April 12, 2007

For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 871-5475

MEMPHIS - University of Memphis head softball coach Windy Thees announced the addition of right-handed pitcher Rayna McClinton to the program's 2008 recruiting class.

The four-year varsity pitcher in her senior year at 4A Spring Valley High School in Columbia, S.C., joins previously announced Memphis pitching signees Kimber Bossom (Dayton, Texas) and Janelle Valle (Lake Elsinore, Calif.). McClinton brings the 2008 recruiting class to seven.

"Rayna is a talented player," Thees said. "We're lucky to have found her late in the year. She throws hard and is an incredible athlete. We're excited to have her come to Memphis."

McClinton began her high school play in Atlanta, Ga., at Woodward Academy, a 4A school where she still holds the school record for most strikeouts thrown (197) in a single season. During her freshman season, McClinton also recorded five no-hitters and was named to the All-Area team. During her sophomore year, McClinton relocated to South Carolina and joined the Spring Valley Vikings.

"She kind of got lost in the recruiting processes and had to regroup because everybody lost track of her," Thees said. "That's our luck here. (After our initial discovery,) we were able to see her again in the summer and realized this was a kid who had been overlooked. We were really excited about that."

As a junior in 2006, she was named to the All-Region team and received her team's Best Offensive Player award. Through the midpoint of the 2007 season, McClinton is credited with one perfect game, two no-hitters, a 19 strikeout performance and a 0.25 ERA. Offensively, McClinton is batting .340 and has the second highest number of RBIs on her team.

Since playing travel ball from the age of 10, McClinton has played in the ASA Nationals at the 12U, 14U and 18U levels. Since relocating to South Carolina, McClinton has played for the 2005 NSA Champion SC Flame, the 2006 18a Louisville Slugger Champion NC Lady Blues and most recently the 18U Gold Coast Hurricanes out of South Florida.

"We think she's going to adjust great to the college game," Thees said. "She has had great experience in summer ball, so she's going to be able to come in here and help us right away."

Thees also received help in the recruiting process from a former teammate of hers at Florida State. FSU pitching alum Stacey Venable Tambora was McClinton's pitching coach in Georgia. Thees said Tambora had great things to say about not only McClintons athletic abilities, but also her personality.

In addition to her athletic pursuits, McClinton has been an active participant in Student Senate organizations and worked as a camp counselor during the summer of 2006.