The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball announces its fall signees
11.19.2008 | Softball
Nov. 19, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas Softball program signed three prep softball standouts to National Letters of Intent for the 2009-10 academic year, head coach Connie Clark announced Wednesday. Current high school seniors Kimberly Bruins (Redlands, Calif./Redlands HS), Taylor Hoagland (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound HS), Blaire Luna (Austin, Texas/Bowie HS) and Torie Schmidt (Yorba Linda, Calif./Valencia HS) will join the Longhorns on campus next fall.
"I am very excited about this class," Clark said. "We are bringing in four young women that can help us compete for championships. They bring power, speed and dominance in the circle. This class offers the whole package."
The signing of the quartet concludes the Longhorns' signings for the fall signing period.
Bruins, a pitcher/infielder, attends Redlands High School and plays her travel ball with the California Cruisers. In 2008, Bruins headlined her Redlands squad with a .412 batting average, while winning 21-of-23 starts and striking out 227 batters.
"Kim Bruins is a tremendous, versatile athlete," Clark noted. "She can help us win championships in a variety of ways. She can dominate in the pitching circle, swing a great stick and play any infield position."
Hoagland plays third base for Flower Mound High School and plays club softball for Schutt Avengers Gold (Segal). Last season she earned Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State honors and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America First Team accolades.
"Taylor Hoagland is a power-hitting third baseman," Clark said. "She has an intimidating presence whether she is in the box or in the infield."
Luna, a pitcher from nearby Bowie High School, plays her travel ball for the Round Rock Blaze. In 2008, Luna was the Austin American Statesman CenTex Player of the Year after allowing just three earned runs in 137 innings pitched and leading the Bulldogs to the class 5A state championship game. At Bowie, Luna played for former Longhorn Cathie Johnson-Landers who earned All-Big 12 honors in 1999.
"Blaire Luna is a deceptive right-handed pitcher with nasty movement," Clark said. "Her pitches up in the zone are as good as her stuff down in the zone, which is rare. Her local fans from Bowie won't have to travel far to support here as she moves to the next level."
Schmidt, a left-handed hitting second baseman and outfielder plays for nationally-ranked Valencia High School and plays club ball for the California Raiders. Last season, Schmidt helped her Valencia squad to a No. 9 ranking in the final 2008 USA TODAY/National Fastpitch Coaches Association High School Top 25. Schmidt's squad has claimed back-to-back California Interscholastic Federation Championships.
"Torie (Schmidt) brings speed and a left-handed option to our offense," Clark said. "She has the ability to provide a spark with her short-game, but she can also drive the ball very well."
In 2008, Texas (29-23-2) reached the NCAA Regional for the fourth straight season. UT opens the 2009 season on Friday, Feb. 6 when it hosts Florida State at McCombs Field.
