(Courtesy Saint Louis Athletics)
Saint Louis head softball coach Christy Connoyer has announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to attend the University and play for the Billikens beginning next fall.
The SLU recruiting class is composed of utility player/catcher Kaylyn Breitbach (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South H.S.), infielder/catcher Krystina Kernich (Mt. Olive, Ill./Mt. Olive H.S.), infielderMackenzie Lawson (Troy, Mo./Troy Buchanan H.S.) and pitcher/infielder Kallen Loveless (Dorsey, Ill./Edwardsville H.S.).
“We’re thrilled to have four quality student-athletes join the Billiken softball program,” Connoyer said. “It’s an athletic and versatile class.
“All of these student-athletes have great experience playing at a high level on the summer-ball circuit,” Connoyer said. “They have talent in the classroom as well, and they realize the importance and value of a SLU education.”
Breitbach served as team captain as a junior and senior and started every game during her high school career, helping lead Parkway South to a 72-33 record, two conference championships (2011, 2014) and the 2014 district title. She was named first-team All-State, All-Region, All-District and All-Conference this season. Breitbach was a four-time All-District honoree and was chosen to the All-Conference second team her first three seasons. She set a Parkway South record with 90 career RBIs and finished second on the school’s career list with 125 hits.
Breitbach, who has played shortstop and third base as well as behind the plate, batted .393 with eight home runs, 35 RBIs, 12 doubles and a .481 on-base percentage this fall. She hit .373 in summer 2014 for her travel team, St. Louis Academy Gold, which played in the ASA-USA Gold Nationals for a second consecutive year. Also a member of the Parkway South basketball team, Breitbach earned second-team All-Conference plaudits as a junior.
“Kaylyn is a versatile athlete with a strong bat,” Connoyer said. “She is a positive force on the field and loves to compete. Her energy and passion for the game are infectious, and we look forward to having those qualities on our team.”
A third baseman/catcher, Kernich collected second-team All-State, All-Area and first-team All-Conference accolades as a junior last spring. She also was a Sangamon/MSM Conference All-Star Game selection and was named Mt. Olive’s Most Valuable Player, batting .549 with 33 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Kernich helped the Wildcats post the best record (18-6) in school history and capture the program’s first-ever conference and regional championships.
Kernich was voted second-team All-Conference and team MVP as a freshman. She plays travel ball for Collinsville Extreme Elite 18U Gold and won the team’s Extreme Pride Award the past two summers. Kernich also has earned high honors in the classroom.
“Krystina drives the ball with power and is a true student of the game,” Connoyer said. “Again, versatility is a strength as she can give us depth around the infield.”
Lawson, a middle infielder, was named first-team All-District three times, first-team All-Conference twice and second-team All-Conference once during her four-year career at Troy Buchanan. She earned the team’s Silver Slugger Award this fall by hitting .460 with two home runs, 35 RBIs and 12 doubles, and she handled 74 chances without an error.
Lawson helped lead the Trojans to the 2011 state title as well as a sectional championship, two district crowns and three conference championships. As a member of the St. Louis Esprit Gold travel team, she hit .341 in summer 2014 and earned a starting nod in the Missouri All-Star Game. Lawson is a four-year Troy Buchanan Scholar Athlete and honor roll student as well as a member of the National Honor Society.
“Mackenzie is a solid defender who has gained great experience competing against some of the best summer teams across the country,” Connoyer said. “She is a consistent hitter who can hit gap to gap and help spark an offense.”
Last spring, pitcher/first baseman Loveless registered a 29-3 record and a 0.86 ERA for a 36-4 Edwardsville team that reached the Class 4A super-sectional final round. She struck out 156 and walked only 27 in 139 innings. At the plate, Loveless posted a .504 batting average, seven home runs, a school-record 59 RBIs and 12 doubles. She was named Large School Player of the Year by the Alton Telegraph and was selected to the All-State, All-Area, All-Metro and All-Conference first teams.
Loveless was a second-team All-Conference choice as a freshman and sophomore. She also has excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-Conference laurels her first three seasons, a place on the Edwardsville high honor roll and National Honor Society membership. Loveless plays travel ball with Extreme Elite.
“Kallen will be a great addition to our pitching staff,” Connoyer said. “She is a talented pitcher who knows how to compete, and her growth and development through high school and summer have been tremendous. She will complement our staff well and also add depth to our hitting lineup.”
