Softball

Howard Signs Four for Softball

After dropping a 9-0 decision to the University of Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Women's softball tournament, Howard head coach Tonja Braxton was asked about what the experience was like playing the defending NCAA champs during the post-game press conference.  Braxton pondered the question for a moment and then replied:  "As a coach, I have to make sure that I recruit the type of talent to play at this level that will allow us to compete."

          To that end, Braxton went out and landed what she feels are recruits who will add depth and help take the program to the next level.

          Leading the way is Jessica Hurston, a left handed pitcher from Mark Sheehan High School in Wallingford, CT.  Hurston throws a fastball, drop curve, screwball, riseball, and changeup. As a lefty pitcher, she will provide a different look (Howard did not have a left handed pitcher on the roster) from the pitcher's mound for opposing teams and will provide offense as another lefty batter in the Bison lineup. Hurston will major in journalism at Howard. 

Emily Johnson is a power hitting first baseman/third baseman/pitcher from Jacksonville, FL. Johnson attended and played softball at Paxon High School for Advanced Studies. She was the Gatorade High School Rookie of the Year in 2004 and the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2005.  Johnson was also a first team all-conference and second team all-city selection in 2005.  She will major in architecture.

Jessica Norwood is an outfielder/pitcher from Sussex Central High School in Georgetown, DE.  A native of South Florida, Norwood will bring speed to the Bison outfield, a strong arm and another solid bat in the lineup.  She is a good contact hitter who hits for average, but she also has some power.  Norwood will also give the Bison much-needed depth in the pitching rotation.  She will major in business.

Carly Martin is pitcher/infielder from Seton Keough High School in Baltimore, MD.  As a junior, Martin led the Gators to a second-place finish in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland with a 10-4 regular-season mark and a trip to the league title game.  As a junior, she was a repeat first-team selection and three-year starter. Martin went 11-5 with one save and an 0.29 ERA while recording 159 strikeouts in 113 innings. She also contributed offensively with a .327 batting average, nine runs and eight RBIs.  Carley will major in biology.

This past year as a senior, Keough was ranked Number 1 overall in Maryland and her team played John Carroll for the title game.  Martin pitched a 2-0 shutout, allowing 5 hits while striking out 14 to help the Gators finish the year 15-3 and win its second league title.

Howard, in only its sixth year, won the MEAC Tournament title for the first time in history while also posting a school-best 35-21 mark.  The Bison lost only four seniors to graduation and return several key performers including both starting pitchers and three of the top four hitters. 

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Asst. AD for Academic Advising/Head Softball Coach
Tonja M. Braxton