The Maverick softball program announced the addition of six student-athletes to the 2021 class.
Softball Adds Six in 2021 Class
Nov 17, 2020 | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha softball head coach Amanda Eberhart announced the addition of six student-athletes that have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Maverick softball program.
"We are excited to be welcoming these six student-athletes to our softball program," said Eberhart. "This group is a great addition to the culture we have built here in the last two years. Their character and work ethic will make our program better and I look forward to seeing them develop as a Maverick."
Omaha Signees (6)
Abby Bukantis | Pitcher | Ottawa, Ill. | Ottawa Township High School
According to Extra Inning Softball, Bukantis is ranked No. 186 in her position group. She helped her team advance to the regional championship with a 28-6 record as a freshman. Bukantis totaled 69 strikeouts in 15 appearances in her freshman campaign, including setting a school record with 18 strikeouts in a game. As a sophomore, she led her team to the first regional title in school history while striking out 47 batters on the season. She was a member of the Xplosion Softball club team that finished runner-up at the Premier Girls Fastpitch Nationals Platinum.
Eberhart on Bukantis: "Abby is such a driven player that I can't wait to see join our program. She was able to play at a high level with her club team that has built a championship culture. Adding her to our program with that experience will make our pitching staff deeper and stronger as we continue to raise the standard of the program."
Sophie Cerveny | Outfield | Hastings, Neb. | Hastings High School
According to Extra Inning Softball, Cerveny is ranked No. 124 overall and No. 53 in her position group. She competed in softball, basketball, and track and field at Hastings High School. Cerveny led her team to a combined 120-32 record and four state appearances, including a runner-up finish as a senior. As a freshman and sophomore, she was named all-state honorable mention before earning all-state second team honors as a junior. Cerveny was a second-team Super State and first-team all-state selection by the Lincoln Journal Star and garnered second-team all-state honors from the Omaha World Herald.
Eberhart on Cerveny: "Sophie is an in-state kid who has the kind of work ethic and grit on the field that will make an immediate impact on our program. She can cover a lot of ground in the outfield and create opportunities for us on the basepaths with her speed. At the plate, she adds another bat with great ability to put the ball in play to our lineup."
Anna Chapman | Utility | Sherrill, Iowa | Wahlert Catholic High School
Chapman has played four seasons of softball at varsity level at Wahlert Catholic High School with her senior season to be played in summer of 2021. As an eighth grader, she started 19 games and was named all-conference second team after totaling 144 strikeouts in 111 innings of work. Chapman went a combined 34-21 with 540 strikeouts in her following three seasons. In her prep career, she has collected all-conference, all-district, all-area and all-state accolades while named All-Area Tri-Player of the Year as a junior.
Eberhart on Chapman: "Anna is a two-way player that is going to help us in the circle and at the plate. Her strong work ethic and high-level IQ puts her in a position to succeed and I can't wait to watch her develop as a Maverick. With her in the lineup, she gives us another bat in the lineup that can go deep and hit for power."
Emma Hain | Infield | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southwest High School
Hain helped the Silverhawks to a 137-33 combined record and four state appearances, including a state title in four seasons at Lincoln Southwest High School. She totaled 34 doubles, 30 home runs, 152 RBI and 133 runs scored in her final three years. The all-conference, all-state and first-team Super State selection helped her team set eight offensive team state records in her career.
Eberhart on Hain: "Emma is another in-state kid who was able to play four years in a program that's experienced great success and has a championship culture. Her grittiness and get-after-it approach with her work ethic is a big reason she has been successful. On the field, she's a smart infielder who makes everyone around her better. At the plate, she can hit for contact and power, which will create many opportunities for us offensively."
Taylor Montgomery | Catcher | Tucson, Ariz. | Empire High School
Montgomery has led her team to a 61-17-1 record in three seasons at Empire High School. She was named to the Southern Arizona freshman second team after helping her team to a third-place finish at state and hitting .423 with two home runs. As a sophomore, Montgomery hit .413 with eight doubles and seven homers while leading her team to the regional championship with a 31-4 record. She hit .370 in her junior campaign that was shortened due to COVID-19. Montgomery was a member of the Arizona ThunderCats club team that placed third at the Junior Olympic Cup in 2019.
Eberhart on Montgomery: "Taylor comes from a competitive club program in Arizona. With her behind the plate, she can block the ball well and her strong arm will limit opponents on the bases. Her strong work ethic at the plate allows us to add another strong bat to our lineup that can hit for power. I can't wait for her to be a Maverick and watch her develop in Omaha."
Maggie O'Brien | Infield | Palos Heights, Ill. | Marist High School
O'Brien competed in softball and basketball at Marist High School. She helped her team to a 36-4 overall record while capturing super-sectional, sectional, regional and conference titles as a sophomore. O'Brien was voted team captain as a junior before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. While playing with the Windy City Ice club team, she was a team captain, named MVP of several tournaments and had the highest batting average on the team.
Eberhart on O'Brien: "Maggie is such an athletic, smooth infielder that has a great ability to see the field. Her bat control and barrel awareness at the plate create chances for her to hit both for contact and power from the left side of the plate."
"We are excited to be welcoming these six student-athletes to our softball program," said Eberhart. "This group is a great addition to the culture we have built here in the last two years. Their character and work ethic will make our program better and I look forward to seeing them develop as a Maverick."
Omaha Signees (6)
Abby Bukantis | Pitcher | Ottawa, Ill. | Ottawa Township High School
According to Extra Inning Softball, Bukantis is ranked No. 186 in her position group. She helped her team advance to the regional championship with a 28-6 record as a freshman. Bukantis totaled 69 strikeouts in 15 appearances in her freshman campaign, including setting a school record with 18 strikeouts in a game. As a sophomore, she led her team to the first regional title in school history while striking out 47 batters on the season. She was a member of the Xplosion Softball club team that finished runner-up at the Premier Girls Fastpitch Nationals Platinum.
Eberhart on Bukantis: "Abby is such a driven player that I can't wait to see join our program. She was able to play at a high level with her club team that has built a championship culture. Adding her to our program with that experience will make our pitching staff deeper and stronger as we continue to raise the standard of the program."
Sophie Cerveny | Outfield | Hastings, Neb. | Hastings High School
According to Extra Inning Softball, Cerveny is ranked No. 124 overall and No. 53 in her position group. She competed in softball, basketball, and track and field at Hastings High School. Cerveny led her team to a combined 120-32 record and four state appearances, including a runner-up finish as a senior. As a freshman and sophomore, she was named all-state honorable mention before earning all-state second team honors as a junior. Cerveny was a second-team Super State and first-team all-state selection by the Lincoln Journal Star and garnered second-team all-state honors from the Omaha World Herald.
Eberhart on Cerveny: "Sophie is an in-state kid who has the kind of work ethic and grit on the field that will make an immediate impact on our program. She can cover a lot of ground in the outfield and create opportunities for us on the basepaths with her speed. At the plate, she adds another bat with great ability to put the ball in play to our lineup."
Anna Chapman | Utility | Sherrill, Iowa | Wahlert Catholic High School
Chapman has played four seasons of softball at varsity level at Wahlert Catholic High School with her senior season to be played in summer of 2021. As an eighth grader, she started 19 games and was named all-conference second team after totaling 144 strikeouts in 111 innings of work. Chapman went a combined 34-21 with 540 strikeouts in her following three seasons. In her prep career, she has collected all-conference, all-district, all-area and all-state accolades while named All-Area Tri-Player of the Year as a junior.
Eberhart on Chapman: "Anna is a two-way player that is going to help us in the circle and at the plate. Her strong work ethic and high-level IQ puts her in a position to succeed and I can't wait to watch her develop as a Maverick. With her in the lineup, she gives us another bat in the lineup that can go deep and hit for power."
Emma Hain | Infield | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southwest High School
Hain helped the Silverhawks to a 137-33 combined record and four state appearances, including a state title in four seasons at Lincoln Southwest High School. She totaled 34 doubles, 30 home runs, 152 RBI and 133 runs scored in her final three years. The all-conference, all-state and first-team Super State selection helped her team set eight offensive team state records in her career.
Eberhart on Hain: "Emma is another in-state kid who was able to play four years in a program that's experienced great success and has a championship culture. Her grittiness and get-after-it approach with her work ethic is a big reason she has been successful. On the field, she's a smart infielder who makes everyone around her better. At the plate, she can hit for contact and power, which will create many opportunities for us offensively."
Taylor Montgomery | Catcher | Tucson, Ariz. | Empire High School
Montgomery has led her team to a 61-17-1 record in three seasons at Empire High School. She was named to the Southern Arizona freshman second team after helping her team to a third-place finish at state and hitting .423 with two home runs. As a sophomore, Montgomery hit .413 with eight doubles and seven homers while leading her team to the regional championship with a 31-4 record. She hit .370 in her junior campaign that was shortened due to COVID-19. Montgomery was a member of the Arizona ThunderCats club team that placed third at the Junior Olympic Cup in 2019.
Eberhart on Montgomery: "Taylor comes from a competitive club program in Arizona. With her behind the plate, she can block the ball well and her strong arm will limit opponents on the bases. Her strong work ethic at the plate allows us to add another strong bat to our lineup that can hit for power. I can't wait for her to be a Maverick and watch her develop in Omaha."
Maggie O'Brien | Infield | Palos Heights, Ill. | Marist High School
O'Brien competed in softball and basketball at Marist High School. She helped her team to a 36-4 overall record while capturing super-sectional, sectional, regional and conference titles as a sophomore. O'Brien was voted team captain as a junior before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. While playing with the Windy City Ice club team, she was a team captain, named MVP of several tournaments and had the highest batting average on the team.
Eberhart on O'Brien: "Maggie is such an athletic, smooth infielder that has a great ability to see the field. Her bat control and barrel awareness at the plate create chances for her to hit both for contact and power from the left side of the plate."
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