Softball Signs Five on National Signing Day

Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith talks to his team. Photo by Steven Gagliano

With Wednesday marking the first day recruits are allowed to put pen to paper and officially submit their national letter of intent, Ole Miss softball has signed five players to the 2018 recruiting class, announced by head coach Mike Smith.

Taylor Bachmeyer • RHP • Thorndale, Texas • Hendrickson
 
HIGH SCHOOL: A three-time letterwinner at Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, Texas … helped lead the Hawks to district, bi-district and area championships in 2017, following up with another district title in 2018 … tabbed the newcomer of the year as a freshman … pulled in all-district honors following sophomore season and was named the offensive player of the year as a junior … during sophomore season, posted a 1.00 ERA and batted .459 … garnered a 1.26 ERA as a junior, batting .556 offensively.
 
PERSONAL: Full name is Taylor LeAnn Bachmeyer … born Feb. 20, 2001 … daughter of Carolyn and Daniel Bachmeyer … has one brother and one sister, Dayne and Emily … plans to major in communications.

McKenzie Barbara • C/1B • Lakewood, Calif. • Saint Joseph

HIGH SCHOOL: Earned one letter at Long Beach Wilson High School in Long Beach, California before transferring to Saint Joseph High School in Lakewood, California, earning two letters … earned first team all-state laurels during junior season … garnered first team all-league and First Team Press-Telegram Area Dream Team honors all three seasons … led the Long Beach Wilson Bruins to the TC National Championship in Reno, Nevada … Bruins were also Co-1DT Champions … during freshman seasons, batted .466, with an OBP of .583 and a fielding percentage of .966 … registered 34 hits and eight home runs in just 28 games … as a sophomore at Saint Joseph High School , tallied 41 hits with 11 homers in just 25 games … as a junior, went .554 at the plate with an OBP of .605, while fielding .979 … helped her team capture the 2017 Del Rey League Championship with a record of 20-10 and 10-2 in the league … SJHS was also a CIF Div. 3 Semifinalist in 2017.

PERSONAL: Full name is McKenzie Catherine Barbara … born Sept. 20, 2001 … daughter of Don and Corrie Barbara … has one sister, Madison Barbara, who plays soccer at the University of West Alabama … father played in Major League Baseball for the Angels, Dodgers, Red Sox and Brewers … uncle Dan Barbara played in the minor leagues in the Mariners organization.

Raegan Cheyne • OF • Norco, Calif. • Norco

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-time letterwinner at Norco High School in Norco, California … led the Cougars to the 2018 California Interscholastic Federation D1 SS Championship … also helped her team to a league championship for the third consecutive year and was named in the top 120 players with a .333 batting average, .333 OBP and a perfect fielding percentage to complete her junior campaign … was awarded 2017 and 2018 all-league academics, Principals Award and Honor Roll laurels … named the team’s MVP.

PERSONAL: Full name is Raegan Nicole Cheyne … born July 15, 2001 … daughter of Dustin and Samantha Cheyne … has two brothers, Garrett and Riley … plans to major in education.

Kinsey Kuhlmann • INF • Pflugerville, Texas • Liberty Hill

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-time letterwinner at Liberty Hill High School in Liberty Hill, Texas … led the Panthers to the 4A Texas State Championship Game in 2017 … with impressive freshman and sophomore seasons, was awarded her with second team all-district (2016) and first team all-district (2017) honors … batted .430 with an OBP of. 476 and six home runs as a freshman … as a sophomore, batted .385 at the plate, with an OBP of .437 and five homers …  sidelined during junior season with an injury.

PERSONAL: Full name is Mari Kinsey Kuhlmann … born Sept. 12, 2000 … daughter of Reece and Angel Kuhlmann … Has one brother and one sister, Clayton and Haley.
  
Paige Smith • 3B • Norco, Calif. • Norco

HIGH SCHOOL: a four-time letterwinner at Norco High School in Norco California … helped her team to three-straight Big 8 League Championships from 2016-18 as well as the 2018 CIF Southern Section Division I title … a three-time first team all-league and all-area honoree … tabbed First Team Cal-Hi All-State following junior season … received All-American honors in 2018 from Extra Inning Softball … during freshman season, batted .417 with nine doubles, a pair of triples and eight home runs, driving in 32 runs … registered a .407 average as a sophomore, posting seven doubles and seven homers with 30 RBIs and 23 runs scored … as a junior, batted .457, tallying eight doubles, seven long balls and 41 runs driven in … also received academic honors all three years of high school.

PERSONAL: Full name is Paige Elizabeth Smith … born March 13, 2001 … daughter of Leslie and Mark Smith … has one sister, Mackenzie.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports