LAKE CHARLES—McNeese head softball coach
James Landreneau announced the signing of eight student-athletes in a class that ranks 49
th in the nation by Extra Inning Softball during the early signing period here Wednesday. Landreneau's 2022 class consists of four players ranked in the Top 100 by the organization including two ranked in the in the Top 15 at their position.
"I'm really excited about the level of talent and quality of people we were able to add to this class. Our coaches did a great job identifying skill sets needed but also the right kids for our program. They then built relationships to bring talented student-athletes to McNeese. This class is loaded with versatility and athleticism. It's not often you are able to sign this much power and speed in one class and we are extremely excited along with all of Poke Nation. This class has six position players and two big time arms that love to be in competitive moments. The other things that stand out to me about this class are their toughness and desire to compete. I see tough and competitive athletes with an impactful future that will allow us to play fast and stretch the field. Once again, hats off to coach
Robbie Tate and coach
Shellie Landry on doing an excellent job recruiting," said head coach
James Landreneau.
Ridge Point High's Grace Janik is ranked as the No. 3 first baseman/infielder while Vardaman High's Makynlie Jones is the 11
th ranked first baseman/infielder. Hernando High's Rylee Eyster is ranked 57
th as an infielder and Lindsay Davis is ranked 92nd as a pitcher.
Janik is a product of 6A Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas who is s coming off a stellar high school season where she helped her team to the state playoffs. She produced a team leading .520 batting average with 10 home runs and OPS of 1.584. She was also recognized for her outstanding season with several accolades including TSWA and TGCA All State Team, first team Greater Houston, District 20-6A Offensive MVP and Vype Player of the Year finalist. Grace continued her success into the summer playing for nationally known, Impact Gold. Over the summer she batted .461 with 10 home runs and an OPS of 1.346.
Janik has a plus tool set and a projectable body. She has homerun power with barrel control that allows her to hit for average. Her speed has allowed her to stretch the base paths, rack up extra base hits, and shrink the outfield.
She has not only made an impact on the softball field but in her community as well. Grace has served and will continue to serve as a team member helping raise money to help fight leukemia and lymphoma. Her team helped raise over $100,000 last year. She does all of this while serving on her high school's Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor Society, National Honor Society and World Changers Club.
"Grace is a physical athlete with the ability to hit for average and power. She has deceptive speed which will allow her to stack extra base hits and play anywhere on the field," said Landreneau.
Brooke Otto is a multi-sport athlete from Smithville, Texas where she attends Smithville High earning honors in both softball and volleyball. Her volleyball honors include Academic All-District and first team Defensive MVP. Aside from her volleyball honors, she has also earned Academic All-District, District MVP, First-team All-Centex - Austin Texas High School, Girls Coaching Association All-State and Girl's Athlete of the Year.
Otto plays for a competitive travel organization in the Texas Bombers. She is extremely athletic and competitive in nature. Her determination and drive to win and become successful is unmatched. She has plus speed on the base path and a great understanding for the mental side of the game.
"Brooke is a high energy athletic player that plays the game fast and with great instincts. She is a fun player to watch and possesses great leadership qualities. She can play anywhere on the infield as well as outfield with a plus softball IQ," Landreneau said.
Lindsay Davis, the product of Troup, Texas, stands tall in stature with her presence in the circle. In her junior season at Troup High, she shattered records with 358 strikeouts en route to the Regional Quarterfinals. She has also been named All East-Texas Pitcher of the Year, second team all-state pitcher, Max Preps Pitcher of the Week, District MVP and Academic All-District. Davis enters her senior season with a career record 707 strikeouts.
Davis quickly rose as one of the top pitchers in the nation representing the Hotshots organization based out of Southeastern Texas. In their most recent summer campaign, the Hotshots shined as Champions of the 2021 Gold Cup, in addition to making the final game of the Top Gun Elite Championship. In their trek to California, Davis helped her team to a Top 16 finish in the PGF Premier Bracket.
"Lindsay has proven to be a big game pitcher. She has stacked up strike totals in both high school and travel ball. She has late life to her ball and has an extremely high ceiling. Her competitive nature and resilient attitude are one of the many reasons for her success thus far," said Landreneau.
Jada Muñoz is an athletic middle infielder from San Antonio, Texas where she attends Sandra Day O'Connor High School. She plays summer ball with the Texas Bombers Gold National STX based out of New Braunfels, Texas. Muñoz is coming off an incredible high school year with a .562 batting average, 48 stolen bases, 19 doubles, 21 triples and 13 homeruns. Jada runs well and can play multiple positions when her number is called.
The four-year letterwinner at the shortstop position also earned 6A first team all-district honors, Academic all-district and ranked no. 1 in stolen bases in the 2021 Colorado Sparkler Tournament. Jada is also involved in Church Youth Group and Life Teen where she aids in the Texas Bombers "The Hero's" Annual Fundraiser, Elf Louise Annual Christmas Project and the Thanksgiving Feed the Hungry Project.
"Jada is an athletic infielder with the ability to exhaust her opponents in many ways on offense. She hits consistently to both sides of the field with power and uses her speed well. She has great glove skills and game instincts," Landreneau said.
Rylee Eyster hails from Southaven, Mississippi where she attends Hernando High and plays for the Mississippi Bombers. She also plays basketball and volleyball and is a member of the Student Ambassadors, National Honor Society, Interact Club, Student Council and an officer for the Spirit Club. She also spends her free time volunteering at Compel Church for nursery. Rylee's leadership is exemplified not only on the field or court but as the Executive President for Student Council.
Rylee's athletic accolades in all three sports include Scholar Athlete Award, Final Four Appearance, Rising Stars All-Star game, All-State tournament team, First Team All-County Shortstop and USA Junior Olympic softball team. Rylee has led the state in stolen bases, runs scored and triples holding a .482 batting average and 42 stolen bases.
"Rylee is another athletic player that plays the game extremely fast. She has above average speed that puts constant stress on the opposing defenses. Her athleticism and speed make her an outstanding middle infielder as well as outfielder," said Landreneau.
Delaney Dunham is a left-handed hitting outfielder from Mont Belvieu, Texas where she attends Barbers Hill High and plays for the Texas Bombers organization. She is another multi-sport athlete, lettering three years in basketball, two years in baseball and one year in softball. She took part in USA Baseball's Women's National Open, which serves as a tryout for the USA Baseball Women's National Team. Dunham excels in the classroom along with being a member of the National Honors Society. She has an intriguing story starting her career off in the sport of baseball before transitioning over to softball in her junior year where she competed and lead her team to a state championship.
Prior to her junior year, baseball was Dunham's primary sport where she lettered both her freshman and sophomore year. Once the transition was made, she racked up first team all-district, first team All-Greater Houston area, Texas 5A State Tournament team, first team all-state and Barbers Hill Offensive MVP.
"Delaney has made an impressive transition over from baseball to softball in such a short period of time. She has tremendous upside and potential in the sport of softball. Delaney has displayed great ball skills with her ability to track balls with an above average arm. She is truly a complete offensive player while having a great understanding of both hitting and base running," Landreneau said.
Makynlie Jones is a 4.0 student at Vardaman High in Calhoun City, Mississippi. She is a utility player who has played both infield and outfield as well as seeing action in the circle. She also competes in basketball and track where she was Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year, All- Region and State Runner-Up as a high jumper.
Jones was also selected to USA Softball's first team Southeast Region, representing Tony Knight's Mississippi Bombers. She helped the Bombers in their back-to-back Top 3 finishes at the USA World Fast pitch Championships and a Top 5 finish at the Colorado Sparkler. Jones led the Mississippi Bombers team with 39 RBIs, 13 homeruns and 11 doubles while compiling a .384 batting average. She also led Vardaman to their first state championship in school history as a pitcher and shortstop while winning a school record 20 games. She was also selected as an All-State Golden Glove and Silver Slugger as well as being invited to participate in the USA softball camp.
"Makynlie is an exceptional hitter with game changing power. She is athletic enough to move around the infield and play the outfield. She has a projectable frame which should allow for her skill set to continue to blossom throughout her college career," Landreneau said.
Ryann Schexnayder is a left-handed pitcher from Walker High School (Walker, La.) who was a member of the Dean's List in each of her high school years. Outside of the classroom, Schexnayder was selected as an all-parish, all-district and All-Metro pitcher. She played select ball for the Louisiana Blazers Gold helping them to a Top 5 finish in the Junior Olympic Cup, USSSA Nationals and the National Fast pitch Alliance National Championships.
She helped Walker High advance to the semifinals of the 2019 LHSAA State Tournament before their 2021 5A quarterfinal appearance.
"Ryan is a "bull dawg" in the circle. She is quick and loose off the rubber with nice late action. She is a high energy pitcher with visible confidence that elevates the performance of her teammates. The bigger the game the better she is," said Landreneau."
2022 McNeese Softball Signees
Position Hometown High School
Grace Janik* 1B/Outfield Missouri City, TX. Ridge Point High
Brooke Otto MIF/Outfield Smithville, TX. Smithville High
Lindsay Davis* Pitcher Troup, TX. Troup High
Jada McKelvey-Muñoz Infield San Antonio, TX. Sandra Day O'Connor High
Rylee Eyster* MIF/Outfield Southhaven, Miss. Hernando High
Delaney Dunham Outfield Mont Belvieu, TX. Barbers Hill High
Makynlie Jones* Infield Vardaman, Miss. Vardaman High
Ryann Schexnayder Pitcher Walker, La. Walker High
*- Ranked In Extra Inning Softball Top 100
