Brittany Russ, Sports Information Graduate Assistant – Northwestern State University
NATCHITOCHES – Fifth year Northwestern State softball head coach Donald Pickett caps off recruiting for the 2014 freshman class with three more additions, including two-time All-CenLa Player of the Year, Mikayla Brown.
Brown, a Buckeye High School product and Deville native, is joined by infielder Sidney Salmans from The Woodlands, Texas, and third baseman Briana Rivera from Glenda Dawson High School in Pearland, Texas.
“We’re very excited about this class joining us next season,” said Pickett. “They bring so much talent and experience to the team, and will be competitors in the classroom as well.”
Brown is joined by Natchitoches Central’s Taylor Alexander as the only two Louisiana natives of the class, and boasts two-time accolades as All-District first team pitcher, All-CenLa first team and District MVP for her freshman and sophomore seasons.
For the past two seasons, Brown was named All-State 3A first team pitcher and LSCA 3A All-State Pitcher, while notching All-State 3A Player of the Year as a junior.
Salmans led The Woodlands High School to the 2011 State and ESPN National Championship crowns. The infielder picked up 2012 most improved player and 2013 Defensive Player of the Year awards, as well as 2013 All-State honors after collecting three All-District and Academic All-District certificates.
Due to injury, Rivera was unable to compete for the past two seasons, but has a strong sense of the game and brings a lot of potential to the lineup and third base.
These three additions are joined by Alexander, Hailee Rhodes, Kaytie Proctor and Kaylee Parker in rounding out the 2014 freshman class.
