The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball program signed two
players to National Letters of Intent (NLI) to complete their
signing class for the year. Jordan Trujillo and Constance
Brandenburg were added to the three players who signed in the fall
during the early signing period.
Trujillo is a sophomore from Pima Community College that has
helped her team to a 50-8 overall record to this point in the
season and a 21-5 mark in the Arizona Community College Athletic
Conference. She was named to ACCAC's Pitcher of the Week on April
18 after going 2-1 and picking up two wins against the defending
national champion and No. 4 ranked Yavapai College Roughriders.
Trujillo currently has her team in first place in the conference
standings with a 26-4 pitching record on the year. Her 26 wins
leads the NJCAA while she is sixth in strikeouts with 241 this
season for the top total in the ACCAC. She chose Texas
A&M-Corpus Christi over the Arizona Wildcats.
"Some will argue that Jordan is the best juco pitcher in the
nation...I wouldn't argue that point. She and her teammates play
in the toughest softball region in the country and she has been
dominate. She has a full arsenal of pitches and the ability to
strike out multiple hitters in an outing. Her ability to dominate,
coupled with our ability to defend and hit makes for a great recipe
for success in the future." said head coach Jake Schumann.
Brandenburg will come to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi from
nearby King High School in Kingsville. The senior pitcher and
first baseman currently has a 10-3 record and a 2.07 ERA in her
final high school season. She is also hitting .469 on the year
with one home run, four doubles, one triple and 12 RBI. She has a
.750 slugging percentage and a .585 on-base percentage. She was
named First Team All-State following her sophomore and junior
seasons.
"I have known Constance since she was 10 years old. It is
always good to recruit and get the best local talent. Constance
has a wealth of ability in the circle as well as with the stick.
She has a lot to learn to be a good DI pitcher but with being 6'
tall and having long arms the recipe for success is there. The sky
is the limit for Connie and she knows what she has to do to reach
her full potential. I fully anticipate her shining in our system
in the very near future." said Schumann.
In addition to those two, the Islanders signed three players,
Geri Whitman, Jamise Jackson and Laura Phillips, to NLIs in the
fall signing period.
Whitman is a right handed pitcher from Lake Land College in
Mattoon, Ill. who chose the Islanders over the University of
Arkansas.
"Geri is a power arm with the ability to hit the high 60's. She
splits time at her juco with a very good staff and is still in the
top 10 statistically nationally in strikeouts. That speaks volumes
of her ability to pitch. I fully anticipate Geri to get even
better and flourish in the Southland Conference." said
Schumann.
Jackson is a first baseman from Waxahachie High School that will
look to compete for playing time immediately. She chose the
Islanders over Tulsa.
"JJ is one of the best pure hitting, power, left handed hitters
out there. She is softball savvy and should compete for time at 1B
and DP next year. She was recruited to come in and fill the power
position that will be vacated with the graduation of Margo Hurdt.
Jamise fits with our style of hitting and approach at the plate and
is a great sign for our program." said Schumann.
The final signee from the fall was Laura Phillips, a catcher
from Dulles High School in Sugarland. Phillips signed with the
Islanders over Texas Tech.
"Laura is going to be the catcher of the future for Islander
softball. She had originally committed to Texas Tech but with the
departure of Coach Wilson, decided to make a change. We are very
fortunate that she will be coming to the Island. Laura is exactly
what we look for when recruiting a catcher; she is tall, talented
behind the plate and can swing the stick with the ability to lead.
She will come in and learn from one of the best in Brittany Tucker,
get her at bats and be the corner stone for this program for the
next four years." said Schumann.
The five signees from the past year will help Schumann continue
building a winning program on the Island and have the team
competing for the Southland Conference title year in and year
out.
"In this class we needed to replace pitching and add some
power. I feel we went above and beyond with this class and gives
us the opportunity to recruit speed and defense in future classes.
This is the second full recruiting class since my arrival on the
Island and I feel we have the puzzle pieces in place to build on
the successes from this season into the future." said Schumann.
