By: by Tim Flynn
GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines has signed five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent as head coach
Tara Wheeler begins to build her 2020-21 recruiting class.
Wheeler secured local talent with a duo from the Colorado 4A state champion Holy Family in pitcher Cassidy Chvatal and first baseman/outfielder Jenna Pfenning as well as Broomfield High catcher Kailey Morales. Infielder Hannah Roberts comes from Millard West in Nebraska, and third baseman/catcher Lexie Semeyn joins from Ridge Point in Texas.
The five will add to a young but talented roster when they arrive in Golden in fall 2021. Wheeler has 13 freshmen and sophomores on the roster for the spring 2021 season after the Orediggers went 9-12 overall but were starting to hit their stride at 6-6 in RMAC play when the 2020 season was halted due to COVID-19.
CASSIDY CHVATAL // P // Broomfield, Colo. // Holy Family HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Standout pitcher at Holy Family HS ... Won Colorado 4A Player of the Year honors in 2020 for the state champions ... Also a member of the 2018 Colorado 4A champs ... 2020 First-Team All-Colorado and 2019 Second-Team All-Colorado ... First-Team All-NCAC and All-BoCo in 2020 ... Was the 2019 Tri-Valley Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-Conference ... Went 14-1 with a 3.20 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 2020 while hitting .429 ... As a junior in 2019, went 15-2 with 112 strikeouts and a 2.40 ERA while hitting .355 ... Plays club ball for Colorado Stars Sakamoto, and previously played for American Freedom National ... Three-time First-Team Academic All-State ... Principal's Honor Roll student ... Interested in majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
KAILEY MORALES // C // Broomfield, Colo. // Broomfield HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Catcher and utility player at Broomfield HS ... Hit .350 as a four-year letterwinner ... Four-time Academic All-Colorado selection ... Also plays for Colorado Stars Gold ... Honor Roll student ... Recipient of awards in Math, Anatomy and Physiology, Language Arts, and US History ... Lab Coat Award winner for science ... Interested in majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
JENNA PFENNING // 1B/OF // Westminster, Colo. // Holy Family HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Corner infielder and outfielder for 2020 state champion Holy Family ... Won the state 4A title and NCAC league championship in 2020 and helped Holy Family to the 2019 4A final four and league championship ... Also won the league, region, and state in 2018 ... 2019 Honorable Mention All-Colorado, All-Region First Team, and First-Team All-Tri Valley League ... Hit .391 with 58 RBI and eight home runs, putting together a 1.115 OPS in her HF career ... Plays club ball for American Freedom 18U Gold ... Three-time Academic Excellence Award recipient ... A-Honor Roll student ... Three-time First-Team Academic All-Colorado ... Regional and state qualifier in competitive speech and debate ... Interested in majoring in Civil Engineering.
HANNAH ROBERTS // INF // Omaha, Neb. // Millard West HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Middle infielder and outfielder at Millard West HS (Neb.) ... Hit .409 with 32 RBI and eight doubles as a senior ... Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star All-State Honorable Mention ...Two-time Metro All-Academic Team member ... Metro Coaches Association Honorable Mention as a senior ... Also a four-year track & field letterwinner earning Academic All-Nebraska in that sport ... Played club ball for Nebraska Gold 18U Roberts, leading the team in extra-base hits ... Distinguished Honor Roll student ... Rotary Honor Roll member ... National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society member ... Academic letterwinner ... Interested in majoring in Environmental Engineering.
LEXIE SEMEYN // 3B/C // Missouri City, Texas // Ridge Point HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Played catcher and third base at Ridge Point HS (Texas) ... Helped Ridge Point to two region III District 20 titles, two 6A Region III Bi-District championships, and two 6A Region III area championships ... Hit .333 and slugged .500 in the COVID-shortened spring 2020 season ... Plays club ball for Illusions Gold National, hitting .338 with a .529 slugging percentage, 61 RBI, and 27 extra-base hits in 2019-20 ... Also plays volleyball ... Four-year Academic Excellence award winner ... National Honor Society member ... Science National Honor Society member ... Spanish National Honor Society member ... Mu Alpha Theta member ... Interested in majoring in Chemical Engineering.
