Softball Announces Four-Player Class of 2007

12/12/06 -- Long Island University softball head coach Roy Kortmann has announced the addition of four student-athletes to the 2008 softball roster. Jennifer Bryden, Ayzsha Ervin, Lauren Kemp (pictured) and Amanda MacIntosh will all join the Blackbirds next fall.

“We are extremely excited about the addition of these four young ladies into our softball program here at LIU,” Kortmann said. “We have added power, speed, and depth to our roster and each of these student-athletes is eager for the challenge of playing versus a nationally-competitive schedule and doing so in the heart of New York City. I am confident that they will help us raise the bar for our softball program and continue our team’s excellent success rate in the classroom.”

Bryden helped lead her Birdville High School team in North Richland Hills, Texas to a 22-11 record in her junior season. Recruited as a catcher, Bryden was named a second team All-District pitcher after compiling a 5-3 record in 52.1 innings.

The righthander allowed only 12 earned runs and struck out 46 batters while closing with a 1.51 ERA. She was also named to the All-District Second Team her sophomore season as a leftfielder. Bryden has played for the North Texas Dirt Devils for the past six years.

Ervin hails from Oceanside, Calif. and plays high school softball at Vista High School in Vista, Calif. She was listed by the San Diego Union-Tribune as a “Player to Watch” following a sophomore season that saw her bat .389 with three home runs and 13 runs batted in. She was also named to the Avocado League’s First Team by the Union-Tribune as a sophomore. As a junior, she shifted from centerfield to shortstop and batted .377 with three homers and eight RBI.

The utility player has played the last three seasons for the San Diego County Breakers, and previously played for the San Diego Renegades from 2001-03.

Kemp is an outfielder/pitcher from Scottsdale, Ariz. At Desert Mountain High School, she has been a starter since her freshman year and has been selected First Team All-Region in each of her first three years. She batted .387 with nine triples and three home runs her freshman season en route to being named All-State honorable mention. She also posted a 2.35 ERA and 144 strikeouts in the circle for the Wolves.

She was an honorable mention All-State selection again her sophomore season and was also named to the Second Team All-National Fastpitch Coaches Association Western Region team after batting .463 with 10 doubles. She also posted 167 strikeouts and registered a 1.82 ERA as a hurler.

Last year, she was named to the All-Arizona 5A Division Second Team as a pitcher after compiling 235 strikeouts and a 1.19 ERA. At the plate, she batted .400 and laced 12 doubles while helping Desert Mountain to a 23-13 record. Kemp is a member of the Hotshots travel team and has also played for the AZ Storm Gold and Scottsdale Storm squads.

MacIntosh, a corner infielder from Westhills, Calif., has been a four-year varsity starter at El Camino Real School in Woodland Hills, Calif. As a sophomore, she posted a .438 batting average with four home runs and a team-best 36 RBI en route to being named to the All-City Second Team. She also tallied five doubles and six triples and her RBI total ranked her 18th in the greater Los Angeles area and 29th in the state of California. As a junior, she led her squad to a 28-2 record while batting .287 with five home runs and 26 RBI.

Also a great student who plans to major in nursing at LIU, MacIntosh was selected as a scholar athlete at her school. She is a member of the Valley Breeze U-18 travel squad and has participated for the California Cruisers and for USA Athletics.