MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—For the second year in a row, Barry University head coach Danielle Penner has stocked up during the early signing period as the Buccaneer softball has two outstanding player lined up already for the 2014 season with shortstop Cheyanne Head and utility player Nicole Szelest inking letters of intent this fall.
“Nicole and Cheyanne are impressive young women both on and off the field,” Penner said. “They are talented, hard working and versatile athletes who are capable of making an immediate impact next year.”
Head is another Canadian import, marking the fourth player from the “great white north” to play for the Bucs under Penner. A native of Surrey, British Columbia, she will graduate from Earl Marriott Secondary School, where she has been a member of the 4.0 honor roll, this year. A three-time Canadian national club champion with the White Rock Renegades (2009, 2011 and 2012), she led the team to a 58-10-1 mark in 2011. She hit .430 with 56 runs scored and 50 RBI in 69 games. She slugged .640 with 14 doubles, eight triples and three homers, and reach base at a .491 clip. She was the MVP of the finals in 2011 after hitting .750.
Szelest is another versatile player from the state of Florida. Playing for coach Mike Estes at East Lake High in Tarpon Springs, she has played first base, third base and catcher and hit .399 with eight homers and 39 RBI to earn All-County and All-Conference honors. She has led the Eagles to the state class 8A semifinals twice and quarterfinals once in three years. Playing with the Mizuno Krusherz, she finished in the top 20 in the nation at the 2012 ASA Nationals. She hit .463 with three homers and was one of 46 players (14 from Florida) selected for the TC Rising Stars All-American game which was televised on CBS.
The Bucs have five seniors on the roster for 2013, including starters Sarah Broeseker (third base in 2012), Natalia Ojeda (shortstop), Kayla Monroy (catcher) and pitchers Alexis Yohe and Paula Mackin.