Augusta State Softball Inks Four

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State head softball coach Melissa Mullins announced Friday the signing of four high school student-athletes who will join the Jaguar softball program beginning in the fall of 2008.

Sara Demuth, a pitcher and shortstop from Durant High School in Plant City, Fla., was a four-year starter in softball and also a two-year letterwinner in volleyball. A two-time All-Western Conference selection, Demuth posted a 0.49 ERA and tallied a .514 batting average with five home runs while leading DHS to a 15-1 record. A Principal’s Honor Roll student and two-time National Honor Society selection, Demuth is a member of the Senior Council and a Student Advisory Council Board member with over 120 hours of community service performed with various organizations.

“I am extremely excited to have Sara joining our pitching staff,” Mullins said. “She’s not only a top pitcher, she can effectively play other positions and hit as well. I feel confident that we won’t just see her on the mound, but at other spots on the field when not pitching.”

Kristen Jones, a catcher and outfielder and teammate of Demuth at Plant City’s (Fla.) Durant High School, is a three-year starter and All-Western Conference pick and Durant High’s Defensive Player-of-the-Year. Jones has been named to the Honor Roll for four straight years and is a member of the Student Advisory Council. She has over 100 hours of community service to her credit at metropolitan ministries and the Second Harvest Food Bank during the holiday season.

“Kristen’s hustle and personality caught my attention right away,” Mullins said. “She is also a versatile player. As a good hitter and outfielder, she’ll see time both behind the plate and in the outfield.”

Jessica Thornton is a pitcher and utility player for Pierce County High School in Blackshear, Ga. She was a first-team, all-region selection and was named the region’s Pitcher-of-the-Year. She won the team’s coaches award and best pitcher award as well as being named the best offensive player after she recorded a .565 batting average. A Beta Club member and a member of the A Honor Roll, Thornton’s community involvement includes serving as a volunteer for the Future Educators of America and serving as a volunteer community softball coach.

“Jess can play everywhere. She can throw really hard and has a lot of endurance on the mound,” Mullins said. “She’s a huge threat at the plate and has great speed on the bases. I look forward to seeing how she progresses. She has a ton of potential.”

Rounding out the signing class is local product Kacee Camp, a senior at Harlem High School. A four-year starter in both softball (shortstop and catcher) and basketball (point guard), Camp has earned numerous awards during her prep career, including being selected to the all Columbia County first team as a catcher. She was featured in The Columbia County News-Times Athlete Spotlight and was Harlem High School’s nominee for the Wendy’s High School Heisman national award. An A Honor Roll member the last four years, Camp is very active in the FCA, Beta Club and the Honor Physics Club. She was also named the 2007 Homecoming Queen.

“We are so excited to have Kacee staying here with us,” Mullins said. “She has great range up the middle and really goes after the ball in the outfield, plus she’s a terrific athlete.”

“I can’t say enough about this early signing class. All of these young ladies are strong students and athletes. We’re losing some really key seniors after this season and I think these four signees put us well on our way to filling some very big and very successful shoes.”

The Jaguars are coming off the winningest season in school history in 2007 when they posted a 39-22 record, advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA South Atlantic Regional and finished the season ranked 18th in the nation, the first national ranking in the history of the program.