Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009

COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Vikings sign three prep standouts

Western Washington University softball coach Lonnie Hicks announced Thursday the signing of three high school senior standouts to national letters of intent. They are Meghan Carrillo from Prunedale, Calif., Kaleigh Keating from Salinas, Calif. and Brooke Rychard from Juanita High School in Kirkland.

"We are very excited about this group of signees," said Hicks. "They all have the ability to contribute immediately in a number of ways and will add depth, talent and versatility on both sides of the ball. They are all great kids from great families and we are thrilled that they have chosen to continue their careers at Western."

Carrillo is a two-time first-team all-Monterey Bay League selection and a Salinas Californian all-County choice as a first baseman at North Monterey County High School.

Carrillo hit .468 as a junior with three doubles, a home run and a .522 on-base percentage. A three-time scholar-athlete award winner, she has led the team in hits (88) and runs batted in (47) over the past three seasons, being the school's Rookie of the Year award in 2007, team Defensive MVP in 2008 and Offensive MVP in 2009.

Carrillo currently plays ASA softball for the Salinas Wildcats Gold.

"Meghan is an offensive threat every time she steps in the batter's box and an above average defender at first base or in the outfield," said Hicks. "She can consistently hit elite pitching for both average and power and should make an immediate impact on our program."

Keating is a slick-fielding middle infielder who is also a plus defender in centerfield. An all-Tri-County Athletic League selection as a junior, she is a career .346 hitter at Notre Dame Salinas High School with a .402 career on-base percentage.

Keating scored 24 runs in 2009, driving in nine runs and stealing eight bases in leading Notre Dame to its second straight TCAL championship. A teammate of Carrillo's on the Salinas Wildcats Gold, Keating has hit .415 over the last three seasons for the Wildcats. She is also a four-year starter and letter winner in water polo, twice being named the teams' offensive player of the year.

"Kaleigh is a terrific athlete with good speed," said Hicks. "She is a consistent contact hitter, with surprising power, who can get on base and score a lot of runs. She is very polished, both offensively and defensively, and does all the little things that help make a team better."

Rychard ranked among KingCo 3A League leaders in batting average (.568-3rd), on-base percentage (.619-4th), slugging-percentage (.865-5th), doubles (8-2nd), RBI (14-19th) and runs scored (19-2nd) during her junior season at Juanita High School.

Rychard, a talented defensive shortstop, led the Rebels to the 2009 regular-season league championship and a No.1 ranking entering the state tournament last spring. She also plays for the Washington Triple Threat Gold, where she hit .431 last summer.

"Brooke is a dynamic offensive player with the athletic ability necessary to play just about any position on the field," said Hicks. "She is an aggressive, hard-working kid who also brings terrific intangible qualities to our roster."

Carrillo, Keating and Rychard will enter Western in the fall of 2010.