Lady Aggies sign four standouts

LAWTON, Okla. (Nov. 18) – Cameron University softball coach Brent Shaw has announced the addition of four players expected to make an immediate impact on the Lady Aggie roster next season. Dallas-area high school products Ashton McBride and Tamara Kierig join Dewar (Okla.) High School senior Taylor Ryal and Arizona Western College transfer Melissa Bour as the latest players to sign National Letters of Intent to suit up at Cameron next year.

"All four of these kids will have an opportunity to step in and play for us immediately next season," Shaw said. "We’re very excited to have players of their caliber joining our program."

The younger sister of current Cameron junior shortstop Stephanie Bour, Melissa Bour is in her second season at Arizona Western College. The 5-2 right-handed third baseman

helped the Matadors to a 37-18 overall record last season, including a 25-13 mark in conference play.

Ryal is a four-time all-conference selection at Dewar, where she established a state record with a .620 batting average as a junior last season. The 5-9 right-handed catcher was earned conference Player of the Year honors in 2004, and has been named one of Oklahoma’s Top 100 players. A starter since her freshman year, Ryal helped lead the Lady Dragons to a regional finals appearance in 2002, as well as three consecutive slow-pitch state tournament appearances.

A Fort Worth Star-Telegram Super Team selection at first base, Kierig was named the District 7-4A Catcher of the Year and earned first team All-State honors while leading Birdville High School to a district championship last season. The North Richland Hills, Texas, native also has several club team tournament titles, as well as a fifth-place showing in the 14-under USSSA World Series in 2002. A 5-10 left-hander, Kierig can also play the outfield and first base.

McBride also enters her senior season at Ponder High School with a lengthy resume. She was named the District 12-2A Most Valuable Player after leading Ponder to the district title and a regional semifinal appearance last year. She also earned Denton Area first team honors as a pitcher and is a former Denton Area Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Last season, McBride posted a 1.13 earned run average, racking up 152 strikeouts in less than 100 innings of work. She also produced a .390 batting average at the plate and played first base while not on the mound.

Kierig and McBride both play at the club level for the Fort Worth Batbusters organization.

An assistant coach at Angelo State University when the Rambelles captured the 2004 NCAA Division II national title, Shaw joined the Lady Aggie program as head coach for the final 10 games of the 2005 season. Playing most of the season without a head coach, the Lady Aggies finished with an overall record of 11-31, losing 16 games by two runs or less.

"I saw this team compete very well under difficult circumstances last season," Shaw said. "We’re ready to rise to the next level this season and I think adding these four players will help us take another big step forward in the years to come."

CAMERON SOFTBALL FALL SIGNEES

Player	Ht	Pos	B/T	Hometown (Previous School)
Melissa Bour	5-2	3B	R/R	Springfield, Ore. (Arizona Western JC)
Tamara Kierig	5-10	C/Util	L/L	N. Richland Hills, Texas (Birdville HS)
Ashton McBride	5-6	P/Util	R/R	Ponder, Texas (Ponder HS)
Taylor Ryal	5-9	C/1B	R/R	Dewar, Okla. (Dewar HS)