate and we look for her to blossom here in our lineup and as apitcher.”
Shelby Ruderman
5-10 · C/1B · Splendora, Texas (Splendora HS)
A member of the Splendora High School varsity team since her freshman season under head coach Val Weldon … all-state performer as a junior in 2009 … named first-team All-District 22-3A at catcher and Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior … helped the Lady Wildcats advance to the regional semifinal round of the 2007 Class 3A playoffs and to the regional quarterfinals a year later … plays select ball for the Texas Peppers Tanel Gold under head coach Richard Bass … a three-sport athlete at Splendora … three-time all-district performer in both basketball and volleyball, including first-team accolades in each sport as a junior.
Cook on Ruderman …
“Shelby is a very athletic catcher with a cannon for an arm. She is very successful in picking runners off and she blocks well behind the plate. She also handles the pitchers and runs the defense well. At the plate, she is a power hitter and can hit the ball to all fields. She will bring great leadership behind the plate and she has the tools to produce a lot of runs for us in our lineup.”
