For their outstanding efforts on the field this year, four members of the 2011 Blinn Buccaneer softball team will have the opportunity to continue their softball careers next spring.
Sophomore outfielder Alex Yarbrough (Boerne), who started and played in all 63 games for the Bucs this season, has committed to the University of the Incarnate Word. Yarbrough finished the 2011 season with a .340 average and lead the team with 13 home runs. This season, Yarbrough was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA NJCAA All-American second team, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American first team, the Louisville Slugger/NFCA NJCAA Midwest Region first team and both the Region XIV All-Region and All-Conference first teams. She also garnered All-Tournament honors at the NJCAA Division I Softball National Championship in May.
Sophomore infielder Sara Vaughn (Huntsville) has committed to Abilene Christian University after finishing the season with a .376 batting average, five home runs and 15 doubles for the Bucs. She also led the team in steals, converting on all 25 attempts. A Louisville Slugger/NFCA NJCAA All-America third team and Midwest Region first team selection, Vaughn also received Region XIV All-Region and All-Conference honors. For her efforts in the classroom, Vaughn received the 2011 Dr. James H. Atkinson Cup, as the sophomore student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average at Blinn College and was recently named to the NJCAA All-Academic Team, receiving the Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence with a 4.0 grade point average. Vaughn finished her two-year career at Blinn with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Sophomore pitcher Alyssa Vordenbaum (Pasadena) has committed to the University of Texas at San Antonio. In 21 appearances for the Bucs this season, Vordenbaum compiled a 13-3 record and 1.57 ERA. She finished the season with four shutouts and team high 83 strike-outs in 107 innings pitched.
Also committing to UTSA is sophomore outfielder Michelle Downing (Clements). Downing, who started and played in all 63 games for the Bucs this season, finished the 2011 campaign with a .384 batting average, four home runs, 41 RBI’s and 13 stolen bases.
The Buccaneers finished the 2011 season with a 55-8 overall record, the Region XIV title and a 4th place finish in the NJCAA Division I Softball National Tournament.
