Softball Adds Five for Fall 2019

Michigan State softball coach Jacquie Joseph has announced that five incoming freshmen in the fall of 2019 have committed to play softball for the Spartans. A pair of outfielders in Erica Holt, (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Brooke Snyder (Westlake Village, Calif) shortstop Jenae Wash (St. John's, Fla.), pitcher Sarah Ladd (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and catcher Kennedy Wyllie (Peoria, Arizona) will all begin wearing Green and White in the 2020 Michigan State Softball Season.

"This class gives us a little bit of everything – pitching, speed, versatility, and a presence at the plate," admits Joseph, who in 2019 will coach 26^th season at the helm of the MSU softball program. "Its not just about bringing in great players, its about bringing in quality individuals who will not only give you their all between the lines, but also contribute academically and socially to the University. We're excited about this class – combined with what we will be returning in 2020, they will complement the veterans very well and give us speed, pitching, hitting, and quality individuals that will compete every day. I'm looking forward to following their final year of scholastic ball and welcoming them to campus next fall."

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Erica Holt
Freshman 5'3 Outfield L/L Newport Beach, Calif./ Mater Dei Club: Corona Angels

High School: Will serve as a team captain as a senior … Part of Mater Dei's 2018 Trinity League Championship team … Second Team All-Trinity League pick in 2018 and an Honorable Mention selection in 2017… Member of the 2016 Southern Section CIF Championship team… Appointed as softball representative to the Athletic Leadership Council in 2018…

Club: Plays for Coach Kim Howard with the Corona Angels ... Named team captain for the 2018-19 season… Placed ninth in the PGF Shoot Out and was in the PGF National Champions Top 30 in 2018 … Took fifth in the PGF Shoot Out in 2017, and second in 2015 … Was in the PGF Champions Top 15 in 2015…

Personal: Daughter of David and Kristie Holt… Has two siblings, Natalie and Colin… Recipient of the 2016 Academic Renaissance Award for Biology… Recipient of the 2017 Academic Renaissance Award for mathematics and Most Improved GPA… A 2018 California Scholarship Federation ... Plans to major in Biology in preparation for a career in the medical field …

Coach Joseph on Erica Holt – "Erica is a tiny powerhouse with exceptional speed in the outfield, and adds a lefty bat to our lineup."

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Sarah Ladd
Freshman      5'7        LHP        L/R       Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos      Club: Firecrackers

High School:   Three-time Sunset League Champion, NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete recipient and Los Alamitos Scholar Athlete Award recipient… First-team All-Orange Junior First Team in 2018 … Two-time Sunset League Pitcher of the Year… CIF Southern Section and State and National Champion in 2017… Named to the Michelle Carew Classic All-Tournament team… Took first at the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions… Three-time Academic Award of Excellence recipient…

Club: Plays for coaches Tony Rico and Rob Well at the Firecrackers in Huntington Beach, California… Placed 13^th in the PGF 14U in 2015… Was the runner-up in the PGF 14U and took third in the IDT tournament 14U in 2016… Finished third in the PGF 18U in 2018…

Personal: Daughter of Keith and Gina Ladd… Has two siblings, Kevin and Caitie ... Catie and Sarah will reunite as Spartan teammates after the pair helped Los Alamitos to a 2017 national championship in high school … Mother, Gina, played softball and uncle, Mike Bailey, played football at Oregon State … Cousin, Hannah Bailey, plays softball at Minnesota… Plans on a career as a veterinarian …

Coach Joseph on Sarah Ladd – A lefty, Sarah has several pitches and tons of experience playing at an elite level both in high school and in club. She joins her sister, Caitie, who will be a junior next year – the two have been looking forward to playing together again after a lot of success together in high school ball."

Brooke Snyder
Freshman      5'4        OF           L/L       Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian      Club: Corona Angels

High School:   Helped Oaks Christian to Marmonte League championships in 2016 and 2018 … Earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore and junior … Boasted a perfect fielding percentage as a junior in helping Oaks Christian to an undefeated season … Participated in the 2016 USA Junior Olympic Cup in Georgia

Club: Plays for Coach Kim Howard with the Corona Angels ... Placed ninth in the PGF Shoot Out and was in the PGF National Champions Top 30 in 2018 … Took fifth in the PGF Shoot Out in 2017, and second in 2015 … Was in the PGF Champions Top 15 in 2015…

Personal: Daughter of Thomas and Shelly Snyder … Has one brother, Caden … Father is a 1990 graduate of Michigan State …

Coach Joseph on Brooke Snyder – "Brooke is really, really fast. She'll offer us another left-handed bat in addition to increasing our team speed both in the outfield and on the basepaths."

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Jenae Wash
Freshman 5'10 INF R/R St.John's, Fla./Creekside Club: Florida Storm

High School: Named to the All-County and All-Conference team at Creekside in 2018 … Attended Bartram Trail High School in St. Johns, Florida her freshman and sophomore years, where she was a two-time District Champion (2016, 2017) … Earned All-Conference honors as a sophomore in 2017 … Also earned All-Conference honors in basketball at Bartram Trail … Also earned a letter in weightlifting as a junior at Creekside in 2018, earning a spot on the All-State team and helping her team to a 12^th-place ranking in the state …

Club: Plays for Coach Jerry Shepard at Florida Storm … Two-time Adidas 32 Elite Champion (2016, 2017) … In 2017, placed first in the Elite Classic and in the Jaxstorm Showcase and took second in the Atlanta Legacy tournament … Member of the Scenic City Super Pool championship team and took 15th at the PGF Nationals in 2016 … Member of the Rising Stars Elite Pool championship team and took second in the TC National Championship in 2015 …

Personal: Daughter of Todd and Darci Wash… Has two siblings, Alyssa and Marcus… Father, Todd, played football at North Dakota State University and was a member of the school's National Championship teams in 1988 and 1990… Mother, Darci, was an All-American basketball player at NDSU and won three national championships (1991, 1993, 1994), and is a member of the school's Hall of Fame… Sister, Alyssa, is a senior on the softball team at Saint Leo University in Florida …

Coach Joseph on Jenae Wash – "Jenae is a very versatile shortstop – she's tall and has great hands, and she can really play any position in the infield. Versatility is a great asset to bring to a team, and we're looking forward to her joining the program."

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Kennedy Wyllie
Freshman 6-1 Catcher R/R Peoria, Arizona / Boulder Creek Club: Firecrackers Arizona

High School: Attended Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Arizona… Had the highest on-base percentage and second-highest batting average in the state as a freshman… Owned the highest batting average in Arizona as a sophomore…

Club: Played for the Firecrackers Arizona…

Personal: Daughter of Todd Wyllie and Kristin O'Gorman… Has four siblings, Savanah, Wyatt, America and Lucas…

Coach Joseph on Kennedy Wyllie – "Kennedy is a big, strong catcher with a great arm. I'm excited to add some depth at that position, and with her stature, she'll be a force to be reckoned with behind the plate."

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