Michigan Fills Needs with Three-Player Recruiting Class
11/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team inked three players to its latest recruiting class, the program announced today (Monday, Nov. 29). Michigan coach Carol Hutchins has added outfielder Allison Kidman (Clearwater, Fla./Countryside HS), shortstop Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./Olathe East HS) and pitcher Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich./Freeland HS) to a Wolverine program coming off its seventh Women's College World Series appearance in 10 seasons.
"There are two things specifically I like about this class," noted Hutchins. "First, we filled our needs because we needed pitching, help in the outfield and a future shortstop, which is exactly what this class gives us. The other part of this class I really like is all three of these kids are very good fits for Michigan."
Though Delaney's senior season has yet to begin, she already earned Division 3 all-state first-team recognition as a sophomore and junior from the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association. A three-time member of the Midland News Dream Team and two-time selection to the Saginaw News Dream Team, Delaney has a career record of 76-12 with a 0.46 earned run average to go with 24 no-hitters and five perfect games. She posted 485 strikeouts last season in 222 innings of work.
"Stacy is without a doubt the top pitcher in this part of the country," mentioned Hutchins. "She comes from Doug Gillis' Pitching Academy and compares her spin on the ball with some of the Olympians he has worked with. I think she can step in and play an important role for us."
A member of National Honor Society and the Student Advisory Council, Ewing was a 6A all-state first-team shortstop according to the Kansas Softball Coaches Association following a junior season in which she hit .482 and led her team to the state championship. Ewing has been a varsity starter at shortstop since her freshman season and has earned two all-conference first-team honors.
"We lose Jessica Merchant at shortstop and that is a position where you just can't afford to miss a beat," stated Hutchins. "Teddi is one of the few kids we looked at that possessed all the qualities I like in a shortstop. She is really athletic with great feet and has good speed as a leadoff hitter. She is a quality kid who had been looking at a lot of the Big 12 schools but just fell in love with Michigan when she visited, and those are the kids you want in your program because they're a great fit."
Kidman enjoyed a junior season last spring in which she earned all-conference first-team honors while helping Countryside to a 26-3 overall record and a berth in the state quarterfinals before falling to eventual Florida 5A champion Palm Harbor University. An academic-athletic award winner as well as a dean's list and honor roll member, Kidman also earned her volleyball team's MVP award, showcasing the type of athleticism the Michigan coaches look for.
"She has been a summer camper over the years," said Hutchins. She adds speed as a lefty and is a short-game artist. She is a kid who has always wanted to go to Michigan and we have had the chance to watch her develop over the years at our camp. We feel she has evolved into a legitimate Division I player who is going to be a big part of our outfield one day."
The Wolverines open their 2005 campaign Feb. 11-13 at the UNLV Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
