Bradley Softball Adds Six During Fall Signing Period

Bob Hunt - Photographer

Softball 11/14/2017 3:00:00 PM

PEORIA, Ill. -- A group of six freshmen will join the Bradley Softball team in 2019, with 10th-year head coach Amy Hayes announcing Carly Chovanec (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Crystal Lake South), Grace French (Benicia, Calif./Benicia), Lucy Mead (West Seattle, Wash./West Seattle) Camryn Monteer (Boonville, Mo./Boonville R-1), Samantha Smith (Phillips Ranch, Calif./Diamond Ranch) and Keeler van Breusegen (Columbia, Mo./Columbia) each signed National Letters of Intent to attend Bradley during the Fall Signing period.

Carly Chovanec • 5-7 • C/UT • Lake in the Hills, Ill. • Crystal Lake South
A .419 career hitter entering her senior year, Chovanec owned a .444 batting average with 23 RBI, 30 runs and nine stolen bases as a junior. The three-time Fox Valley All-Conference pick hit .376 with 28 runs during her sophomore campaign.

As a freshman, Chovanec was named Offensive MVP for the Gators after she hit .432 with 10 doubles, four triples and three homers. She has been named to the All-Area teams by both the Northwest Herald and the Daily Herald and comes from the same club team as current Bradley senior Maria Schroeder and sophomore Sydney Young.

"Carly is a versatile athlete with a solid presence who can play anywhere on the field," said Hayes. "She plays for Gerry Quinn and the IL Chill and has been utilized at several different spots effectively. We look forward to her ability to contribute in several areas."

Grace French • 5-4 • P/UT • Benicia, Calif. • Benicia H.S.
A career .459 hitter for the Panthers, French has 61 runs, 68 hits and 52 career RBI in 63 varsity games. As a junior, she hit .467 with 30 RBI, 11 doubles, six triples and three home runs in addition to boasting a 5-0 record with three shutouts and 1.30 ERA. French, who tossed a perfect game this past spring, has walked just one batter and struck out 55 in 55.2 career innings while holding opponents to a .133 batting average.

French helped Benicia to a San Joaquin Section Division III CIF championship this past spring and her team finished the year ranked 49th nationally. The Panthers Offensive Player of the Year in 2017, she was a first-team Solano County Athletic Conference pick and was named to the all-tournament team at Queen of the Mountain.

"Grace is a tough competitor who is our first recruit from the All American Sports Academy-Macias out of California," added Hayes. "She is a pitcher/utility with the ability to make the big play; be it in the circle or wherever you need her. I love her positive, team-first attitude combined with her gritty style of play. Her summer travel ball coach is former All-American Brandi Macias, who played at Iowa."

Lucy Mead • 5-8 • IF/UT • West Seattle, Wash. • West Seattle
A middle infielder, Mead earned first-team all-conference at shortstop both her junior and sophomore seasons. As a freshman, she was a first-team all-division performer at second base. This past season she hit .640 with a .840 on base percentage and 1.07 slugging percentage.

"A tall, lanky athlete, Lucy has shown great range in the middle infield as well as the outfield," stated Hayes. "Our first player from a very talented Washington Majestics squad, she flew under the recruiting radar, but we look for her to make a big impact on the Hilltop."

Camryn Monteer • 5-5 • IF/UT • Boonville, Mo. • Boonville R-1 H.S.
Monteer hit .558 this fall with 38 stolen bases and 34 runs scored, garnering first-team all-state honors as a senior. A second-team Class 3 all-state pick as a junior, she is a two-time all-region and three-time all-conference performer. Part of back-to-back conference championship teams as a freshman and sophomore, Monteer hit .548 as a junior.

A two-sport standout for the Pirates, Monteer also lettered in basketball and took home all-conference along with all-district honors on the hardwood as a junior. She owns a .456 career batting average with 97 career steals during her prep career on the diamond. Her older sister Havyn is a sophomore at Iowa, playing in 23 games with six starts this past spring as a freshman for the Hawkeyes.

"Another feisty ballplayer who posses good speed, range and instincts, Camryn is a proven winner both at the high school and travel ball levels," said Hayes. "She has another gear which pushes her and those around her to a higher level. Camyryn was a part of a Louisville Lady Slugger team which won the 18U USA JO CUP Championship this past summer and is currently playing for Missouri SoCal Athletics."

Samantha Smith • 5-6 • OF/C • Phillips Ranch, Calif. • Diamond Ranch H.S.
Smith owned a .474 batting average as a sophomore to go with a .535 on base percentage and 11 stolen bases. A first-team all-conference selection as a sophomore, she was named her team's best offensive player and was a second-team all-conference pick as a freshman.

At the club level, Smith helped the Corona Angels to the 2014 PGF 14U national championship.

"A high school teammate of current freshman Vicki Zaluske, Samantha spends most of her time in the outfield but has the ability to catch," added Hayes. "She has been coached by some outstanding women in our sport in her high school coach Chenita Rogers-Edwards, an All-American and national champion at Cal State Fullerton, in addition to her Corona Angels coach Dena (Tyson) Slye, who was an All-American at Washington."

Keeler van Breusegen • 5-4 • OF • Columbia, Ill. • Columbia H.S.
A first-team all-conference pick as a sophomore, van Breusegen hit .326 last spring with a .394 on base percentage during her junior season. As a sophomore, she owned a .343 batting average.

A three-sport letterwinner for the Eagles, van Breusegen was a team captain for the volleyball squad and helped her team to an undefeated season as a junior in addition to lettering in basketball.

"Keeler is a talented outfielder from Evan Beatty's Chaos organization out of St. Louis, which has produced Bradley softball alums Miriam Wegmann, Amanda Clack and Denise Jilka," said Hayes. "Her quickness and instincts make her a solid anchor for the outfield next season."

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