Rittman Signs Seven to 2020 Class
Courtesy Clemson Athletics Press Release
CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson Softball Head Coach John Rittman announced the addition of seven signees Thursday, all of whom are slated to join the program in either the summer or fall of 2020. The signees include: Jaden Cheek (Carnesville, Ga./Franklin County HS), McKenzie Clark (Myakka City, Fla./Lakewood Ranch HS), Ansley Houston (Grantville, Ga./Newnan HS), Sarah Howell (Oxford, Ala./Oxford HS), Carsten Puckett (Ridgeway, S.C.), Regan Spencer (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson HS) and Millie Thompson (Bedford, Va./Liberty HS).
“It’s with great excitement that we announce our 2020 class,” said Rittman. “This is our third recruiting class and it’s made up of competitive and dynamic student-athletes who will complement and improve the quality of our team, both on and off the field. It’s a strong and well-balanced group of young women, who all share the vision for the future of Clemson Softball. These seven players will add quality depth in the pitching circle, a tremendous amount of versatility defensively, and both power and speed to our lineup.”
The incoming freshman class was ranked 14th in the nation by ExtraInningSoftball.com – and No. 24 by FloSoftball.com – and includes three top-100 prospects (Cheek, Clark and Howell). Additionally, Clemson was the second-highest rated class in the ACC and one of four ACC programs in the top 25, according to
Jaden Cheek • 3B/UTL • Carnesville, Ga. • Franklin County HS
· No. 57 prospect in the country by ExtraInningSoftball.com
· 2020 First Team All-Region with a .412 BA, 46 RBI, 32 runs scored and 8 HR
· Georgia Dugout All-Star game selection
· 2019 Second Team All-State and state champion
· 2019 First Team All-Region with a .398 BA, 27 RBI and 5 HR
· 2018 First Team All-Region with a .365 BA, 28 RBI and 7 HR
· 2017 Second Team All-Region with .425 BA, 33 RBI and 1 HR
McKenzie Clark • OF/UTL • Myakka City, Fla. • Lakewood Ranch HS
· No. 19 prospect according to ExtraInningSoftball.com
· No. 36 prospect in the country according to FloSoftball.com
· 2019 All-State Catcher of the Year
· 2019 Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) All-Tournament selection
· 2019 Pro Swings Homerun Derby winner
· 2019 Lakewood Ranch Defensive Player of the Year
· 2018 First Team All-State
· 2017 First Team All-State and Team MVP
Ansley Houston • SS/3B • Grantville, Ga. • Newnan HS
· Four-year starter for Newnan High School
· 2017 Defensive Player of the Year and led the team with 41 RBI
· 2018 Team MVP
· Three-time First Team All-Region selection (2016-18)
· In 2019, set single-season home run and RBI records at Newnan
Sarah Howell • C/UTL • Oxford, Ala. • Oxford HS
· No. 71 prospect in the country by ExtraInningSoftball.com
· 2019 Calhoun County Player of the Year
· 2019 Alabama Sports Writer’s Association (ASWA) Hitter of the Year
· 2018-19 Oxford HS Team MVP
· 2016-19 4A-6A First Team All-County
· 2016-19 6A All-County Tournament selection
· 2016 6A All-State Tournament selection
· 2016 ASWA First Team 6A All-State selection
Carsten Puckett • P/3B • Ridgeway, S.C. • Cardinal Newman HS
· 2019 South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) AAA state champion
· 2019 High School Sports Report South Carolina Miss Softball
· 2019 SCISA AAA Player of the Year
· 2019 SCISA All-Star games participant
· 2019 All-State and All-Region selection
· 2019 Team Offensive MVP
· 2018 South Carolina All-State, All-Region and South Carolina AA Player of the Year
· 2018 High School Sports Report All-State selection
· 2018 Gray Collegiate Academy team MVP
· 2017 South Carolina All State and All-Region selection
· 2017 High School Sports Report All-State selection
Regan Spencer • P • Lexington, N.C. • North Davidson HS
· Two-time North Carolina Softball Coaches Association (NCSCA) 2A All-State selection (2018-2019)
· 2019 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-Region
· 2019 Dispatch Player of the Year
· Two-time NCSCA District-5 2A Pitcher of the Year (2018-19)
· Two-time CCC Pitcher of the Year (2018-19)
· Two-time North Davison High School Team MVP (2018-19)
· 2018 Dispatch County Pitcher of the Year
· 2018 NFCA Second Team All-Region
· 2018 CCC-All Conference Team
· 2017 Dispatch All-County Team
· 2017 USA Elite Select 30 First Team All-American
· 2017 North Carolina 4A State Championship MVP
· Two-time NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete (2016-17, 2017-18)
Millie Thompson • P/1B • Bedford, Va. • Liberty HS
· 2019 Roanoke Timesland Pitcher of the Year
· In 2019, led Liberty HS to its first-ever state championship for any female sport with a 9-0 playoff record and a 0.75 ERA
· Two-time First Team 3A All-State selection (2018-19)
· Two-time First Team All-Roanoke Timesland selection (2018-19)
· Two-time Lynchburg News and Advance Softball Athlete of the Year (2018-19)
· Three-time All-Lynchburg News Area selection (2017-19)
· 2017 Second Team 3A All-State
· 2017 Second Team All-Roanoke Timesland
