(Missouri State Sports Information) — Missouri State softball head coach Holly Hesse has received National Letter of Intent commitments from five freshman players for the 2018 season today, the start of the early signing period.
Set to join the Bears next year are: Steffany Dickerson (5-8, Fr., P, Oklahoma City, Okla., Putnam City North High); Madison Hunsaker (5-8, Fr., 1B/P, Peculiar, Mo., Belton High); Kelly Metter (5-9, Fr., SS, Columbia, Ill., Columbia High); Daphne Plummer (5-7, Fr., SS/P, Lee’s Summit, Mo., Lee’s Summit West High); and Carolyn Stock (6-1, Fr., P/IF, Parkville, Mo., Park Hill South High).
“We have a talent filled class packed with pitching and all state players,” said Hesse. “It’s a unique group with Steffany, Madison, Daphne, and Carolyn who all pitched in high school and travel ball and can play other positions defensively. Add in another athletic player in Kelly and we have a gifted group who can impact our team in a variety of ways in the circle, on the field, and at the plate.”
Steffany Dickerson
The Oklahoma City native struck out 233 batters and compiled a 1.95 ERA as a senior at Putnam City North High while earning district pitcher of the year honors three straight seasons. She earned Oklahoma all-state distinction for coach Tony Douglas this fall and was a nominee for Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year. She batted .494 with 6 home runs as a senior and finished her career with 743 strikeouts in the circle for the Panthers. Dickerson is also a standout long jumper on the Putnam City track team and played travel ball for Oklahoma Athletics Gold – Madden.
Madison Hunsaker
The Missouri first-team all-state pick went 20-3 in the circle and led her Belton High Pirates to a 22-4 record and conference title in 2016. She also batted .580 this fall for coach Jeff Hulse with 48 RBI, earning all-conference, all-region and all-district laurels. Hunsaker also helped lead Belton to back-to-back district titles in 2014 and 2015, going 26-5 in the circle and driving in 90 runs in that span. She earned all-conference, all-district and all-district tournament honors four seasons and was an NFCA all-region selection three times. She also plays basketball at Belton and played club softball for the KC Originals – Self.
Kelly Metter
A two-sport standout at Columbia (Ill.) High, Metter has been part of three Cahokia Conference softball championship teams in her first three seasons for the Eagles. She led coach Rhonda Major’s squad to a 24-6 record her junior season and batted .350 while earning Belleville News-Democrat all-area honors. Metter was part of a 25-4 regional championship team her sophomore year with five home runs, 31 RBI and a .456 on-base percentage. She also lettered as a freshman and drove in 27 runs for a 34-3 sectional championship club. Metter’s senior season in volleyball culminated in a third straight conference title and a 36-1 ledger. She played club softball for St. Louis Prospects – Jones
Daphne Plummer
An all-state infielder at Lee’s Summit (Mo.) West High, Plummer helped lead the Titans to a 25-8 record this fall and third-place finish in the Missouri Class 4 state tournament. She set school records for batting average (.500), hits (56), doubles (12) and runs (33) while driving in 25 runs for coach Eric Doane’s squad this fall. She drove in 60 runs in her career and earned all-conference and all-district distinction all four seasons while being named as an all-region shortstop as a junior and senior. Plummer is also a starting shooting guard for the LSW basketball team and played with Hunsaker for the KC Originals – Self travel team.
Carolyn Stock
Stock was a standout a Park Hill South High School in suburban Kansas City where she was an all-conference pick for coach Josh Walker her senior season. She led the team in walks in 2016 as team captain and was part of back-to-back conference championship teams as a sophomore and junior. Stock was also an academic all-state selection in 2015 for a 25-4 club and was instrumental in helping Park Hill South win its first district championship in 2014. The power hitting pitcher/infielder plans to be a pre-med major at Missouri State. She played travel ball for the Olathe Rockets – Loveless.
Heading into the 2017 season, Missouri State returns 12 letter winners and 14 squad members. The Bears begin a 50-game regular-season slate on Feb. 10 as part of a schedule that includes four tournaments, 15 home games and a competitive 27-game conference agenda for Hesse’s 29th season at the helm.
