LOGAN, Utah – Utah State softball has signed five players to the program. Zaia Castruita, Cheyenne Chavez, Libbie Hawker, Amya Legarra and Jessica Stewart will join the Aggies in Logan next fall to start competing in the 2021 season.
"This is a very solid signing class for us. It's not a very big class, but it fills all of our needs with quality players and even better people," said USU head coach Steve Johnson. "This class will add a lot of depth to our pitching staff, another big bat to our infield and speed and depth to our outfield. All five of these kids have been committed to us for a long time, and we're just as excited today as we were when they made that first decision."
Castruita is a third baseman from Chula Vista, Calif., where she plays at Mater Dei Catholic High School. In two years with the Crusaders, she has had eight hits and drawn 13 walks, while posting an on-base percentage of .361. She helped Mater Dei Catholic HS to the 2019 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) open division championship. Castruita plays club softball for the EC Bullets.
"Zaia is a power-hitting corner who has the potential to be a middle-of-the-order bomber and lock-down corner. She's quick on her feet with a great first step and has soft hands to handle all the shots at the hot corner," Johnson said. "Although short in stature, she has a great swing and makes solid contact all the time with home-run power. She's also a great student who just gets after everything she does with a purpose and competes to be the best."
Another Chula Vista native, Chavez is an outfielder at Mission Bay High School. Three years into her career, Chavez is batting .418 (110-of-263), including 20 doubles, six triples and seven home runs. She has scored 84 runs, while batting in another 43. Chavez is a three-time first-team all-league player, helping her team to three-straight league championships. The Buccaneers were CIF runners up in 2017 and claimed the championship in 2019. Chavez also plays on the golf team at Mission Bay HS. Over the last 10 years, she has played club softball with the Firecrackers of San Diego, and Mountain West Fastpitch in West Jordan, Utah.
"From the moment she came to campus her freshman year, Cheyenne has wanted to be an Aggie. She loves Utah State and is willing to do anything to help us win," Johnson said. "Cheyenne is primarily an outfielder who could play in the infield if needed. A lefty at the plate, she's another triple threat with the ability to slap or hit away."
An in-state player, Hawker is an outfielder at Bountiful High School. A three-time all-state honoree, Hawker is batting .476 (139-of-292) in her career, with a .554 on-base percentage. At the plate, she has hit 28 doubles, 10 triples and four home runs, while drawing 46 walks. Hawker has scored 130 runs and tallied 69 RBIs in her three seasons with the Braves. At the club level, Hawker has spent the last 10 seasons playing with Mountain West Fastpitch.
"Libbie is the bulldog of the class. She's always wanting to know what she can do better and has a non-stop incredible work ethic," Johnson said. "As a speedy outfielder, she can cover a lot of ground and will do anything to not let the ball hit the grass. Offensively, she brings the triple threat from the left side as she can drop a bunt, chop one down into the ground and beat it out, or stand in and hit it off the fence."
Legarra is a right-handed pitcher out of Tucson, Ariz. and Canyon Del Oro High School. She has a career earned run average of 2.13, while hitting .375. Legarra has posted a 37-11 overall record in her high school career, striking out 337 batters in that time. She has earned all-conference honors all three years, and was named team MVP as a sophomore. Legarra helped CDO to the 4A Arizona state title as a freshman in 2017. At the club level, Legarra has spent the last six seasons with the Oro Valley Suncats.
"Amya is a very focused and well-rounded pitcher who has a lot of experience playing against some of the best travel ball competition in the country. She's a tall, lanky, hard throwing righty who mixes the ball up in the zone and east/west with different speeds. As she gets to work with our strength staff and Coach (Laura) Heberling almost every day, we feel she has a very high ceiling she can reach for and grow into a dominant pitcher and be a leader on our pitching staff."
The Aggie signing class is rounded out by Stewart, a right-handed pitcher from Salinas, Calif. and Salinas High School. With a career ERA of 2.71, Stewart has struck out 124 batters. She has also hit .381 in 21 at-bats. As a freshman in 2017, Stewart earned first-team all-league honors and was named the Pitcher of the Year, helping Salinas HS to the Monterey Bay League Pacific Division championship. Stewart spent the most recent club season playing with fellow signees Chavez and Hawker with Mountain West Fastpitch.
"Jess is another tall, hard-throwing righty who works more down in the zone and east/west with a good change. She also has a ton of potential to be a dominant duo with Amya for us for a long time," Johnson said. "Jess also has this huge, funny personality that reminds me a lot of Coach Heberling when she played for me. She likes to have fun on the field and her laughter is infectious for the team, which is always needed."
Utah State will open its 2020 season at the Titan Classic, hosted by Cal State Fullerton, Feb. 7-9.
Fans can follow the Aggie softball program on Twitter, @USUSoftball, on Facebook at /USUSoftball or on Instagram, @ususoftball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
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