Ricketts Adds Slugging Infielder Hawkins To 2023 Class
July 20, 2023 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Power-hitting infielder Salen Hawkins has signed to join the Mississippi State softball program in August, head coach Samantha Ricketts announced on Thursday.
Hawkins was tabbed the No. 21 middle infielder in the class by Extra Innings Softball this fall and posted OPS marks of 1.000 or greater in all four of her high school travel ball summers.
"We are excited to welcome Salen to our incoming class for next season," associate head coach Tyler Bratton said. "She is a talented infielder that makes difficult plays look routine. A natural leader with a high softball IQ and incredible quickness all over the diamond both defensively and offensively makes her a no-brainer. Salen possesses a plus arm and tremendous bat speed, and we are thrilled to have her in the maroon and white."
A graduate of Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona, Hawkins helped her school win the conference title in 2021 on her way to First Team All-Region honors. She was also named the team's offensive MVP. In her freshman season, she posted a .545 batting average and a 1.365 OPS. The following year, her OPS climbed to 1.515, and she batted .462 in her final high school campaign.
Playing travel ball for the Arizona Storm, Hawkins burst onto the scene with a .667 batting average and 1.314 slugging percentage in her first summer. She finished the year with a 2.040 OPS. As a sophomore, she hit .448 with a 1.339 OPS on the travel circuit,and was named to the 2021 Extra Innings Softball All-Summer Team. Hawkins batted .533 at the Alliance Championship that year with a .696 on-base percentage.
"Before even visiting, I like how understanding of a person Coach Ricketts was – caring for me not only as a softball player but as a person," Hawkins said. "When I met the coaching staff and saw what the university had to offer, I knew it was my home."
The Storm won the Queen of Diamonds Championship and Arizona Last Blast Championship this summer. Along the way, Hawkins posted a .748 slugging percentage and .595 on-base percentage.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Hawkins was tabbed the No. 21 middle infielder in the class by Extra Innings Softball this fall and posted OPS marks of 1.000 or greater in all four of her high school travel ball summers.
"We are excited to welcome Salen to our incoming class for next season," associate head coach Tyler Bratton said. "She is a talented infielder that makes difficult plays look routine. A natural leader with a high softball IQ and incredible quickness all over the diamond both defensively and offensively makes her a no-brainer. Salen possesses a plus arm and tremendous bat speed, and we are thrilled to have her in the maroon and white."
A graduate of Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona, Hawkins helped her school win the conference title in 2021 on her way to First Team All-Region honors. She was also named the team's offensive MVP. In her freshman season, she posted a .545 batting average and a 1.365 OPS. The following year, her OPS climbed to 1.515, and she batted .462 in her final high school campaign.
Playing travel ball for the Arizona Storm, Hawkins burst onto the scene with a .667 batting average and 1.314 slugging percentage in her first summer. She finished the year with a 2.040 OPS. As a sophomore, she hit .448 with a 1.339 OPS on the travel circuit,and was named to the 2021 Extra Innings Softball All-Summer Team. Hawkins batted .533 at the Alliance Championship that year with a .696 on-base percentage.
"Before even visiting, I like how understanding of a person Coach Ricketts was – caring for me not only as a softball player but as a person," Hawkins said. "When I met the coaching staff and saw what the university had to offer, I knew it was my home."
The Storm won the Queen of Diamonds Championship and Arizona Last Blast Championship this summer. Along the way, Hawkins posted a .748 slugging percentage and .595 on-base percentage.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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