THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball head coach Aileen Morales added four student-athletes to the 2019-20 roster as part of the fall signing period.
“I am excited to announce our first 2019 signees,” said Morales. “Meghan, Emma, Blake, and Kinley are phenomenal athletes. Each of them have competed and had successful careers against the best of the best in their respective high schools and travel teams.”
Meghan Cassidy (Dacula, Ga./Mill Creek High School)
Meghan Cassidy inks with the Jackets from Dacula, Ga. The right-handed middle infielder lettered for four seasons at Mill Creek High School under head coach Paul Pierce. At Mill Creek, she played on two Georgia region 6 class 7A championship teams in 2016 and 2018 and made it to the state championship in both seasons. A multi-sport athlete, Cassidy was a GA sectional finalist class 7A in track and field in the 4×400 in 2017.
Morales on Cassidy: “Meghan is a talented, multi-sport athlete who has seen success at a high level. She has great instincts as a middle infielder and will help increase our defensive efficiency. She will also help us improve our offensive approach by adding her speed to our lineup.”
Emma Kauf (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southwest High School)
Emma Kauf joins the Yellow Jackets from Lincoln Neb., where she competes for head coach Mark Watt at Lincoln Southwest. After lettering for one season at Papillion South, Kauf finished her high school playing career at Lincoln Southwest where she lettered for three seasons and served as team captain for two. The catcher brings a lefty bat into the lineup. She helped lead Lincoln Southwest to three-straight district championships (2016-18). After being the runners-up at the 2017 Class A State Championships, Kauf took home the title with Lincoln Southwest in 2018. She was tabbed a 2018 NFCA first-team all-American in 2018 and NFCA first-team all-region in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, Kauf set the Nebraska all-class single-season runs record (81) and the class A single-season home run record (22). She also recorded the Nebraska career all-class home run (59), RBI (214), runs (236) records and the Nebraska class A career batting average record (.535).
Morales on Kauf: “Emma ranks as one of the best hitters in Nebraska high school history. The career and single season stats she put up are beyond impressive. We are excited to add an athlete of her caliber to our program and look forward to seeing her continued success here at Tech.”
Blake Neleman (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter High School
Blake Neleman comes to The Flats from nearby Marietta, Ga. The right-handed pitcher lettered for four seasons at Lassiter under head coach Jason Campbell. In 2016 and 2017, Neleman was tabbed the regional pitcher of the year and the region player of the year in 2018. She competed in the Georgia Dugout Fastpitch all-state game and was named to the all-county team in 2016 and 2017. The Georgia native pitched a perfect game in the circle during the 2017 season.
Morales on Neleman: “Blake flat out competes. She is relentless on the mound, and will be a great addition to our pitching staff. She has a winner’s mentality and is the type of pitcher you want in the circle in the big moments.”
Kinley Stewart (Lawrenceville, Ga./Loganville High School)
Kinley Stewart hails from Lawrenceville, Ga. She lettered for two seasons at Archer High School before finishing her high school career at Loganville High School. At Archer, Stewart was part of a 2015-16 team that earned a regular-season region championship and a region tournament title. In her final season at Loganville, she helped lead the team to a regular season region title, a region tournament title and state runners-up. The righty bat was named all-region in 2017 and 2018.
Morales on Stewart: “Kinley swings a big bat and hits for power. She will add more power and run production to our lineup. Kinley has the ability to play multiple positions, which gives us additional options for depth with our roster.”
“These young women are competitors with a relentless desire to take Georgia Tech softball to the next level,” Morales added. “I am beyond thrilled for the opportunity to coach and develop each of them.”
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GaTechSoftball), Instagram (@GaTechSoftball), Facebook (Georgia Tech Softball) or by visiting www.ramblinwreck.com.
