Five Sign NLIs to Illini Softball
November 11, 2020 | Softball
News
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois softball program and head coach Tyra Perry announced the signing of five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday (November 11) as Paige Berkmeyer (Wadsworth, Ohio), Zoe Caryl (Topeka, Kansas), Zoie Howard (O'Fallon, Illinois), Macy Krohman (Walton, Kentucky) and Stevie Meade (Olathe, Kansas) are set to join the Illini for the 2021-22 season.
"I am very pleased with how our 2021 class has come together," said Perry. "Each player fits our quickness, power, toughness profile and each one has the tools to find immediate success at their position. Our ultimate goal is to work to become a consistent, dominate force in the Big Ten and on the national stage. This group of young women embody the championship mindset and exhibit a pure love of the game."
Paige Berkmeyer // Wadsworth, Ohio // Highland High School // Illinois Chill Gold // Catcher/Utility // 5-3
Notes: Earned 2019 First-Team All-Gazette honors from the Medina Gazette after she was second in Medina County in home runs and among leaders in batting average (.416), on-base percentage (.455), slugging percentage (.697), OPS (1.151), hits (37), doubles (13), RBI (21), runs (25) and stolen bases (14) … Also named 2019 Suburban League All-Conference and a 2019 Best of Greater Akron Preps All-Star … Helped lead her Illinois Chill Gold club team to PFG Nationals in 2018 and 2019, with a 17th place finish in 2018.
Why Illinois?
"As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I knew I wanted it to be my home for the next four years of my life. The coaches want to get to know me as a person, and not just a player. Which is no doubt something I want to be a part of."
Coach Perry on Berkmeyer
"Paige is a versatile player who can easily transition between catcher and third base. One of the things we noticed about Paige immediately is that she always gives her best effort in the classroom and on the field. Her strong leadership qualities and a calm demeanor will set her up to be one of the top players in our league."
Zoe Caryl // Topeka, Kansas // Topeka High School // DeMarini Aces // Catcher/Third Base // 5-9
Notes: Ranked No. 127 in FloSoftball's 2021 Class … Named to Extra Innings 2020 All-Summer Team (16u) … Named DeMarini Aces Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 … Named First-Team All-City and All-Centennial League as a sophomore … Helped lead her Topeka High School to the Substate Championship, marking the first time THS advanced to State in 14 years … Registered a .640 batting average, 1.027 slugging percentage, .658 on base percentage, 48 hits (11 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR), 30 RBI and 32 runs as a sophomore … Kansas Class 6A Second-Team All-State and Second-Team All-City as a freshman … Batted a .485 with 32 hits (9 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR), 21 RBI and 23 runs to go along with a .541 on-base percentage and a .833 slugging percentage as a freshman … Two-time All-Centennial League Academic … Named Top Returner as a sophomore and Top Newcomer as a freshman for THS … 2020 season eliminated due to COVID-19 … Registered a .381 batting average, 48 hits (12 2B, 7 HR), 44 RBI and 28 runs in 2018-19 and posted a .437 batting average, 69 hits (17 2B, 9 HR), 57 RBI and 34 runs during 2019-20 season for the DeMarini Aces.
Why Illinois?
"I chose Illinois for the academics and family atmosphere. Illinois is ranked as the 38th best university in the world and the 10th best public university in the United States (Institute for Higher Education at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2019). I knew I would get one of the best educations for my future and be able to play the game I love. As soon as I stepped onto campus I could feel the support. Everyone was extremely positive and loving. You could tell that everyone had a purpose to achieve. Not to mention the coaches are absolutely amazing, I do not know anyone else who would go through the NCAA to be able to send a support video to my sick grandpa."
Coach Perry on Caryl
"We are so excited that Zoe has chosen us to continue her academic and softball career. Zoe has an infectious personality which translates into strong vocal leadership on the field. She catches and hits in the middle of the lineup for one of the premier travel organizations in the country in the DeMarini Aces. She is projected to take on a similar role with us."
Zoie Howard // O'Fallon, Illinois // O'Fallon Township High School // St. Louis Chaos // Third Base/Outfield // 5-7
Notes: Two-time Southwestern Conference First-Team All-Conference as a freshman and sophomore ... A two-time Southwestern Conference First-Team All-Conference honoree in track and was named Third-Team All-Conference in tennis as a freshman ... Helped lead her St. Louis Chaos club team to the 2019 Southern World Series ... Daughter of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame honoree Dana Howard, who was a standout linebacker for the Illinois football team from 1991-94 and former NFL player.
Why Illinois?
"The University of Illinois has always felt like home to me. I have been going to football games and seeing the campus ever since I was born. I also have people there that my parents and I trust to ensure that I will always be okay."
Coach Perry on Howard
"When I think of unlimited potential, Zoie Howard immediately comes to mind. She has all of the tools to develop into a powerhouse in our program. She has grown up under the University of Illinois umbrella. Orange and Blue is in her blood."
Macy Krohman // Walton, Kentucky // Simon Kenton High School // Louisville Sluggers // Third Base/Utility // 5-7
Notes: Named Extra Innings Softball and FloSoftball Top 100 for the class of 2021 … Named Max Preps First-Team All-American in 2018 … Selected as Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference (NKAC) Division I Player of the Year and Kentucky 8th Region Player of the Year in 2018 and was named runner-up for both awards in 2019 … Two-time Kentucky All-State honoree … Three-time All-8th Region selection and five-time All-Conference awardee … Holds the Simon Kenton High School season record for home runs, batting average, walks, slugging percentage and on-base percentage … Also holds the career record for SKHS in home runs, hits, walks, wins, extra base hits and runs.
Why Illinois?
"I have had the privilege to visit many colleges, but none could compare to the University of Illinois. The beautiful campus grabbed my attention, but it was the community engagement, as well as the great coaches that sold me. To top it off, it is a top-ranked institution."
Coach Perry on Krohman
"We could not be getting a better person and player than Macy Krohman. She is a top student and her softball IQ is second to none. Macy has that combination of strength and quickness that is found in every great player."
Stevie Meade // Olathe, Kansas // Saint Thomas Aquinas High School // DeMarini Aces // Outfield // 5-3
Notes: Ranked No. 85 by Extra Innings Softball in the Class of 2021 … Named Kansas Softball Coaches Association Class 5A Second-Team All-State and Eastern Kansas League Second-Team All-Conference as a sophomore … Kansas Softball Coaches Association Class 5A Honorable Mention All-State and Eastern Kansas League Honorable Mention All-Conference selection as a freshman … Two-time NFCA All-Academic Team honoree … Helped lead STAHS to a Regional Championship as a freshman … Named STAHS Team Captain as a sophomore … Has played for four years with the DeMarini Aces club team, where she has helped lead her team to multiple top-five tournament finishes, including a fifth-place finish at the World Fastpitch Championships.
Why Illinois?
"I chose the University of Illinois as my home for the next four years because from the moment I walked onto the campus I felt that I could be my true self. The school atmosphere felt like a close community that all supported one another. As an athlete, I knew I wanted to join a team that was going to be my second family. A family that wants to see me succeed on and off the softball field. The Illinois softball coaching program has set high expectations for their athletes to push them to be the best student-athlete they can."
Coach Perry on Meade
"Stevie is a steady force in the outfield and at the plate. She is the type of player that makes every play look routine. She approaches the game with a calmness and toughness that every team needs. We are thrilled that she is a Fighting Illini."
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