Softball Signs Seven For 2024
11/10/2022 1:00:00 PM | Softball
Head Coach Sharon Perkins announces the addition of seven freshman for next season
STATESBORO - Georgia Southern Head Softball Coach Sharon Perkins has announced the addition of seven student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period to compete for the Eagles in the 2023-24 season.
The new signees are: Makayla Brantley (5-7, OF, Smyrna, Del.); Kelsey Harper (5-2, INF, Garfield, Ga.); Kyla Maxwell (5-9, OF, Snellville, Ga.); Landry Rabitsch (5-5, OF, Suwanee, Ga.); Dixiana Sims (5-11, RHP/UTIL, Macon, Ga.); Delanie Thames (5-9, INF, Statesboro, Ga.) and Analie Pettit (5-5, RHP, Ball Ground, Ga.).
"We are excited to continue to bring in talent to add to our current roster. It is important that they all mesh to continue to grow our strong culture, while buying into our program's style of play. Our goal is to recruit the best local talent, as well as throughout the state of Georgia, while choosing an out of state player that also has the passion to attend Georgia Southern. They have all been playing a high level of travel ball prior to officially becoming an Eagle and each bring a different skillset mentally and physically to our program. We are excited about this signing class and can't wait to get them on campus next Fall."
Read about all seven signees below!
Makayla Brantley
5-7 • OF
Smyrna, Del. / Smyrna HS
All-State outfielder at Smyrna HS and a two-time All-Conference honoree ... Two-time Team MVP for the Eagles as voted on by her teammates ... Also competed in field hockey ... Plays club for Team NC Hinde.
Coach Perkins: "Makayla is our only out-of-state signee for this class. She is a well-rounded player that is an athletic outfielder with an accurate arm. She also brings a consistent bat and will help us add speed on the bases. Her passion for the game shows as she always plays with a smile on her face."
Kelsey Harper
5-2 • INF
Garfield, Ga. / Emanuel County Institute
All-State shortstop for ECI who has earned All-Region honors four times for the Bulldogs ... Hit .360 as a junior with six triples, 20 RBI, 14 stolen bases and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage ... Named Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year ... Also played varsity flag football.
Coach Perkins: "Kelsey brings an overall athleticism that we need. She is a great middle infielder, but she has the ability to be able to play multiple positions, including the outfield if necessary. Her fast footwork and quick transfers allow her to make tough defensive plays look easy. She is a scrappy player who will provide speed on the basepaths immediately."
Kyla Maxwell
5-9 • OF
Snellville, Ga. / Parkview HS
First-team All-Region performer for Parkview HS ... Also named to the Gwinnett Diamond Club All-County First Team and honored with the Panther Award, the highest award given to a student-athlete at Parkview ... Hit .351 and slugged .574 as a junior with 20 RBI ... Plays club for Lady Dukes National Premier 18U.
Coach Perkins: "Kyla brings natural athleticism with a ton of upside. She has an advantage by playing HS for Jessica Sinclair, one of my former players at Georgia Tech. So she has learned many of our drills, techniques and verbiage already. I've seen her make outrageous defensive plays in the outfield while also showing off a strong arm. She is a student of the game that brings power at the plate and speed on the basepaths."
Landry Rabitsch
5-5 • OF
Suwanee, Ga. / North Gwinnett HS
Last name is pronounced "rab-uh-SHAW" ... Hit .388 and registered a 1.000 fielding percentage as a junior at North Gwinnett HS ... Member of the 2021 GHSA State Champion and 2020 State Runner-Up Bulldogs ... Also played varsity lacrosse ... Plays club for Lady Dukes National.
Coach Perkins: "I've known Landry since she was a U10 travel player during my days of giving lessons. She is an aggressive outfielder and a solid, lefty hitter. She is a coach's kid and that comes with a different set of expectations. She also brings great game sense and a strong work ethic."
Dixiana Sims
5-11 • RHP/UTIL
Macon, Ga. / Academy for Classical Education
Three-time All-Region performer for ACE in Macon ... First female student-athlete at ACE to earn a DI college athletic scholarship ... Earned first-team All-State honors and named the GDAC Player of the Year ... Hit .506 offensivley and compiled a 1.30 ERA with 330 strikeouts in the circle ... Also earned All-Region honors as a varsity basketball player ... Plays club for Georgia Impact Dayton.
Coach Perkins: "Dixiana has competitiveness that you just don't see, especially in the typical pitcher. She brings velocity and loves to come inside to challenge batters. Not only does she bring a strong arm in the circle that offsets our current pitching staff, but she is a great fielder in the circle and in the middle infield. She is a solid hitter and an aggressive baserunner that always finds a way to get her uniform dirty."
Delanie Thames
5-9 • INF
Statesboro, Ga. / Southeast Bulloch HS
Two-time first-team All-State performer for Southeast Bulloch HS ... Also named the 3AAA Region Player of the Year twice for the Yellow Jackets ... Also competed in basketball and flag football ... Plays club for Georgia Impact Dayton.
Coach Perkins: "Delanie wowed me since day one. She always pays attention to detail with her footwork and arm slots defensively. She is a great communicator and leader and leaves everything she has on the field each day. She will also add much needed power to our lineup offensively. Del is the epitome of blue collar and exudes confidence in all aspects of the game."
Anslie Pettit
5-5 • RHP
Ball Ground, Ga. / Creekview HS
Three-time All-State performer at Creekview HS ... 2019 and 2020 Region Pitcher of the Year for the Grizzly Bears ... Went 13-4 with a 1.21 ERA and 128 strikeouts as a junior and holds the Creekview HS career strikeout record of 586 going into her senior year.
Coach Perkins: "Anslie was one of the first recruits to catch my eye during my first summer here at Georgia Southern. Every time I saw her pitch, batters just kept missing her pitches. She has the ability to have tremendous break on her pitches and change speeds well. She is high energy and super competitive in the circle that works really well with her catcher. She brings a great work ethic and is an awesome teammate."
