Nov. 18, 2009

By Tyler Koonce
Southeast Missouri State Sports Information

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State softball head coach Lana Richmond announced the signing of two California high school players on Wednesday. Teammates Jordan Learn (Corona, Calif./Corona) and Shelby Kuryllo (Corona, Calif./Santiago) will join the Redhawks for the 2011 season. Both players compete for the Corona Xpress Gold 18-and-under summer team and are standouts at their respective high schools.

Jordan Learn was named honorable mention All-CIF as a junior last season.

"Jordan is a smooth fielder with a very good arm who plays shortstop and third base," Richmond said. "She is very athletic and is a switch hitter with power from both sides of the plate. She will bring a competitive attitude and a solid glove to the infield."

Learn was named honorable mention All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) at third base for Corona High School. As a junior, she led her team in runs batted in and posted a .978 fielding percentage. She has competed for the Panthers varsity team in all four years of her high school career.

For the Corona Xpress Gold summer team, Learn registered a .350 batting average along with a .498 slugging percentage in 170 games played. The Xpress finished second at the Colorado Sparkler Tournament in 2008 that featured over 90 teams.

Kuryllo competes for the Santiago High School squad that is ranked in the top 20 nationally. The Sharks earned a runner-up finish CIF Southern Section last season. Kuryllo was named the school's junior varsity Offensive Player of the Year the previous two seasons.

"Shelby has the potential to be a great college catcher," Richmond said. "She is a strong catcher with a great bat and plays aggressively. She commands the field very well and has a take-charge attitude. Shelby is very strong academically and qualifies for the Regent's Scholarship at Southeast."

Southeast softball has now signed five players during the early signing period that began last week.

"Our staff is very pleased to have signed five very athletic recruits and outstanding young ladies," Richmond said. "Their play is quality on the field and they are very good students, with the majority qualifying for academic scholarships.

"It has been a successful recruiting campaign to address our needs for 2011. They all have the potential to help us right away. We will look to sign one more player during the spring signing period."