Texas Tech University Athletics
Softball Signs 2000 Recruiting Class
June 21, 1999 | Softball
April 21, 1999
Lubbock, Texas -
The Texas Tech softball team has announced the signing of six student athletes to national letters of intent.
This year's recruiting class will be the first true freshmen class to come to Texas Tech since the program was restarted in 1996 under head coach Renee Luers Gillispie.
Leading this year's class is pitcher Ninette Martinez of Wilmington, California. Martinez comes to Texas Tech from Banning High School where she was a first team all-league and all-city selection all four years. She was a member of the ASA Southern California Athletics Gold Team (gold is the highest division team in ASA). Martinez led the So. California Athletics to a 3rd place finish in the 18-and-under ASA Gold Nationals in 1998.
"We are really excited to have Ninette come join our program," said head coach Renee Luers Gillispie. Ninette is one of the top pitchers in the country and we think she will have a bright future here at Texas Tech.
Joining Martinez on the pitching staff will be Dana Yoccum from Toledo, Illinois. Yocum comes to Texas Tech from Cumberland High School where she was named all-conference in 1996 and 1997 as well as all-state in 1997. She holds the Cumberland High School ERA record (.39) and a school record for strikeouts (314).
Lynsey Haij, an infielder from Vancouver, Washington, will bring athleticism to the Red Raider offense. Haij was a first team all-league selection at shortstop last season at Columbia River High School.
Lubbock Coronado product, Jana Baker, will become the first Lubbock native to play for the Red Raiders. Baker has earned both all-district and all-area honors while at Coronado. "We are thrilled to have Jana on our squad," said Gillispie. With Jana, we hope to increase awareness among area high school teams that we are developing a strong program here. Jana is a solid player with a lot of athleticism and stands to be a great player for us.
The Red Raiders will have a pair of sisters on the team next season when outfielder Tiffany Harrington joins sister and junior firstbasemen Tamara Harrington. Tiffany Harrington, a native of Kingwood, Texas, comes to Texas Tech with a batting average of .432 and a 1.000 fielding percentage. Harrington was Co-MVP of the district last season at Kingwood High School.
Rounding out the 2000 recruiting class is utility player Amanda Douglas. Douglas comes to Texas Tech from Richardson Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas. While at Berkner, Douglas was named to the all-district, all-city and all-area teams. Last season, she was a second team all-state selection. Douglas also brings a strong academic reputation to Texas Tech as she ranks 28th in a graduating class of 729 seniors at Berkner.
"I think the 2000 class will be very strong," said Gillispie. We signed three kids in the early period and three in the spring. This is probably one of the top classes we have had here. All of these players have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on our team.
*ASA - American Softball Association
