Menu Content/Inhalt
Departments arrow Soccer - News arrow New Hope softball standout DeShuni Sanders signs with East Mississippi

Who's Online

We have 2 guests online
New Hope softball standout DeShuni Sanders signs with East Mississippi Print E-mail
Image
DeShuni Sanders from perennial softball powerhouse New Hope High School has become the sixth addition to head coach Kate Neely’s 2009 EMCC softball recruiting class.
SCOOBA, Miss. – All-district softball performer DeShuni Sanders from perennial powerhouse New Hope High School has signed a national letter-of-intent with East Mississippi Community College.  The announcement was made Friday by EMCC head softball coach Kate Neely during a signing ceremony at the high school.

A multi-time, all-district outfielder in both fastpitch and slowpitch for current New Hope coach Tabitha Beard and retired Lady Trojan mentor Cary Shepherd, Sanders has been affiliated with five state championship teams at New Hope and was a member of the 2005 Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) 18-Under National Championship team.  The 5-foot-5 speedster has been competing for the Lady Trojans’ varsity softball program since the seventh grade.

Playing center field for New Hope, Sanders is currently hitting .298 for the 17-2 state tournament-bound Lady Trojans as the team’s leadoff batter.  She has been chosen to compete in this year’s Mississippi Association of Coaches Fastpitch All-Star Game set for June 20 at Newton County High School in Decatur.

A year ago in repeating as an all-district fastpitch performer, she hit a team-best .369 with a .431 on-base percentage and .631 slugging percentage to help lead New Hope to a second straight fastpitch district championship.  In addition, Sanders had eight extra-base hits along with 24 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases as a junior.

“DeShuni perfectly fits the mold of young ladies that we want in our softball program here at EMCC,” Neely noted.  “In addition to being a tremendous outfielder with terrific speed and a high skill level, she proves herself in the classroom as well as in society.”

A two-time all-state standout in slowpitch at New Hope, Sanders batted .550 this past fall with a .576 on-base percentage and .780 slugging percentage to help pace the Lady Trojans to their eighth state slowpitch championship in nine years and 11th state title since 1989.

Along with her numerous softball accomplishments, Sanders participated in the triple jump and high jump at New Hope in addition to being a participant on the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relay teams.  She placed third in the triple jump at the 2008 MHSSA Class 4A state track and field meet and posted a third-place finish in the high jump at last year’s Region 2-4A meet.  Sanders also competed in varsity basketball during her New Hope athletics career.

“After visiting the Scooba campus and meeting with the players and coaches, I believe EMCC is a perfect fit for me,” Sanders said.  “I will also have the opportunity to reunite with my friend and teammate Linsey Upton.”


Sanders joins previously announced EMCC softball signees Mallory Pace of Northeast Lauderdale, Caledonia’s Justine Jenkins, Katie Newman of Oak Hill Academy, Courtney Castleberry of Clarkdale High School, and Celeste Fontenot of Brusly (La.) High School.  She is the eldest of three daughters of Donnie and Renee’ Sanders of Columbus, who participated in collegiate track and field at Mississippi College and Jackson State University, respectively.    
Last Updated ( Saturday, 04 April 2009 )
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]