August 6, 2007
San Antonio – St. Mary’s University softball coach Donna Fields announced on Monday the signing of three student-athletes to national letters of intent to play for the Rattlers, starting with the 2007-08 academic year. Kelly Baker, Lauren Miller and Chelsea Wenske all will join the defending Heartland Conference Tournament champions for next season.
Baker, a 5’5″ infielder from Arlington, comes to San Antonio after a strong three years at James W. Martin High School. She was a three-time all-district honoree for coach Danny Husband’s squad, including first team honors as a junior and senior. Her senior season she set school records for doubles (12), extra base hits (20) and highest batting average (.500). As a junior she had the highest average on the team (.479) and was a first team all-district and all-area honoree at catcher. In addition to her work on the softball diamond she was the first female to ever play tackle on the football team at Martin High School.
Off the field she graduated Magna Cum Laude, was a member of the National Honor Society and earned the Principal’s Award. She was picked to receive the highest honor awarded by her school, the Eleanor Grace Martin Award, which honors a student for their scholarship, leadership and character.
Miller, a 5’10” outfielder from Baytown, joins the Rattlers after a standout high school career, where she was a three-sport athlete as a home school student. She competed for San Jacinto Christian Academy on the field, lettering in softball, soccer and basketball. She was named Best Female Athlete for the school in 2002, while just a middle school student playing against high school age athletes. She has played club softball for the Texas Aces under 18 Gold team the last two years for coach Kim Orsak.
Wenske, a 5’5″ infielder from Yoakum, was a three-sport standout at St. Joseph’s High School. She competed in softball, cross country and basketball, earning four letters each in the sports. For coach Craig Lauger’s softball squad, she earned TAPPS Class 5A All-State honors each of the last three years. As a senior she hit .427 with 32 RBI. She was also a three-time all-district honoree for the school. She helped SJHS to three state tournament appearances, including four district championships and two runner-up finishes. Off the field, she was a member of the National Honor Society and the Honor Roll.
St. Mary’s finished the 2007 season with a 45-18 overall record and finished second in the NCAA Division South Central Region Tournament. The Rattlers won the Heartland Conference Tournament for the seventh straight season. They return eight of nine starters for the 2008 season.