The Blinn College softball team has signed 11 players for the 2014 season, head coach Rick Church announced Saturday during a brief ceremony on the College’s Brenham campus.
The Buccaneers, who have appeared in the NJCAA National Championships in each of the last four years, placed in the top six at last season’s national tournament on their way to 51 victories. With this recruiting class, they added players with the athleticism to play multiple positions.
“They really wanted to come to Blinn,” said head coach Rick Church. “Usually you put a deadline on an offer and tell them you need to know by a certain date, but they all replied early. That shows a keen interest to come and join our program.”
The signing class includes:

Delilah Pacheco 2B/SS Corpus Christi Moody
Carla Noel SS Santa Gertrudis Kingsville Academy
Carley Latta OF Oak Ridge
Grace McLeod P Home Schooled
Mariah Gibson P/1B Cy-Fair
Avery Mullendore OF Haltom
Cassidy Dahlstrom OF/2B Danbury
Demi Church 2B/OF Klein Oak
Hannah Parris 1B/3B Klein Oak
Alli Spivey 2B/OF Brenham
Sara Mason C Yale Secondary (Maple Ridge, British Columbia)

“Any given year, you may need an extra outfielder, then the next year a middle infielder, but if you recruit a good middle infielder who can also play third base or the outfield, that’s always a benefit,” Rick Church said.
The two pitchers in the signing class, McLeod and Gibson, each had offers from four-year schools, Rick Church said.
The recruiting class includes Rick Church’s daughter, Demi, a second baseman/outfielder from Klein Oak High School. Rick Church just completed his 13th season with the Buccaneers, including six trips to the national tournament. He won his 600th career game last season and now boasts a career record of 641-252. He is the winningest coach in Blinn softball history with 567 victories in Buccaneer blue.
Like several other players in the recruiting class, Demi Church had a few scholarship offers from four-year schools.
“She’s had Blinn in the back of her mind for several years,” Rick Church said. “Coming here gives her the opportunity to grow for four-year opportunities down the road.”
Blinn’s 2013 season opens Feb. 1 when it plays in the Galveston College Invitational.
For more information on Blinn softball, visit www.buccaneersports.com.