Softball signs 3 for 2023 season
11/10/2021 4:48:00 AM | Softball
HUNTSVILLE — The Sam Houston softball program and head coach Garret Valis announced the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.
The trio — infielder Kylie Bishop, infielder Morgan Holliday and catcher Julia Herzinger will join the Bearkats next fall and make their debut in the 2023 season.
"I am excited about this class for several reasons but none more important than the fact they bleed Bearkat orange," Valis said. "With this being a smaller class, we knew we needed versatility and athlete's that would commit to everything it takes to be a Bearkat. This class and their families embody exactly that. I love the resolve and find-a-way-to-get-it-done attitude these three young ladies have."
Bishop is a multi-sport athlete at Liberty High School who also plays in volleyball. She was the 2019 Newcomer of the Year and all-district selection for the Lady Panthers.
Bishop played a huge role in the state championship team her junior year. Playing travel ball for the Cy Fair Intruders she has been selected as a Top 200 third basemen, by Extra Innings Softball. She is currently in the top 10 percent of her high school's graduating class and intends to major in kinesiology with plans to attend physical therapy school.
"Kylie has been recruiting our program as much as we have recruited her over the last several years," Valis said. "Her talent, determination and personality fit our culture so well. I really like her ability to play multiple infield positions with experience at second, shortstop and third base. She is a consistent offensive player who loves getting dirty to make a play, she is going to fit in very well here."
Holliday is an all-state, All-Johnson County and Defensive Most Valuable Player at Grandview High School. She helped Grandview to a regional semifinal finish in 2021.
The middle infielder plays travel ball programs in the state, Impact Gold Rodriguez. Holliday is a part of the National Honors Society and plans on majoring in criminal justice. She was a multi-sport athlete in high school, also competing in volleyball, basketball and track.
"Morgan is an electric athlete on the field and at the plate," Valis said. "She can play small ball and hurt you on the basepath or hit in the middle of the lineup as a runner producer. The spark and energy she brings, along with a positive, blue-collar attitude is going to take her far in our program. I see her playing up the middle for us with the ability to play in the outfield as well."
Herzinger is a native of Magnolia and helped lead her McLennan Community College (MCC) squad to a second-place finish in conference and finished third at the NJCAA Region V North Championships. As a freshman, she appeared in 57 of McLennan's 60 games, recording a .344 batting average.
She set a team high and single season record in home runs (20). The freshman was later named an NTJCAC first-team selection and a NJCAA DI second-team All-American. She helped MCC be crowned NJCAA Academic Team of the Year with a 3.41 Team GPA and NJCAA All-Academic second-team award. She plans to major in criminal justice.
"Julia brings experience and a gritty leadership to this class from the catching position," Valis said. "She will not be outworked and plays the game with power at the plate which I see translating well at our level. I look forward to seeing her competitiveness, toughness and ability to drive the softball on a daily basis. It will be fun to watch."
"This is an amazing day for these three young ladies, their families and our program," Valis added. "These are exciting and monumental times here at Sam Houston. I congratulate Kylie, Morgan and Julia, along with all of the athletes signing with Sam Houston Athletics over the next several months."
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The trio — infielder Kylie Bishop, infielder Morgan Holliday and catcher Julia Herzinger will join the Bearkats next fall and make their debut in the 2023 season.
"I am excited about this class for several reasons but none more important than the fact they bleed Bearkat orange," Valis said. "With this being a smaller class, we knew we needed versatility and athlete's that would commit to everything it takes to be a Bearkat. This class and their families embody exactly that. I love the resolve and find-a-way-to-get-it-done attitude these three young ladies have."
Bishop is a multi-sport athlete at Liberty High School who also plays in volleyball. She was the 2019 Newcomer of the Year and all-district selection for the Lady Panthers.
Bishop played a huge role in the state championship team her junior year. Playing travel ball for the Cy Fair Intruders she has been selected as a Top 200 third basemen, by Extra Innings Softball. She is currently in the top 10 percent of her high school's graduating class and intends to major in kinesiology with plans to attend physical therapy school.
"Kylie has been recruiting our program as much as we have recruited her over the last several years," Valis said. "Her talent, determination and personality fit our culture so well. I really like her ability to play multiple infield positions with experience at second, shortstop and third base. She is a consistent offensive player who loves getting dirty to make a play, she is going to fit in very well here."
Holliday is an all-state, All-Johnson County and Defensive Most Valuable Player at Grandview High School. She helped Grandview to a regional semifinal finish in 2021.
The middle infielder plays travel ball programs in the state, Impact Gold Rodriguez. Holliday is a part of the National Honors Society and plans on majoring in criminal justice. She was a multi-sport athlete in high school, also competing in volleyball, basketball and track.
"Morgan is an electric athlete on the field and at the plate," Valis said. "She can play small ball and hurt you on the basepath or hit in the middle of the lineup as a runner producer. The spark and energy she brings, along with a positive, blue-collar attitude is going to take her far in our program. I see her playing up the middle for us with the ability to play in the outfield as well."
Herzinger is a native of Magnolia and helped lead her McLennan Community College (MCC) squad to a second-place finish in conference and finished third at the NJCAA Region V North Championships. As a freshman, she appeared in 57 of McLennan's 60 games, recording a .344 batting average.
She set a team high and single season record in home runs (20). The freshman was later named an NTJCAC first-team selection and a NJCAA DI second-team All-American. She helped MCC be crowned NJCAA Academic Team of the Year with a 3.41 Team GPA and NJCAA All-Academic second-team award. She plans to major in criminal justice.
"Julia brings experience and a gritty leadership to this class from the catching position," Valis said. "She will not be outworked and plays the game with power at the plate which I see translating well at our level. I look forward to seeing her competitiveness, toughness and ability to drive the softball on a daily basis. It will be fun to watch."
"This is an amazing day for these three young ladies, their families and our program," Valis added. "These are exciting and monumental times here at Sam Houston. I congratulate Kylie, Morgan and Julia, along with all of the athletes signing with Sam Houston Athletics over the next several months."
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