Aggie Softball adds two area players

     LAWTON, Okla. (Nov. 19) - Cameron head softball coach Gladys Crawford will have a pair of area players at her disposal for the 2004-05 Aggie softball season. Apache High School senior Hailey Upton and Kristal Maxwell of Bray-Doyle High School each agreed to join the Aggie program on Wednesday, inking National Letters of Intent.
     A 5-9 utility player, Upton earned All-State honors this season after producing a .456 batting average while recording 12 doubles, five triples and four home runs for Apache's district champion squad. She also posted 39 runs batted in and 37 stolen bases while collecting an 18-9 mound record with a 1.53 earned run average.
     "Hailey is a big-time singee for us," Crawford said. "She's very confident on the field and her confidence is equal to her ability. I expect to use her primarily at the shortstop position, but she did not even pitch until her senior year and did a great job, so she gives us a lot of options."
     Maxwell also earned All-State honors this season at Bray-Doyle. The 5-9 first baseman/outfielder was a three-time all-area selection while helping lead Bray-Doyle to four consecutive district championships and an appearance in the state tournament semifinals. In 35 games this season, Maxwell posted a sizzling .506 batting average with five extra-base hits, including the team's only home run. She led the team with a .592 on-base percentage and was second in slugging percentage at .612. Maxwell also was 40-of-41 in stolen base attempts this season.
     "Kristal has great speed and that's something we've lacked on our team," Crawford said. "She's a very good hitter, but she's also fast enough to beat out a lot of ground balls. Kristal comes from a very solid program at Bray-Doyle and given the fact that she will be able to help us out at both the first base and outfield positions, I think she will make an immediate impact on our team next season."
     Cameron finished the 2003 season with an overall record of 22-20-2, including 12-6-1 in Lone Star Conference North Division play. The Aggies finished second in the LSC North, qualifying for the conference postseason tournament for the first time in school history. Five Cameron players earned postseason recognition, including first team all-region selection Karren Hatch, while Crawford earned LSC North Coach of the Year honors. The Aggies are scheduled to open the 2004 season on Feb. 10, hosting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College.