FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Johnson has announced the signing of outfielder Jessica Birchmeier of Port Richey, Fla., and left-handed pitcher Michaela Wolf of Littleton, Colo., to national letters of intent to attend FMU this fall and play for the Patriots in the spring of 2007.
Birchmeier, 5-9, is a product of Ridgewood High School, where she played for coach Amber Starkey.
As a senior, she batted .407 with 24 runs scored, three home runs, 32 runs batted in and eight stolen bases, while leading the Lady Rams to a 14-10 record. She struck out only once in 81 plate appearances, while earning Suncoast Athletic Conference “Player of the Year” honors. She also gained “Player of the Year” recognition from the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (District 7) and the St. Petersburg Times, as well as being named her school’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Birchmeier was a three-time All-Conference selection, and was named to the All-Conference Academic Team four times. She batted .300 as a junior and .406 with five home runs as a sophomore. She ended her prep career as Ridgewood’s all-time home run leader.
She also played with the Florida Ultimate Gold travel team.
Wolf, 6-0, is a product of Columbine High School, where she played under the direction of coach Jeff Markle.
This past season, she batted .521 with 22 runs scored, 12 doubles, 14 RBIs, and a .563 on-base percentage. On the pitching mound, she was 12-5 with a 0.83 earned run average and 130 strikeouts in 109.2 innings. She helped the Rebels to a 17-6 record and an appearance in the Class 5A state playoffs.
She ended her prep career with a 32-15 record and 304 strikeouts in 336.1 innings.
A four-year letterwinner, she earned All-Conference recognition twice. She was named her team’s offensive and defensive most valuable player as a junior.
She most recently played with the 18A Colorado Ice club team.
Francis Marion loses only one senior from its 2006 squad that finished 27-16. For the third straight year, the Patriots narrowly missed earning a bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament.
The two signees will join infielder Kat Beauvais of Manassas, Va., who inked with the Patriots during the early signing period.
