SAN ANTONIO — First-year UTSA head softball coach Vann Stuedeman saw five future Roadrunners sign their National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, as Ava Eldridge, Reagan Stoudt, Sabrina Wick, Skylar Rucker, and Kaylie Olivarez represent the newest recruiting class.
“We are excited to honor commitments to these student-athletes who want to be at UTSA and share our vision for the program,” said Stuedeman on the signees.
Ava Eldridge | 5-6 | RHP | R/R | Emhouse, Texas | Blooming Grove HS
A 5-6 right-handed pitcher out of Blooming Grove HS, Eldridge was a four-year letter winner in softball and basketball while spending time on the volleyball, cross country, and track and field teams.
In the circle, she was a two-time District MVP, a two-time All-Golden Circle MVP, and a 2022 TSWA All-State Utility Player. Eldridge was twice listed on the LoneStarPreps.com Texas High School: Top Utility Players in the class of 2024. She was also the 2023 All-Golden Circle Leadership Player of the Year and was an Academic All-District pick in 2022. Eldridge plays for a quality travel organization, Athletics Mercado, coached by Jim Bonola and Jesse Frausto.
She also found success in other sports, claiming the 2021 Academic All-District award, the 2022 All-District Honorable Mention, and the 2023 All-Golden Circle Hustler of the Year awards in basketball. Additionally, she was a 2022 All-District Honorable Mention in volleyball.
Eldridge is the daughter of Jacob and Kimberly Eldridge and the sister of Jacob and Seth Eldridge. She plans on majoring in kinesiology with a minor in fire science at UTSA and is set to graduate from Blooming Grove HS with a 3.5 GPA and ranked 11th in her senior class.
Head Coach Vann Stuedeman on Eldridge:
“Ava is a two-way player; she is a right-handed pitcher that hits for power. It is beneficial to have a hitting pitcher as it opens the lineup for creative strategy. … adding her will be huge for the squad.”
Reagan Stoudt | 5-8 | RHP/INF | L/R | Ottawa, Ill. | St. Bede Academy
Stoudt heads to the Alamo City by way of Ottawa, Illinois, where she attended St. Bede Academy and led the Bruins to two Regional and Conference Championships as well as Sectional, Super-Sectional, and State Championships across 2023.
A three-time First-Team All-Conference Pitcher, Stoudt was also selected for the Home Run Club in her first three high school seasons. She was honored as the Utility Player of the Year as a freshman and sophomore and was co-MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in her junior season while capturing First-Team All-State honors.
She ranks 12th in her senior class with a 3.76 GPA and is the daughter of Allen and Gina Stoudt. She is the sister of Ryann Stoudt, who also played college softball at Quincy. Stoudt competed on the Extreme Elite National 18u select team and will major in biology with a minor in Spanish at UTSA.
Head Coach Vann Stuedeman on Stoudt:
“The sunshine called, and she answered. Training at a highly reputable and well-respected program like OGX gives her a tremendous advantage in the early stages of her collegiate career and helps set her up for success at the next level. I am looking forward to working with her every day in the pen.”
Sabrina Wick | 5-5 | UTL | L/R | The Colony, Texas | The Colony HS |
A utility player out of The Colony Texas, Wick was an Academic All-District selection across three seasons, a two-time First-Team All-District pick, and the 2023 District 9-5A Utility Player of the Year. She led the Cougars to Area Playoffs in 2021 and 2023, as well as the Bi-District Championship and a Regional Qualification in 2022.
Wick plays on the Athletics Mercado Bonola/Frausto 18u select squad and gets the job done in the classroom with a 4.5 GPA. She is the daughter of David and Audra Wick. Her father was a former football player at UTEP, while her sister Olivia played softball at Regis.
She will be majoring in kinesiology at UTSA with the goal of opening up her own physical therapy practice.
Head Coach Vann Stuedeman on Wick:
“Sabrina is incredibly athletic; she has multiple tools at the plate and has proved herself a dominant defender across her high school and select career. We're excited to get her in Roadrunner uniform and into the batter's box.”
Kaylie Olivarez | 5-7 | RHP | L/R | Hallettsville, Texas | Hallettsville HS |
Olivarez enters with a wealth of accolades, including 2022 and 2023 All-State honors, on her way to being named the 2022 3A All-State Pitcher of the Year. She was the 2022 TSWA Player of the Year and the 2021 3A Newcomer of the Year while collecting a trio of Academic All-District nods. Additionally, Olivarez was the 2022 3A Co-District Offensive MVP and the 2023 District and Offensive MVP.
At Hallettsville HS, Olivarez and the Brahmas were the 2022 Texas UIL 3A State Champions, three-time Regional Champions, two-time District Champions, and the 2021 Bi-District Champions.
Set to graduate with a 3.8 GPA, Olivarez ranks 29th in her class and played select with the Texas Bombers Gold National 18u squad. She will major in Agricultural Engineering and is the daughter of Tracy and Gary Olivarez.
Head Coach Vann Stuedeman on Olivarez:
“Kaylie Olivarez can do some special things in the circle; she's been a star for Wade Womack's Bombers team and has won a state title for Hallettsville … It's always good for the squad when you can bring somebody in who has won a lot of games and competed at a high level. The sky is the limit for her.”
Skylar Rucker | 5-4 | INF | L/R | Fairview, Texas | Lovejoy HS |
A 5-4 middle infielder from Fairview, Texas, Rucker was a standout performer at Lovejoy HS, swiping 31 bags for the Lions and hitting .393 across the 2023 season. In addition to her offensive success, she was crowned the 2021 and 2023 All-District Defense Player of the Year to go along with an All-District Honorable Mention accolade in 2022.
The Lions reached the 2021 Regional Finals, collecting victories in the Regional Semifinals, Regional Quarterfinals, Area, and Bi-District championships along the way. In 2022, Lovejoy HS claimed a Bi-District title.
In the classroom, Rucker was a three-time All-Academic honoree, boasting a 3.85 GPA as she nears graduation. She plans on studying Psychology at UTSA to assist those suffering from PTSD.
Skylar is the daughter of Ralph and Jennifer Rucker. Her mother played softball at Oklahoma, and her father wrestled at Oklahoma State. She has two brothers, Ralph IX, who played football at Oklahoma and Bucknell, and Trent, who is currently a baseball player at Temple Junior College. Skylar competes in select ball for Athletics Mercado Bonola/Frausto 18u.
Head Coach Vann Stuedeman on Rucker:
“Skylar is a utility player with a rich athletic bloodline … Growing up in and around an environment like that, with so much energy and excitement for athletics, has prepared her for this moment, and we couldn't be more excited to add her to the squad.”
Keep up with UTSA Softball all season long on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSASB, Twitter @UTSASoftball, and on Instagram @utsasoftball.
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