EL PASO – UTEP Softball Head Coach T.J. Hubbard announced the signing of six high school seniors and a JUCO transfer to National Letters of Intent. The signees, hailing from four different states—Arizona, Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma—will be joining the team in the upcoming fall of 2024.
The Miners received signed NLI's from Marissa Burchard, Serenity Jacoway, Olivia Kingery, Brantley Lavas, Cece Marquez, Iliana Munoz, and Abby Ritchhart.
"Our 2024 class is one of the more dynamic groups we have signed here to UTEP," head coach T.J. Hubbard said. "Multi-tool shortstops, speedy outfielders and utility-pitchers…this group has it all."
Marissa Burchard | SS, UTL | 5-5 | LaBelle, Fla. (LaBelle HS)
Burchard is a triple-threat athlete at LaBelle HS where she is a member of the softball, basketball and volleyball varsity teams and is a three-time scholar athlete (9th-11th). She is a district champion in softball. Burchard broke the LaBelle HS home run record and tied the doubles record. She is a four-time team MVP. Burchard was an All-Area Honorable Mention her freshman year and landed on the All-Area Second team twice.
Serenity Jacoway | P | 5-6 | Tecumseh, Okla. (Tecumseh HS)
Jacoway has garnered numerous awards playing fast pitch and slow pitch at Tecumseh HS and on her club team, Gametime National. At THS, she is a four-time regional champion, three-time district champion, state finalist her freshman year and state runners-up her sophomore and junior seasons. As a freshman Jacoway was crowned Class 4A-2 District Pitcher of the Year, was named the Tri-County Preps Softball Player of the Year as a sophomore and is a two-time Class 4A-2 District MVP of the Year. Additionally, she is a three-time Oklahoman, Little All-City First Team selection. As a member of Gametime National, she was a USA High Performance and Top 60 Stars of Tomorrow Alliance Fast Pitch direct select. Jacoway landed on the Top Club National Spring Invitational and HFL Team One Summer Invite All-Tournament Teams. Gametime National took the bronze in the 16U Tier 3 Alliance Championship last season.
Olivia Kingery | P | 6-0 | Phoenix, Ariz. (Desert Vista HS)
Kingery will round out her high school career at Deset Vista HS after a three-year stint at Evergreen HS in Evergreen, Colo. As a Cougar, she was named MaxPreps Softball Player of the Year in 2022 and was a CHSSA/MaxPreps All-State Honorable Mention. Additionally, she was an All-Conference First Team selection and Academic All-State Honorable Mention.
Brantley Lavas | UTL, INF, OF | 5-6 | Roud Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)
Lavas is a three-time 25-6A district champion, two-time UIL Regional Quarterfinalist and UIL Regional Semifinalist. As a freshman, she was an All Cen-Tex Newcomer of the Year Finalist, an All Cen-Tex Honorable Mention as a sophomore and an All Cen-Tex Third Team selection her junior year. Lavas earned back-to-back 1st Team All-District honors (2022, 2023) and was named 25-6A Defensive Player of the Year (2023). Off the field, she earned Academic All-District all three years. She helped the Round Rock Dragons earn the Team Gold Glove Award and Team Big Bat Award.
Cece Marquez | OF | 5-8 | Queen Creek, Ariz. (Queen Creek HS)
The outfielder is a regular All-Region selection making First Team as a sophomore and Second Team as a junior. Marquez is a two-time All-Academic Honorable Region selection.
Iliana Munoz | INF | 5-4 | South Mountain CC | Laveen, Ariz. (Betty Fairfax HS)
The JUCO transfer helped the Cougars finish the 2023 season at 54-10, setting a new school record for wins. SMCC won the ACCA and Region I Division II titles for the first time in program history and went on. The Cougars made an NJCAA DII World Series appearance and Munoz landed on the NJCAA DII World Series All-Tournament Team.
Abby Ritchhart | C, UTL | 5-4 | Tempe, Ariz. (Corona del Sol HS)
As a junior, Ritchhart earned a spot on the Arizona 6A Central Region First Team and was a Tempe All-City Team selection. Off the field, she holds a 4.0 GPA and is a two-time NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete.
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