NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State head softball coach Kary Kankey announced Monday the signing of three players to the softball program for the 2007-08 school year. The signees include second baseman Jennifer Buck (Portsmouth, Va./Wilson HS), center fielder Brilynn Fields (Aurora, Col./Otero JC), and third baseman Jeanette Sauceda (Ontario, Calif./Colony HS). The Spartans will also welcome first baseman Amelia Lewis (Brampton, Ontario, Canada/Heartlake Secondary) who attended NSU last year, but did not compete.

"It's not a large incoming class in terms of numbers, but in terms of talent, it's huge", Kankey said. "They will help us achieve our goal of a MEAC championship. All four are exceptional defensive players who can hit the ball hard, and I expect each of them to contribute immediately."

Buck, the 2007 Eastern District Player of the Year, hit .646 with nine home runs and 17  RBI as a senior at Wilson HS. She was a first-team All-Eastern Region pick and was named to the Virginian-Pilot All-Tidewater First Team last season.

Kankey on Buck: "(Second-Team All-MEAC pick) Hitomi Greene was a huge loss for us at second base, but we feel that Jenny can fill those shoes. She is a hard-nosed player with a strong arm and is a very good hitter."

Fields, who played softball at the same high school (Eaglecrest) as current Spartan pitcher Alyssa Velazquez, hit .409 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI in 2007 as a sophomore at Otero. She was named to the All-Region IX second-team and helped her team to a 47-9 record, the 2007 Region IX Tournament Title, and a berth in the 2007 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Fast-Pitch Softball Championship.

Kankey on Fields: "Brilynn will add power to our lineup and spark our outfield defense. She is quick for her size and has the strongest arm in our outfield."

Sauceda, a four-year letterwinner at Colony HS, was named to the 2007 Mount Baldy League first-team after leading her team with a .492 batting average and recording 29 RBI and five home runs. She was also named Colony's 2007 Offensive Player of the Year. Sauceda, the 2006 Mt. Baldy League MVP, was awarded an Amateur Softball Association (ASA) $2,500 scholarship from the Southern California ASA Players Association.

Kankey on Sauceda: "Jeanette is going to be a great offensive player for us.  She has a strong bat and is a solid fielder."

Lewis batted .343 with 12 RBI in 50 at-bats in the summer of 2006 for the Brampton Blazers travel team. She played with the Blazers' program for eight years, participating on two provincial championship teams and three national tournament qualifiers. Lewis also threw the shot put and javelin and ran on the 400-meter relay team at Heartlake Secondary, which did not field a softball team during her senior year in 2005.

Kankey on Lewis: "Amelia was recruited to replace (2006 first-team All-MEAC pick) Allison Greene at first base. Amelia is smooth defensively and also is an aggressive hitter."