Jan. 27, 2003

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (January 27, 2003) - Southeast softball coach Lana Richmond has announced that her team has signed another player for the upcoming 2003 season.

Alana Bagby-Leonard, a junior from Gulf Coast Community College, is a first baseman/right-hand pitcher. A native of Riverside, Calif., Bagby-Leonard was named All-Panhandle Conference, as well as All-Region. She helped lead Gulf Coast to the National Tournament in her freshman and sophomore years, taking second and then fourth. She was chosen to play on the NJCAA All-Star team representing the United States.

Bagby-Leonard will be joining her former teammate Marie Coode at Southeast. The two played together in the national title game during their freshman year together. Gulf Coast finished second in the nation that year.

Head coach Lana Richmond welcomes Bagby-Leonard and has high expectations for her.

"Alana has played on a national contending junior college team for the last two years; she knows what winning is about," Richmond said. "It is my expectation she will bring in the qualities of a winning attitude and work ethic."