Omaha Softball Adds Four to Recruiting Class
Jul 18, 2017 | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – Head coach DJ Sanchez announced Tuesday that Kenzie Adkins, Savannah Fisher, Abby Gehringer and Andrea Sotelo will join the Omaha softball program in 2017-18.
"We cannot be more excited about our 2017 class," said Sanchez. "Each of them are great ball players, but even better athletes and outstanding young women. They are competitors who are fun to watch, and I am thankful that they are going to be a part of our Maverick family."
Andrea Sotelo
INF/C, 5-7, Imperial Valley, Calif. (Imperial Valley High School/Yavapai College)
Sotelo joins Omaha from Yavapai College, where she played the past two seasons for coach Doug Eastman. An NJCAA and NFCA first-team All-American, she led the nation with a .567 batting average and was third nationally with a .616 on-base percentage. Additionally, she hit 20 home runs and 28 doubles with 70 RBIs and a team-best 78 runs scored.
Defensively in 2017, Sotelo had 105 putouts, seven assists and just three errors en route to a .974 fielding percentage. Over her two-year career, she set the program record with a .501 batting average and 39 home runs.
Sotelo was previously a three-year letterwinner for coach Andrea Horton at Imperial High School, where she was a three-time first-team All-Imperial Valley selection. She played travel ball for SoCal Firecrackers.
"Andrea is an outstanding athlete," said Sanchez. "She can play any position on the field and will be an unbelievable asset to our team in every aspect."
Abby Gehringer
1B/UTL, 5-8, Indianola, Iowa (Indianola High School/DMACC)
Gehringer will join the Mavericks from Des Moines Area Community College, where she played the 2017 season for coach Bob Ligouri. A first-team all-region pick, she hit .438 with 20 doubles, nine home runs and 53 RBI. Gehringer also garnered NJCAA Region XI All-Region academic honors.
Gehringer was previously a three-year letterwinner for coach Stacy Evans at Indianola High School, where she was a third-team all-state selection as a senior. She also was an academic all-conference selection.
"Abby had a tremendous freshman season at DMACC," said Sanchez. "She has big-time power and is a well-rounded hitter who is a tough out every time she steps in the box."
Savannah Fisher
OF, 6-0, Hallsville, Mo. (Hallsville High School/SIUE)
Fisher comes to Omaha after playing her first two seasons at SIUE. She appeared in 39 games posting a .222 average, two doubles and 10 RBI during her time with the Cougars. Fisher was a two-time all-state and four-time all-conference selection at Hallsville High School. She finished her prep career with a .431 batting average and a .695 slugging percentage, and she ranked seventh in state history for home runs per game (0.22) and ninth for career homers (21).
"Savannah is a passionate ball player with a lot of versatility," said Sanchez. "She has a ton of experience against top level competition and is going to bring a lot of maturity to the team."
Kenzie Adkins
C/UTL, 5-4, Altoona, Iowa (Bondurant-Farrar High School)
Adkins plays for Kristin Baker at Bondurant-Farrar High School, where she was a four-year starter and a five-year letterwinner. She finished the 2017 season with a .305 average with nine doubles and 21 RBI.
Adkins was a part of the Bluejays' 2013 Class 3A state championship and 2014 runner-up teams. She earned second-team All-Raccoon River honors as a junior and served as a team captain during her junior and senior campaigns. She played travel ball for Iowa Crossfire under coaches Pete Jenkins and Mary Thompson.
"Kenzie is a hard worker who loves to play the game," said Sanchez. "She is a gritty ball player who brings speed and is fun to watch."
November Signees' Senior Accomplishments
Lexi Burchfield earned All-District 5-6A honors for Flower Mound High School. Burchfield also picked up academic all-state honors.
Aubrey Hacke was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection and the St. Louis Dispatch Player of the Year. Hacke also received first-team all-metro and first-team all-area honors.
Halley Jones set the Spring Lake Park High School record for career strikeouts with 826, which ranks her in the top 10 all-time in the state of Minnesota. She also set program records for career wins and shutouts. Jones picked up all-section and all-state honors and was named to the 4A All-Minnesota All Star Game.
Madison Otte claimed first-team Class A all-state and first-team Super State accolades following her senior campaign. Otte set the Nebraska state record for home runs in a season (19) and career (41).
Alexa Sedlak picked up first-team All-Nebraska and first-team Class B all-state honors following her senior season. Sedlak hit .524 with 12 home runs, 40 RBI and 18 stolen bases.
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