Dec. 2, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Samford softball head coach Beanie Ketcham and her staff announce three signees for the 2010 season. The Bulldogs have signed Emily Waters out of the West Coast ranks, local standout Jessica Jackson from Trussville, and Brianna Chambers from Covington, Ga.

Waters is a right-handed pitcher who hails from Lake Forest, Calif. The 5'9" signee attends El Toro High School where she has made a significant impact in their softball program. For the 2008 season, she helped lead her team to a number one ranking in Orange County and eventually, the CIF playoffs with an 11-0 record. She was named one of Orange County's top 10 pitchers as well as a top five junior in the county.

The Second Team All-County pick said her most memorable highlight was defeating top-ranked Valencia High School in a 1-0 shutout to end their opponents' 35-game winning streak. Waters plays for the ASA (Amateur Softball of America) California Desperados. She is an accomplished student and a member of the National Honor Society, and plans to major in exercise science.

"I'm so excited to finally be signing," Waters said. "From the time I walked on to the campus, I knew Samford was the perfect school for me. I'm looking forward to playing Division I softball at a high academic school. I'm really excited to leave the "OC bubble" and experience a new atmosphere!"

"We are very excited to sign Emily," Ketcham said. "She is an outstanding pitcher with a lot of big game experience. Orange County is one of the most competitive softball counties in the country. Emily has very good movement and changes speeds well. She is an athletic pitcher with good size and the potential to get stronger and more powerful. She will be a great addition to our team and will help us set a tone in the Southern Conference."

Jessica Jackson is joined by her parents and coaches as she signs her National Letter of Intent.

Samford's 2010 local signee is Trussville, Ala., native Jessica Jackson. Jackson is a 5'7" power hitting outfielder out of Hewitt-Trussville High School. Last season, Jackson hit .416 with three home runs and 33 RBI to help her team to the Area 13 title. She led the Huskies with 45 runs, 12 doubles and five triples.

Jackson, who plans to study education at Samford, also played for the ASA 16U Birmingham Vipers, who have put Alabama ASA softball on the national map. The Vipers earned national respect by finishing in the top five at 16U Nationals in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, the 16U Vipers also won the widely coveted Independence Day Tournament Title in Colorado. The tournament plays host to the best of the best every summer during Independence Day weekend.

"I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet a few of the softball players at Samford at a young age while attending clinics on campus," Jackson said. "The question of where I wanted to play softball in college was determined by how amazing the coaches and players seemed to be and now I'll be living out a four-year dream playing softball at Samford University."

"Jessica has been on our radar for a long time, having attended our softball camps over the last several years," Ketcham said. "We have been waiting on this day for a long time and are excited that she will finally become a Samford Bulldog. Jessica brings a level of toughness and commitment that will help us continue to improve as a program. Her "big game" experience while playing on the Vipers is also a positive. We expect her to make an impact in the line up with the potential to hit for power and drive in runs."

Brianna Chambers is joined by her coaches as she signs her National Letter of Intent.

Finally, the Bulldogs sign Brianna Chambers, a speedster from Covington, Ga. The 5'2" outfielder attends Eastside High School and is a well-rounded athlete with many honors to show for it. For the past three years, Chambers has been selected to the 4A All-Region teams and was named First Team All-State and Adidas Futures Top 100 recruit last season. In her senior season (Georgia plays high school softball in the fall), Chambers led her team with a .495 batting average, .591 on-base percentage, 33 stolen bases on 36 attempts and hit seven triples to tie for fifth in the all-time Georgia State records.

Chambers helped Eastside High to its best-ever finish of fourth place in the Georgia State tournament. In ASA summer softball, she has come up through the Atlanta Vipers organization, one of the most respected in the state, where she led her team with a .475 batting average in the summer of 2008. She plans to major in sport medicine.

"I am extremely excited to have finally signed," Chambers said, "especially with a school that is as perfect for me as Samford."

"Bri is a speedy, athletic player who slaps from the left side and will play right into our aggressive offense with the ability to apply pressure and deceive defenses with several options at the plate," Ketcham said. "In the outfield, her speed will make an impact, filling some big shoes in graduating All-Conference player, Jessica Owens. Bri's big game experience coming up through the Atlanta Viper's organization will also be a plus as we make our case for a Southern Conference title."