Bowling Green State University Athletics
Willis, Falcons Sign Four
November 17, 2017 | Softball
Cook, Davies, Kepple & Mullen to join BGSU in 2018-19 academic year
Bowling Green State University softball coach Sarah Willis has announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Sidney Cook (Reedsville, Ohio), Hannah Davies (Waterford, Mich.), Emily Kepple (Miamisburg, Ohio) and Marissa Mullen (Appleton, Wis.) will join the Falcons for the 2018-19 academic year.
All four signees have succeeded in the classroom as well as on the diamond, as each of the four student-athletes has a grade-point average of 4.0 or higher.
"Our staff is excited to announce our 2018 recruiting class," said Willis. "It is an exceptionally talented class that will seamlessly transition into our program. Each of these four student-athletes will make an immediate impact on the program."
Cook, a corner infielder, is currently in her senior year at Eastern H.S. In her first three years, she has helped the Lady Eagles to a 56-15 record, including a 44-4 mark in the Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division. The team has captured two league titles and two sectional crowns over that three-year period. Cook has earned all-league and all-district honors in all three years, and twice has been named the league's Offensive Player of the Year. She was an All-Ohio Second-Team selection as a junior after earning honorable mention in her freshman year. Cook has a career batting average of .521, with triple-digit totals in hits, runs scored and runs batted in. A volleyball letterwinner as well, Cook is also a National Honor Society member and is her school's Student Council President. She has a 4.0 GPA. She has played travel ball for the Cincy Doom 18U Gold (Gregory).
"We are excited to have Sidney join our infield defense and lineup next year," said Willis. "She plays a strong corner and is a tremendous vocal leader on the field. The combination of her work ethic and softball IQ will be a great addition to our roster."
Davies, a pitcher, is a senior at Our Lady of the Lakes. She has been named to the All-Catholic League, all-county, all-district and all-region teams in each of her first three seasons, and has gone on to earn all-state honors in each season as well. She has struck out 680 batters in 321 career innings pitched, with at least 200 strikeouts in each season. At the plate, Davies has batted .434 of highest in all three seasons, and has led the Lakers in homers and RBI every year. The team earned division titles and Catholic High School league crowns in both 2015 and 2017, and has captured district championships in each of her first three years. A National Honor Society member, Davies has a 4.1 GPA. She has played travel ball for the Finesse 16U and 18U teams.
"Hannah has tremendous ability in the circle," said Willis." She knows how to compete when she steps on the mound and will help to drive our bullpen to the top of the MAC. Hannah is a great addition to our pitching staff and will complement our returning pitchers."
Kepple, a catcher, is a senior at Miamisburg H.S. She earned All-Ohio honorable mention as a sophomore in 2016, and was the Greater Western Ohio Conference Athlete of the Year that same season after hitting .577. She was a first-team all-conference selection for the Vikings that spring, and has earned all-league honorable mention in each of her other two years. In the classroom, Kepple has made the Honor Roll in every year, and earned the Scholar Athlete Award in 2017. She has a 4.2 GPA. Kepple plays travel ball for Ohio Lady Lasers Red.
"Emily is a player with tremendous upside and work ethic," said Willis. "She has the kind of arm that will contribute to defensive outs behind the dish. Her ability to work with pitchers and vocalization will also make an immediate impact on the field."
Mullen, an outfielder/first baseman, is in her senior year at Appleton North H.S. A three-time all-conference (Fox Valley Association) first-team selection, she also earned all-district first-team as well as all-state accolades in both 2016 and '17. She has helped the Lightning to two regional championships and is a three-year team captain. In her junior campaign, she batted .442 with an on-base percentage of .508, and struck out only once all season. A National Honor Society member, she has been a High Honors recipient in six consecutive semesters, and has a 4.0 GPA. She has played travel ball for Wisconsin BATS Fastpitch.
"Marissa is an offensive threat at the plate with great power and consistency," said Willis. "She is a versatile athlete and mature in her approach to the game. Â She has a great understanding of what this program is working towards and has the competitive attitude to make the program better."
Willis and the Falcons begin the 2018 season on Feb. 9 at the Cleveland State University Dome Tournament, and the home opener is scheduled for March 23. Willis and her assistant coaches, Katie Reiff and Lauren Gambone, have three seniors – Alivia Forshey, Aspen Searle and Laine Simmons – on the 2018 roster.
BGSU SOFTBALL SIGNEES
Sidney Cook    INF  Reedsville, Ohio (Eastern)
Hannah Davies   P   Waterford, Mich. (Our Lady of the Lakes)
Emily Kepple    C   Miamisburg, Ohio (Miamisburg)
Marissa Mullen  OF/1B  Appleton, Wis. (Appleton North)
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All four signees have succeeded in the classroom as well as on the diamond, as each of the four student-athletes has a grade-point average of 4.0 or higher.
"Our staff is excited to announce our 2018 recruiting class," said Willis. "It is an exceptionally talented class that will seamlessly transition into our program. Each of these four student-athletes will make an immediate impact on the program."
Cook, a corner infielder, is currently in her senior year at Eastern H.S. In her first three years, she has helped the Lady Eagles to a 56-15 record, including a 44-4 mark in the Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division. The team has captured two league titles and two sectional crowns over that three-year period. Cook has earned all-league and all-district honors in all three years, and twice has been named the league's Offensive Player of the Year. She was an All-Ohio Second-Team selection as a junior after earning honorable mention in her freshman year. Cook has a career batting average of .521, with triple-digit totals in hits, runs scored and runs batted in. A volleyball letterwinner as well, Cook is also a National Honor Society member and is her school's Student Council President. She has a 4.0 GPA. She has played travel ball for the Cincy Doom 18U Gold (Gregory).
"We are excited to have Sidney join our infield defense and lineup next year," said Willis. "She plays a strong corner and is a tremendous vocal leader on the field. The combination of her work ethic and softball IQ will be a great addition to our roster."
Davies, a pitcher, is a senior at Our Lady of the Lakes. She has been named to the All-Catholic League, all-county, all-district and all-region teams in each of her first three seasons, and has gone on to earn all-state honors in each season as well. She has struck out 680 batters in 321 career innings pitched, with at least 200 strikeouts in each season. At the plate, Davies has batted .434 of highest in all three seasons, and has led the Lakers in homers and RBI every year. The team earned division titles and Catholic High School league crowns in both 2015 and 2017, and has captured district championships in each of her first three years. A National Honor Society member, Davies has a 4.1 GPA. She has played travel ball for the Finesse 16U and 18U teams.
"Hannah has tremendous ability in the circle," said Willis." She knows how to compete when she steps on the mound and will help to drive our bullpen to the top of the MAC. Hannah is a great addition to our pitching staff and will complement our returning pitchers."
Kepple, a catcher, is a senior at Miamisburg H.S. She earned All-Ohio honorable mention as a sophomore in 2016, and was the Greater Western Ohio Conference Athlete of the Year that same season after hitting .577. She was a first-team all-conference selection for the Vikings that spring, and has earned all-league honorable mention in each of her other two years. In the classroom, Kepple has made the Honor Roll in every year, and earned the Scholar Athlete Award in 2017. She has a 4.2 GPA. Kepple plays travel ball for Ohio Lady Lasers Red.
"Emily is a player with tremendous upside and work ethic," said Willis. "She has the kind of arm that will contribute to defensive outs behind the dish. Her ability to work with pitchers and vocalization will also make an immediate impact on the field."
Mullen, an outfielder/first baseman, is in her senior year at Appleton North H.S. A three-time all-conference (Fox Valley Association) first-team selection, she also earned all-district first-team as well as all-state accolades in both 2016 and '17. She has helped the Lightning to two regional championships and is a three-year team captain. In her junior campaign, she batted .442 with an on-base percentage of .508, and struck out only once all season. A National Honor Society member, she has been a High Honors recipient in six consecutive semesters, and has a 4.0 GPA. She has played travel ball for Wisconsin BATS Fastpitch.
"Marissa is an offensive threat at the plate with great power and consistency," said Willis. "She is a versatile athlete and mature in her approach to the game. Â She has a great understanding of what this program is working towards and has the competitive attitude to make the program better."
Willis and the Falcons begin the 2018 season on Feb. 9 at the Cleveland State University Dome Tournament, and the home opener is scheduled for March 23. Willis and her assistant coaches, Katie Reiff and Lauren Gambone, have three seniors – Alivia Forshey, Aspen Searle and Laine Simmons – on the 2018 roster.
BGSU SOFTBALL SIGNEES
Sidney Cook    INF  Reedsville, Ohio (Eastern)
Hannah Davies   P   Waterford, Mich. (Our Lady of the Lakes)
Emily Kepple    C   Miamisburg, Ohio (Miamisburg)
Marissa Mullen  OF/1B  Appleton, Wis. (Appleton North)
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