AIKEN, SC--USC Aiken will welcome six new players to the 2004 softball team, head softball coach Jerry Snyder announced today. Five freshmen and one transfer will join 14 returning Lady Pacers. Included in the group are three local players. Deidre Simmons, a Silver Bluff High School graduate, Ashley Dyches from South Aiken High School and Shanna Josey, a Midland Valley High School alum, will be Lady Pacers in 2004.

Jennifer Scott a transfer from Volunteer State Community College, Samantha Blair from Deltona, Fla., and Meghan Lynch, a native of Port Deposit, Md., round out the 2004 recruiting class.

Simmons was a member of two state championship teams at Silver Bluff. The left-handed outfielder batted .439 as a senior with four homeruns and 16 RBIs. She had 28 stolen bases in 30 attempts on her way to being named All-Region and All-State.

Dyches was named All-Region and team MVP after batting .475 her senior year for the Thoroughbreds. She also earned All-Region honors playing for the South Aiken basketball team.

“Ashley brings a strong bat to our offense and the unique ability to play anywhere in the infield and play each position very well,” Snyder, now in his 17th year the helm of the Lady Pacer program, said.

Josey earned the distinction of Most Valuable Defensive Player her sophomore year at Midland Valley. She batted .301 with eight stolen bases as a junior.

Scott comes to USC Aiken after two successful seasons at the junior college level. Last season her 11 homeruns placed sixth in the nation and her 57 RBIs ranked 13th. As a freshman she belted six dingers, drove in 44 and batted .425. The Cleveland, Tenn., native will likely step in at first base for departed senior Meredith Headings.

The Lady Pacers will get help on the mound from Blair. The right-hander set a number of school pitching records at Pine Ridge High School in Deltona, Fla. In 115 innings of work her senior season, Blair posted an 8-6 record and a 0.18 ERA with 143 strikeouts. She was named All-County, All-Conference, All-Area and Honorable Mention All-State.

“ Samantha has good velocity and great control of all her pitches,” said Snyder. “We are very fortunate that she chose to continue her education and softball career at USC Aiken.”

Lynch, an outfielder, batted .382 with 10 walks and 13 RBIs her senior season at Perryville High School. In 2002 she hit .482 with 23 runs scored. Lynch was chosen first team All-County three consecutive times.

“ Meghan possesses a great glove and strong arm and is one of the fastest players I have ever seen,” Synder added.

The Lady Pacers finished 2003 with an 18-25 overall record and a 5-14 Peach Belt Conference mark. Their league record placed eighth in the Peach Belt. USCA’s schedule included 11 games against teams ranked among the top 25 in the nation. USC Aiken finished eighth in the conference in hitting (.266) and eighth in pitching (2.82 ERA).

The Lady Pacers nearly upset 20th ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University in the elimination bracket of the 2003 PBC Tournament. USCA came up on the short end of a pitching duel, falling 1-0 to the Lady Pirates. USC Aiken hosted the 2003 conference championships at Citizens Park in Aiken.

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