Sept. 16, 2010
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By Sarah Tarasewicz
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie, who recently received a four-year contract extension, announced Thursday that Lacey Dinney, Haley Douglas, Patrice Fee, Allie Jest and Kellie Todd are all set to join the UCF softball team beginning this season.
"We are very excited about the level of talent, energy and commitment these five student-athletes will bring to our team," Luers-Gillispie said. "This class has proven that they will work hard both on and off the field and that is exactly what we are looking for to advance our program."
Lacey Dinney
Jr. - P - Toronto, Ont. - Spartanburg Methodist College
A transfer from Spartanburg Methodist College, Dinney led her squad to the NJCAA Division I World Series and also helped the Lady Pioneers capture the Region X Championship in 2009 as their starting pitcher. During her career at Spartanburg Methodist, Dinney posted a 10-6 record in the circle with 134 strikeouts and allowed 21 earned runs in 91.1 innings pitched. She was named to the All-Region X First Team in 2009.
Haley Douglas
Fr. - P - Pleasanton, Calif. - Amador Valley HS
Douglas was a three-time All-East Bay Athletic League selection at Amador Valley High School, where she garnered the league's MVP honors and led her team to the North Coast Section playoffs for the first time in 11 years as a senior. That same season, she was recognized with a spot on the all-county second team and was named the Alameda Newspaper Group Girls Prep Athlete of the Week after throwing a three-hit shutout against Concord High School.
During her junior season, Douglas was honored with a spot on the EBAL first team, was named the TV30/Tri-Valley Sports Final Big O Tires Athlete of the Week and was also honored as the Alameda Newspaper Group Girls Prep Athlete of the Week and ESPN CalHiSports.com State Stat Star of the Week after firing no-hitters in consecutive weeks for the Don's in the circle.
Douglas played club softball for the San Jose Sting.
Patrice Fee
So. - C/OF - Cocoa, Fla. - State College of Florida
Fee hit .265 with 13 hits, two doubles, two triples, three RBI and six runs scored in one season at the State College of Florida in 2010. While with the Manatees, Fee also tallied a .327 on-base percentage and stole a pair of bases.
A graduate of Space Coast High School, Fee was a member of the senior class of 2009 that posted a four-year record of 91-18, the most successful four-year total in school history. During that time, Fee helped lead her team to three district championships and a trip to the regional finals as a senior. That same season, Fee was named to the 2009 All-Cape Coast Conference First Team after guiding her team to a 24-5 record.
Allie Jest
Jr. - 3B/OF - Stone Mountain, Ga. - Tallahassee Community College
Jest was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Third Team, NFCA All-South Region First Team and the All-Panhandle Conference First Team last season as a sophomore third baseman at Tallahassee Community College. Jest hit .423 with 74 hits, 14 doubles, three home runs, 38 RBI and 40 runs scored for TCC, while also tallying a .451 on-base percentage and 25 stolen bases.
A graduate of Chamblee High School, Jest was tabbed the Bulldog's MVP in each of her four seasons. The Georgia native was also honored as a member of the All-Dekalb/Rockdale County First Team and was an all-region first-team selection in 2005. Jest was a two-time Atlanta Journal Constitution first team selection and batted a Dekalb County-best .657 as a senior. In the circle, Jest tossed three no-hitters and posted 169 strikeouts in 2008.
Jest won the ASA 18Gold National Championship with the Gold Coast Hurricanes club softball team in 2008.
Kellie Todd
Jr. - C/OF - Ocala, Fla. - Chipola College
During her two seasons at Chipola College, Todd led her team to the NJCAA State Championship and the FCCAA Gulf District 8B Championship, while being named to the all-tournament teams at each of the tournaments. Todd was twice named to the All-Panhandle Conference First Team, while also being named to the NJCAA All-America Second Team, NFCA All-Region First Team, NJCAA All-Region VIII First Team, FCCAA All-State First Team and garnered Panhandle Player of the Year accolades.
A graduate of Forest High School in Ocala, Todd led her team to two district championships and was a two-time all-area first team member. Todd earned the distinction of Ocala Star-Banner Player of the Year as a senior after hitting .564 with 16 doubles and 35 RBI, was a first-team all-state selection as a junior and was named her squad's Rookie of the Year as a freshman.
Todd also has an impressive summer ball resume, as she played in Italy with USA Athletes International, where she was named MVP of the tournament, and with the Gainesville Gold and the Ocala Gold. During her summer ball career, Todd was a member of an 18U ISA Florida State Championship team, World Series Championship team and World Series warm-up team, as well as a 16U NSA Florida State Championship team.