Marshall University Athletics
Coach Smith Announces 2019-20 Signing Class
11/21/2018 3:05:00 PM | Softball
Softball signs four players
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – First year Marshall softball head coach Megan Smith announced the signing class for the 2020 season on Wednesday.
Joining the Marshall Softball family in the fall of 2019 will be Ashley Blessin, Sydney Chapman, Delaney Heaberlin and Caiti Mathes.
"We are thrilled to welcome these talented players to the Herd," coach Smith said. "This class adds extreme athleticism and much needed depth in the circle. They all are excited to play for something bigger than themselves and become daughters of Marshall."
Ashley Blessin is a record-breaking pitcher from Plant City High School in Plant City, Fla. Blessin goes into her senior season with a record of 61-11, a 0.85 ERA and 680 strikeouts. She is a three-time Tampa Bay Times Hillsborough County Pitcher of the Year, three-time district champion member, three-time Team MVP, two-time Miracle Sports All-State 8A First Team Pitcher and a two-time MaxPreps Underclass All-American softball team member. The right-hander helped lead her team to the state semi-finals in Class 8A as a sophomore and holds school career records for wins, ERA and is on pace to break the strikeout record this season.
"I chose Marshall because of the family atmosphere and how the community rallies around all the sports teams," Blessin said. "I remember the first time I stepped onto campus and I fell in love with it. I cannot wait to experience the different seasons."
Sydney Chapman comes to the Herd from right down the road at Cabell Midland High School. The Ona, W.Va., native is an all-state performer as she was named Class AAA Honorable Mention after her junior season. The infielder follows a recent line of players from Cabell-Midland who have excelled for the Herd including Morgan Zerkle, Jordan Colliflower and current Marshall senior Abigail Tolbert. Chapman hit .425 at the plate during her junior season.
"I chose Marshall because it is close to home and I was born and raised a Marshall fan," Chapman said.
Delaney Heaberlin has starred as a pitcher and a hitter for Eustis High School in Eustis, Fla. Heaberlin has been named Team MVP the past two seasons as well as the Rookie of the Year after her freshman season. As a sophomore she was named Athlete of the Week and Athlete of the Year by Spectrum Sports, a Daily Commercial All-Area First Team member with a 26-2 record, a 0.81 ERA and a .329 batting average on offense. As a junior, the right-hander finished with a 1.00 ERA and also hit .361.
"I chose Marshall because I love the family atmosphere and the overwhelming community support," Heaberlin said.
Caiti Mathes has been one of the best hitters in the state of West Virginia while starring at Hurricane High School. Mathes helped lead Hurricane to three-straight AAA State Championships and played with current Herd sophomore Katie Adams. Going into her senior season she has hit 35 home runs, driven in 154 runs while batting well over .400 for her career. Mathes is a three-time member of the state championship all-tournament team, three-time all-state honoree including being named the captain of the 2018 all-state team and a three-time member of the All-Kanawha Valley team. She was named Rookie of the Year in 2016 and the Kanawha Valley Player of the Year in 2018. Mathes was also honored on the MaxPreps Junior All-American Team.
"I chose Marshall because it is a family environment and it felt like home and where I needed to be," Mathes said. "Marshall is also very close to my home and so my family can come and watch us play."
For all of the latest information on the Marshall Softball team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdSB, Facebook at Marshall University Softball and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Joining the Marshall Softball family in the fall of 2019 will be Ashley Blessin, Sydney Chapman, Delaney Heaberlin and Caiti Mathes.
"We are thrilled to welcome these talented players to the Herd," coach Smith said. "This class adds extreme athleticism and much needed depth in the circle. They all are excited to play for something bigger than themselves and become daughters of Marshall."
Ashley Blessin is a record-breaking pitcher from Plant City High School in Plant City, Fla. Blessin goes into her senior season with a record of 61-11, a 0.85 ERA and 680 strikeouts. She is a three-time Tampa Bay Times Hillsborough County Pitcher of the Year, three-time district champion member, three-time Team MVP, two-time Miracle Sports All-State 8A First Team Pitcher and a two-time MaxPreps Underclass All-American softball team member. The right-hander helped lead her team to the state semi-finals in Class 8A as a sophomore and holds school career records for wins, ERA and is on pace to break the strikeout record this season.
"I chose Marshall because of the family atmosphere and how the community rallies around all the sports teams," Blessin said. "I remember the first time I stepped onto campus and I fell in love with it. I cannot wait to experience the different seasons."
Sydney Chapman comes to the Herd from right down the road at Cabell Midland High School. The Ona, W.Va., native is an all-state performer as she was named Class AAA Honorable Mention after her junior season. The infielder follows a recent line of players from Cabell-Midland who have excelled for the Herd including Morgan Zerkle, Jordan Colliflower and current Marshall senior Abigail Tolbert. Chapman hit .425 at the plate during her junior season.
"I chose Marshall because it is close to home and I was born and raised a Marshall fan," Chapman said.
Delaney Heaberlin has starred as a pitcher and a hitter for Eustis High School in Eustis, Fla. Heaberlin has been named Team MVP the past two seasons as well as the Rookie of the Year after her freshman season. As a sophomore she was named Athlete of the Week and Athlete of the Year by Spectrum Sports, a Daily Commercial All-Area First Team member with a 26-2 record, a 0.81 ERA and a .329 batting average on offense. As a junior, the right-hander finished with a 1.00 ERA and also hit .361.
"I chose Marshall because I love the family atmosphere and the overwhelming community support," Heaberlin said.
Caiti Mathes has been one of the best hitters in the state of West Virginia while starring at Hurricane High School. Mathes helped lead Hurricane to three-straight AAA State Championships and played with current Herd sophomore Katie Adams. Going into her senior season she has hit 35 home runs, driven in 154 runs while batting well over .400 for her career. Mathes is a three-time member of the state championship all-tournament team, three-time all-state honoree including being named the captain of the 2018 all-state team and a three-time member of the All-Kanawha Valley team. She was named Rookie of the Year in 2016 and the Kanawha Valley Player of the Year in 2018. Mathes was also honored on the MaxPreps Junior All-American Team.
"I chose Marshall because it is a family environment and it felt like home and where I needed to be," Mathes said. "Marshall is also very close to my home and so my family can come and watch us play."
For all of the latest information on the Marshall Softball team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdSB, Facebook at Marshall University Softball and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
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