April 26, 2006

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - University of Memphis softball coach Windy Thees has announced the signing of catcher Lindsay Kelso, a junior college standout from Phoenix College in Phoenix, Ariz., for the 2006-07 season.

Kelso will transfer to the U of M after a year at Phoenix College, where she is currently hitting .395 with 15 doubles, four homeruns, and a team-leading 50 RBI. The Phoenix native also boasts a .559 slugging percentage and .443 on-base percentage and tops the team with 24 stolen bases in 25 attempts.

Her Lady Bear squad was the pre-season No. 1 team in the Division II NJCAA softball rankings and presently has a 48-9-1 record entering the final week of regular season play.

"Lindsay is a fabulous hitter and an outstanding catcher," said Thees. "When we combine her and Kimmi (Hayden) it will give us a solid catcher and DP combination."

Prior to the 2006 season, Kelso spent her freshman year at NCAA Division II Grand Canyon University, leading her team with 10 doubles and three triples and ranking third with a .291 batting average. A member of the NCAA Division II All-Independent softball team, she threw out 14 of 25 would-be base stealers and had a 15-game hit streak in her first year of college.

Kelso is a graduate of Greenway High School in Phoenix, where she helped the Demons to four regional championships and four state championship appearances. An All-State selection her junior and senior seasons, she earned All-Region honors all four years and was named to the 2004 Senior All-Star 4A South Team, helping the South squad to a 6-4 win and garnering the MVP award. In addition, she broke the Greenway single-season homerun record with 10 her senior year.

Along with the on-field accomplishments, Kelso is a standout in the classroom. She currently has a 3.95 GPA in accounting at Phoenix College and was a member of National Honors Society and carried a 4.0 GPA throughout high school.

"We are very excited to get Lindsay because she is a great player and a great student, and we feel like she fits perfectly into our team and our plans for the future," said Thees.