Wednesday, December 6, 2006

SAINTS SIGN EIGHT TO LETTERS OF INTENT

Dahlonega, GA - North Georgia College & State University head softball coach Mike Davenport announced the signing of eight players for the 2008 season this afternoon for the Saints. The talented class promises to bring strength to many positions. The class includes shortstop Kim Stercay (Lilburn, Ga./Parkview H.S.), outfielder Stephanie Farmakis (Sharpsburg, Ga./Northgate H.S.), third baseman/catcher Tiffany Blackburn (Evans, Ga./Greenbrier H.S.), pitcher/first baseman Ansley Anderson (Dahlonega, Ga./North Forsyth High School), third baseman/first baseman Kayla Martin (Cumming, Ga./North Forsyth H.S.), shortstop Kasey Knight (Watkinsville, Ga./Oconee County H.S.), second baseman/outfielder Heidi Cranford (Dawsonville, Ga./Dawson County H.S.) and catcher Chealse Sanders (Dawsonville, Ga./Dawson County H.S.).

KIM STERCAY, SS, 5-3, Lilburn, Ga., Parkview H.S.

Kim Stercay was named to the 2006 Georgia High School Association (GHSA) All-State Honorable Mention Team as a senior. She recorded a .316 batting average, with six doubles, five triples and 12 runs batted in. She also recorded an on-base average of .544, with 14 stolen bases and a fielding average of .962 (only six errors). Throughout her prep career, Stercay excelled on the playing field by earning Gwinnett County First-Team honors as a sophomore and junior, being named team Most Valuable Player as a senior, and earning the Gwinnett County Diamond Club Defensive Player of the Year Award as a senior. She played her prep career under coach Steve Westmoreland at Parkview High School, and plays during the summers for the Atlanta Vipers.

STEPHANIE FARMAKIS, OF, 5-6, Sharpsburg, Ga., Northgate H.S.

Stephanie Farmakis played an instrumental role in helping Northgate High School finish as the second-best in the state in GHSA Class AAAA softball during her senior season. She hit .302, with one double, one homerun, 11 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases for a team that finished 31-9 on the season. She also scored 18 runs, had an on-base percentage of .396, and a perfect (1.000) fielding percentage with 106 fielding attempts. During her prep career, she amassed many awards playing under coach Lisa Skelton at Northgate High School. She has been named the Mike Fitzpatrick Student-Athlete during her sophomore season, she was an All-Area selection by the Atlanta Journal Constitution during her senior season, she was named a GACA High School All-Star during her senior season and she was named to the First Team All-State during her senior season. She has also earned many academic honors during her prep career, such as being in the Viking 100 Club, National Beta Club, the REACH program and being on the A-B Honor Roll. She plays with fellow Saint signee Kim Stercay for the Atlanta Vipers during the summer.

TIFFANY BLACKBURN , 3B-C, 5-8, Evans, Ga., Greenbrier H.S.

Tiffany Blackburn may be the highlight of the recruiting class for North Georgia College & State University, as she was named the 2006 GHSA Class AAAA Player of the Year. She played an instrumental role in Greenbrier High School claiming a state championship during her sophomore season, and finishing fourth during her senior season. As a senior, she hit .446 with 48 runs batted in and 10 homeruns. She holds four school records at Greenbrier in career hits (188), runs batted in (147), doubles (36) and homeruns (17). She has a slugging percentage of .769 during her prep career, with a .390 batting average over four seasons. She has been named All-County in each of her four seasons, as well as being named First Team All-State during her sophomore, junior and senior campaigns. In 2004 and 2006, she was named the Best Offensive Player at Greenbrier when she hit .506 (sophomore) and .446 (senior). She was selected to play in the GACA All-Star Game during her senior season. She has played four years at Greenbrier under coach Garrett Black.

ANSLEY ANDERSON , P-1B, 5-9, Dahlonega, Ga., North Forsyth H.S.

Ansley Anderson is the lone Dahlonega-native to sign with North Georgia College & State University this season. She was named First Team All-Region, First-Team Forsyth County and Second Team All-AJC North Area this past season. She has also been named Honorable Mention All-Area and named North Forsyth High School's Most Valuable Pitcher. During her prep career, she recorded a 43-23 record on the mound with a career earned run average of 1.06. She recorded a .272 batting average during her senior season, with 14 runs batted in and an on-base percentage of .427. She also recorded a 13-7 record on the mound, with a 0.57 ERA in 134.2 innings pitched. Anderson recorded 127 strikeouts this past season. Throughout her prep career, Anderson has strived on the playing field by throwing the school's first no-hitter and leading North Forsyth in combined saves. During her prep career, Anderson has excelled in the classroom by being a member of the 3.0 GPA club, a member of the National Beta Club and a member of Who's Who Among America's High School Students. She played under coach Jim Cahill at North Forsyth in her prep career, and plays for the X-Treme Mavericks (coach Roger Kincaid) during the summer.

KAYLA MARTIN , 3B-1B, 5-8, Cumming, Ga., North Forsyth H.S.

Kayla Martin joins teammate Ansley Anderson in signing with the North Georgia College and State University Saints for the 2008 season. She was been named First Team All-County all four years at North Forsyth High School. She has also been named First Team All-Region, First Team All-State (junior) and named team Most Valuable Player (sophomore, junior and senior seasons). She helped lead North Forsyth to the county championship as a junior, and helped her team finish fifth in the state. For her career, Martin has hit .354 with 96 runs batted in, 15 doubles, 18 triples and 10 homeruns. She has recorded 110 career hits. Martin also holds four school records - hits (152), runs batted in (96), slugging percentage (.543) and homeruns (10). She has played her prep career for coach Jim Cahill at North Forsyth High School.

KASEY KNIGHT, SS, 5-4, Watkinsville, Ga., Oconee County H.S.

Kasey Knight, like Blackburn, may be the jewel of Daveport's 2008 class. She was named the GHSA Class AAA Player of the Year as a senior, not to mention being named All-State during her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She led her team to three consecutive state championships (2004, 2005, 2006), and was named First Team All-Northeast Georgia as a junior. Knight was selected to participate in the 2006 GACA High School All-Star game following her senior season. She hit .308 this past season, with 16 runs batted in, three doubles and four triples. She also recorded nine stolen bases (in 10 attempts), and had an on-base percentage of .425 during her senior season. She helped lead Oconee County High School (coach Brian Dickens) to a 37-4 record this past season. She plays for the Georgia Starzz during the summer for coach Johnny Highfill.

HEIDI CRANFORD, 2B-OF, 5-3, Dawsonville, Ga., Dawson County H.S.

Heidi Cranford signed with North Georgia College & State University after playing her prep softball at Dawson County High School (coach Jimmy Pruitt). She recorded a .338 batting average, with six runs batted in, five doubles and three triples. She also recorded an on-base percentage of .443, and recorded 13 stolen bases in 14 attempts. She was named to the 2006 GHSA Honorable Mention All-State Team.

CHEALSE SANDERS , C, 5-5, Dawsonville, Ga., Dawson County H.S.

Chealse Sanders joins high school teammate Cranford in signing with North Georgia College & State University for the 2008 season. She hit .325 with 15 runs batted in, four doubles and three triples. As a catcher, she only allowed two stolen bases during her senior season. Sanders was named Second Team All-State as a sophomore, and named All-Region during the 2003-04 season.

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