Bronco Softball Announces Nationally-Ranked Recruiting Class
11/10/2021 6:44:00 PM | Softball
BOISE, Idaho – Six hitters and a pair of pitchers make up the inaugural signing class under first-year Boise State Head Softball Coach Justin Shults.
The newest Broncos include left-handed pitcher Kasey Aguinaga, catcher Abby Edwards, utility Hollie Farmer, third baseman Sydney Groves, shortstop Taci Haase, first baseman Zoe Karam, right-handed pitcher Amber Thornton and right-handed pitcher Becky Wetteland.
"We are very excited about the depth of our 2022 class," Shults said. "The class has it all; power, speed, defense and pitching. The recruits also bring a ton of elite experience at both the high school and travel ball levels. We cannot wait for them to get to campus next fall and make an immediate impact for Bronco softball."
Extra Inning Softball ranked the class 28th nationally and has five student-athletes ranked in its top 150 (Haase and Karam tied 46th), Groves (74th), Farmer (88th), and Thornton (136th).
Kasey Aguinaga (LHP, Brentwood, Calif., Heritage HS)
Posted 20-0 record as a junior in 2021, including a perfect game, three no-hitters, nine shutouts and 154 strikeouts...West Coast Preps Bay Area Pitcher of the Year and first-team honoree…San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro First Team…Bay Valley Athletic League MVP and first-team selection.
Coach Shults Says: "Kasey is a crafty left-handed pitcher who does a great job of keeping hitters off balance."
Abby Edwards (C, Henderson, Colo., Holy Family HS)
Northern Colorado Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a senior…two-time all-state, four-time all-region and four-time all-conference…batted .500 during her career…hit 13 home runs and drove in 128 runs…two-year letterwinner in track.
Coach Shults Says: "Abby is a right-handed power hitter and does a great job controlling her pitching staffs from behind the plate."
Hollie Farmer (UT, Laguna Hills, Calif., JSerra Catholic HS)
Batted .384 in her career…Division 2 All-CIF in 2021…JSerra Catholic Female Athlete of the Year as a junior after batting .395 with 17 RBI, a .462 on-base percentage and eight stolen bases.
Coach Shults Says: "Hollie's athleticism allows her to do it all. She can play over the field on defense and can drive the ball all over the field on offense.
Sydney Groves (SS, Eagle, Idaho, Eagle HS)
NFCA All-Region First Team in 2021…selected to 5A Southern Idaho Conference First Team and nominee for USA Today National Athlete of the Year for softball…owns .474 career batting average with a .569 on-base percentage…has 91 RBI and 89 runs in 59 games.
Coach Shults Says: "Sydney has a ton of power from the right side of the plate, but her consistency and strong arm on defense make her an elite all-around athlete.
Taci Haase (SS, Brentwood, Calif., Heritage HS)
Batted .478 as a junior last season…team was 23-0 and won the Bay Valley Athletic League…second-team all-state and second-team all-league selection…hit three home runs and collected 26 RBI…batted .364 as a freshman when team won the BVAL title and finished runner-up in the North Coast Section
Coach Shults Says: "Taci is a true shortstop. Her smooth glove and strong arm will be a huge asset for us."
Zoe Karam (1B, Murrieta, Calif., Murrieta Mesa HS)
Batted .480 with 20 home runs last summer…Athletics Mercado club team is a two-time national champion.
Coach Shults Says: "Zoe will bring a big time bat with elite power to our lineup. She's a proven hitter and wants the bat in her hands in big moments."
Amber Thornton (RHP, Boise, Idaho, Timberline HS)
As a junior, posted a 15-3 record with a sub-2.00 ERA and more than 10 strikeouts per outing in leading team to its first appearance in the state playoffs since 2012…pitched three no-hitters.
Coach Shults Says: "Amber is a right-handed pitcher with true spin and gets tons of swings and misses.
Becky Wetteland (OF, Rocklin, Calif., Rocklin HS)
Batted .364 as a junior…team captured the Sierra Foothills League title…collected a pair of hits and drove in three runs in championship clinching victory.
Coach Shults Says: "Becky is a strong outfielder who runs well. Her ability to spray the ball gap to gap from the left side of the plate is a lot of fun to watch.
The newest Broncos include left-handed pitcher Kasey Aguinaga, catcher Abby Edwards, utility Hollie Farmer, third baseman Sydney Groves, shortstop Taci Haase, first baseman Zoe Karam, right-handed pitcher Amber Thornton and right-handed pitcher Becky Wetteland.
"We are very excited about the depth of our 2022 class," Shults said. "The class has it all; power, speed, defense and pitching. The recruits also bring a ton of elite experience at both the high school and travel ball levels. We cannot wait for them to get to campus next fall and make an immediate impact for Bronco softball."
Extra Inning Softball ranked the class 28th nationally and has five student-athletes ranked in its top 150 (Haase and Karam tied 46th), Groves (74th), Farmer (88th), and Thornton (136th).
Kasey Aguinaga (LHP, Brentwood, Calif., Heritage HS)
Posted 20-0 record as a junior in 2021, including a perfect game, three no-hitters, nine shutouts and 154 strikeouts...West Coast Preps Bay Area Pitcher of the Year and first-team honoree…San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro First Team…Bay Valley Athletic League MVP and first-team selection.
Coach Shults Says: "Kasey is a crafty left-handed pitcher who does a great job of keeping hitters off balance."
Abby Edwards (C, Henderson, Colo., Holy Family HS)
Northern Colorado Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a senior…two-time all-state, four-time all-region and four-time all-conference…batted .500 during her career…hit 13 home runs and drove in 128 runs…two-year letterwinner in track.
Coach Shults Says: "Abby is a right-handed power hitter and does a great job controlling her pitching staffs from behind the plate."
Hollie Farmer (UT, Laguna Hills, Calif., JSerra Catholic HS)
Batted .384 in her career…Division 2 All-CIF in 2021…JSerra Catholic Female Athlete of the Year as a junior after batting .395 with 17 RBI, a .462 on-base percentage and eight stolen bases.
Coach Shults Says: "Hollie's athleticism allows her to do it all. She can play over the field on defense and can drive the ball all over the field on offense.
Sydney Groves (SS, Eagle, Idaho, Eagle HS)
NFCA All-Region First Team in 2021…selected to 5A Southern Idaho Conference First Team and nominee for USA Today National Athlete of the Year for softball…owns .474 career batting average with a .569 on-base percentage…has 91 RBI and 89 runs in 59 games.
Coach Shults Says: "Sydney has a ton of power from the right side of the plate, but her consistency and strong arm on defense make her an elite all-around athlete.
Taci Haase (SS, Brentwood, Calif., Heritage HS)
Batted .478 as a junior last season…team was 23-0 and won the Bay Valley Athletic League…second-team all-state and second-team all-league selection…hit three home runs and collected 26 RBI…batted .364 as a freshman when team won the BVAL title and finished runner-up in the North Coast Section
Coach Shults Says: "Taci is a true shortstop. Her smooth glove and strong arm will be a huge asset for us."
Zoe Karam (1B, Murrieta, Calif., Murrieta Mesa HS)
Batted .480 with 20 home runs last summer…Athletics Mercado club team is a two-time national champion.
Coach Shults Says: "Zoe will bring a big time bat with elite power to our lineup. She's a proven hitter and wants the bat in her hands in big moments."
Amber Thornton (RHP, Boise, Idaho, Timberline HS)
As a junior, posted a 15-3 record with a sub-2.00 ERA and more than 10 strikeouts per outing in leading team to its first appearance in the state playoffs since 2012…pitched three no-hitters.
Coach Shults Says: "Amber is a right-handed pitcher with true spin and gets tons of swings and misses.
Becky Wetteland (OF, Rocklin, Calif., Rocklin HS)
Batted .364 as a junior…team captured the Sierra Foothills League title…collected a pair of hits and drove in three runs in championship clinching victory.
Coach Shults Says: "Becky is a strong outfielder who runs well. Her ability to spray the ball gap to gap from the left side of the plate is a lot of fun to watch.
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