From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
Missouri Southern softball coach Bill Gray has announced the signing of four high school players to national letters of intent to attend Southern and play softball beginning in the 2011 season.
Brooklyn Farrell (Webb City), Shelby Romines (Ozark), Chasity Henson (Carthage) and Madison Reed (Muskogee, Okla.) announced their intentions to come to Missouri Southern and play softball for the Lions.
Farrell, a second baseman, started for three years for coach Walter Resa at Webb City.
In 2008, she was an all-conference, all-district, All-Ozarks and all-area selection while being named first-team all-region and second team all-state.
She hit .421 with 45 hits, 35 runs scored, and led the team in triples, stolen bases and runs.
As a senior in 2009, she was an all-conference and all-district selection. She hit .366 and led the Cardinals in hits, average, doubles, stolen bases and tied for the team lead in triples, while striking out just six times.
The Cardinals were undefeated in conference play in 2006, won the state championship in 2007, finished third in the state in 2008 and were district champs this past season.
The daughter of Monty and Tammy Farrell, Brooklyn plans on majoring in education at Southern.
“Webb City has had a very solid program for years with great athletes,” Gray said. “By signing a player of Brooklyn’s caliber, it is definitely a good step for our program. Her speed matched with her versatility at the plate makes her a great weapon.”
Romines is a pitcher/third baseman who played for coach Yancy Little at Ozark. Romines was an all-state selection in 2008.
She was a four-time all-conference and all-district selection and holds the Ozark High School records for games won (58), games played (123), while ranking second in most strikeouts pitching (430), career RBI (93) and lowest ERA in a season (1.30).
“Shelby will help us both on the mound and with her bat,” Gray said.
“On the mound she competes and works a variety of pitches.”
Henson is a pitcher who played for former Lion player Shally Lundien at Carthage. Henson was a first-team all-conference and all-district selection as a senior this season after posting a 0.50 ERA and 169 strikeouts.
She was a member of the 2008 academic all-state team and was her team’s MVP this past season.
The daughter of Brent and Twyla Henson, Chasity plans on majoring in the sciences at Southern.
Reed is an outfielder/catcher who played for coach Keith Coleman at Muskogee.
She was a four-time all-conference and all-area selection while being named all-state this year after she batted .413 with 34 runs scored, 45 hits and 34 stolen bases.
She helped lead her team to a state playoff appearance in 2008.
The daughter of Cheryl Reed, she plans on majoring in biology.
