The Tarleton State University TexAnn softball team is gaining three new players, adding to the two others already announced, softball team starting next fall. The new players are Savannah Stech, Shelby Hedrick and Haley Freyman.

Stech is a middle infielder from Mansfield, Texas, and played for Temple College for a year.

 “I’m glad to have Savannah joining us in the purple,” Tarleton head coach Julie Mata said in an interview with tarletonsports.com. “She may be recovering from an injury, but she has the heart and drive that we are looking for in our middle infield. I have no doubt she’ll be even stronger when she hits the field for us next spring. She brings solid offensive skills and fundamental defense.”

In high school, Stech played for Mansfield Legacy as well as the 18u Bat Busters select softball team, where she lead them to the regional and national tournament as a freshman.

Stech also qualified for the 18u ASA Gold Nationals in both of her last two seasons.

In high school, Stech was a three-time all-district selection and a two-time Gold Glove award winner while leading her team to three Bi-District Championships and a District Championship. Her senior year, she was named the District 5-5A Player of the Year, all-state, Area Player of the Year finalist, a VYPE Magazine All-Area selection and a Star Telegram All-Super team honoree.

Stech left Mansfield Legacy as the school’s all-time leader in runs scored with 124 runs, 40 walks, 101 stolen bases, 139 games played, a .482 batting average and  . 919 fielding percentage.

In addition, during her first year at Temple College Stech was named NFCA NJCAA Division I All-Region while hitting .478, as well as named to the 2014 NJCAA Region 5 All-Star game.

Hedrick is a right-handed pitcher from Forney, Texas. Hedrick lettered all four years in softball and was also on the East Texas Bombers select softball club.

“Hedrick is a talented pitcher and hitter who will have a very positive impact on our program,” Mata said in the interview with tarletonsports.com. “It only takes one conversation with her to clearly see she has the drive and communication skills that we need with next year’s team. She is an intelligent young woman with passion for the game and we’re very fortunate that she’ll be wearing a uniform as a Tarleton State TexAnn.”

In high school, Hedrick was named the 2009 softball District Newcomer of the Year, 2011 13-3A Pitcher of the Year and 2012 13-3A District MVP. She was an all-state selection in 2011 and led her team to a district championship in 2012.

“I am so excited to be joining the Tarleton State Softball program,” Hedrick said in the interview with tarletonsports.com. “I appreciate the opportunity Coach Mata has given me and I am looking forward to joining the TexAnn softball family in the fall.”

Freyman is the third high school commitment and first high school pitcher this season. Freyman is finishing school at Richland High School in North Richland Hills, Texas.

“Haley is an outstanding addition to our team,” Mata said in the interview with tarletonsports.com. “She will be an important piece to our pitching staff and help us move our program back to the top. She is one of the leading pitchers in Texas 5A Softball and plays for a select program that we have a great deal of respect for. Haley has the drive and focus to excel here and [I] expect great things from her over the next four years.”

Freyman is a three time District Pitcher of the Year, all-state selection by the TGCA (2013) and TSWA (2011,13) and an all-area honoree by the Star telegram, Dallas Morning News and Vype Magazine as well as the MaxPreps DFW Pitcher of the Year in 2013. She was also the two-time defensive MVP as a freshman and sophomore and overall team MVP last season.

In addition, Freyman is a three-time academic all-district selection and member of the National Honor Society, and plans to major in Elementary Education.

 “ I am very excited to become a Tarleton State TexAnn,” Freyman said in the interview with tarletonsports.com. “I fell in love with the campus because of all of the traditions and how beautiful the campus is. I was very happy and excited to find coaches who share the same love and passion for the game that I do. I know playing softball at Tarleton State will be a great experience and I cannot wait to be a part of it.”