GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines head softball coach Mike Coutts has announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to join the Orediggers for the 2023-24 season.
 
The class is comprised of three infielders, two outfielders, a utility player and pitcher from five different states, with three from Texas, two from California and one each from Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
 
Ryen Herman // Catcher // Rio Rancho, New Mexico // V. Sue Cleveland HS
Herman comes to Golden from V. Sue Cleveland High School where she was a four-year letter winner and earned First Team All-State honors at designated player and First Team All-District laurels as a catcher. Herman  batted .420 with a .499 OBP and a .911 fielding percentage while spending time behind the plate, at both middle infield spots, third base and left field. Off the field, she graduated with honors and a diploma of distinction while being a four-year scholar-baller and three-year academic all-district honoree. Herman plans to major in Electrical Engineering at Mines.
 
Kiki Matamoros // Utility // Wildomar, Calif. // Elsinore HS
A standout infielder for Elsinore High School, Matamoros batted .575 during her junior season with an .889 fielding percentage. She has consistently been one of the team's top hitters and is a four-year letter winner, having also served as team captain. In the classroom, she carries a 4.139 GPA and has been a two-time recipient of the President's Award for Academic Excellence. Matamoros plans to study Mechanical Engineering at Mines.

Emily Rogers // Infield // Houston, Texas // Second Baptist School
Rogers, one of three Texans in this year's class, comes to Golden from Second Baptist School in Houston. A three-sport athlete who played soccer and ran track, Rogers is coming off a season in which she slashed .558/.672/1.209 and had an OPS of 1.882 with four home runs, 19 runs batted in, 30 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. In her career, she has been a two-time First Team All-District selection, earned All- State Academic and Athletic laurels and won a TAPPS Softball State Title. She is also an Academic All-State honoree in track and field and is the Second Baptist School record holder in the 100m with a time of 12.48s. She was also selected to the roster for the 2023 USA Softball Junior Women's National Team. Off the field, Rogers is a member of the National Honor Society, Chinese National Honor Society and is President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while carrying a 4.32 GPA. She plans to major in Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering at Mines.
 
Lauren Romero // Infield // West Covina, Calif. // West Covina HS
A two-sport star at West Covina High School, Romero is a four-year letter winner on the diamond as well as the hardwood. A career .400 hitter at the prep level, she has been named a Second Team All-League selection, Defensive Player of the Year as well as an All-Academic Team honoree. Last fall playing for Firecrackers Brashear, one of the top travel teams in the nation, she batted .363. An AP scholar and Principal's Honor Roll selection, Romera is currently undecided on a major.
 
Kenzie Sale // Outfield // Parker, Colo. // Legends HS
Sale, the lone Coloradan in this year's class, will come to Golden from Legends High School where this fall, she batted .406 with 26 runs scored and 16 RBI while posting a .461 OBP and fielding .923. A three-year letter winner, she is a two-time All-State honoree and earned First Team laurels this past season. Off the field, she carries a 4.27 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society and has twice been named an Academic All-State selection. Sale plans to study Electrical Engineering Mines.
 
Emiaj "E" Self // Infield // Moore, Okla. // Moore HS
Self will arrive at Mines from Moore High School where she was a four-year letter winner. She led all of Oklahoma 6A softball last season with the fewest strikeouts, being rung up only once while batting .430 with an on-base percentage of .500 along with four home runs. She was successful on 80% of her stolen bases and a .963 fielding percentage. Self has earned All-America honors at the prep level and has been twice named COAC Honorable Mention and was an All-District Honorable Mention along with being named to the Big West All-Region Team in 2022. Academically, she ranks seventh in a class of 632 with a 4.76 GPA and has the highest GPA among all student-athletes at Moore. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society and plans to major in Electrical Engineering at Mines.
 
Ellen Shull // Pitcher // Cypress, Texas // Bridgeland HS
A pitcher and infielder at Bridgeland High School, Shull comes to Mines after a decorated prep career. She posted a 2.61 career ERA at the prep level and struck out nearly two batters per inning, while at the plate recorded a .343 batting average and a .687 slugging percentage. In 2021, she led Bridgeland to a 6A Region 4 Bi-District Championship, Region Championship, and a win in the Region Quarterfinals. Last fall, Bridgeland repeated as 6A Region Bi-district and Region Championships while Shull was named an All-District Honorable Mention and also repeated Academic All-District Honors. She plays for the 18U Texas Hawks Gold on the club circuit where she is team captain and sports a 2.09 ERA and a .386 batting average. Shull plans to study Chemical Engineering at Mines.
 
Kellan Ton // Outfield // Sugar Land, Texas // Dulles HS
Ton is coming off a junior campaign at Dulles High School during which she slashed .557/.608/.914 and was named First Team All-District 6A and Academic All-District 6A as she starred in the outfield. A two-time Academic Excellence recipient, she is currently undecided on a major at Mines.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines softball on Twitter at @MinesSoftball and on Instagram at @mines_sb. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.