Nov. 27, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State softball head coach Lana Richmond has signed Renee Kertz (St. Louis, Mo.) and Shelby Stein (Columbia, Ill.) to National Letters of Intent during the NCAA's Fall Signing Period to compete for the Redhawks beginning with the 2008-09 school year.

Renee Kurtz is a three-sport athlete at St. Louis' Notre Dame High School

Kertz is a three-sport athlete at Notre Dame High School in St. Louis where she earned All-Metro, All-District, All-Conference and All-Region honors as a junior thanks to hitting .367 and posting a .517 slugging percentage. She was named team MVP in both basketball and softball last season and guided Notre Dame's soccer team to a third-place finish in the state. Kertz played for the St. Louis Fusion during the American Softball Association's summer season.

Shelby Stein posted a .462 batting average as a junior at Columbia (Ill.) High School

"Renee is an all-around great athlete and at 5-10 she has used her physical skills to excel in three sports at Notre Dame," Richmond said. "We look for Renee to come into our program and contribute to the infield and become a presence offensively."

Stein produced a .462 batting average and a .550 on-base percentage in her junior season at Columbia High School en route to earning team MVP, All-Conference and St. Louis All-Metro honors. She helped the Southern Force team this past summer capture second place at the ASA 16 and under Nationals in South Dakota in addition to another second-place finish at the prestigious Independence Tournament in Boulder, Colo.

"Shelby's ability to get on base with her bat control and speed makes her a threat every time she is at bat," stated Richmond. "Her quickness will be an asset to our outfield. Shelby's extensive Division I summer ball experience will make her ready to step in her freshman year and contribute."