Softball Signs 2 In-State Infielders
11/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Two infielders will join the Central Michigan softball team for the 2016 season, coach Margo Jonker announced on Wednesday.
Morgan Gardner of Armada and Kelsie Popp of Auburn signed with the Chippewas on Wednesday. Both are right-handed hitting infielders with strong bats, Jonker said.
"Both hit for power, both are offensive threats and can play defense as well," Jonker said, adding that she saw both hit "in clutch situations and come through with the big hit."
Both come from highly successful high school programs, Popp at Bay City Western, Gardner at Romeo.
Popp, who plays both first base and second base, comes with a strong pedigree. Her mother and high school coach, Kris (Tipmore), is a member of the Central Michigan University Marcy Weston Athletics Hall of Fame.
She was an All-American catcher in 1988 and she helped lead CMU to Mid-American Conference championships in 1986 and '87, and a College World Series berth in '87.
Popp has been a standout at Western, and was a member of its 2013 Division I state runner-up team and its 2014 state championship squad. She hit .461 last season.
Gardner, a middle infielder, hit .474 with 12 home runs and 37 RBI as a junior last season, when she was named the Macomb County Player of the Year.
She helped lead the Bulldogs to the Division I state semifinals in 2013 and again in 2014.
Morgan Gardner • shortstop/second base • Armada, Mich./Romeo HS
High School: Macomb County Player of the Year in 2015 … Made Division I first team All-District freshman, sophomore and junior seasons … made first team All-Region her freshman, sophomore and junior years … All-State honorable mention her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons … member of first team All-Macomb County freshman, sophomore and junior years.
Kelsie Popp • first base/second base • Auburn, Mich./Bay City Western HS
High School: (junior year) All-Saginaw Valley League first team … All-District … All-State honorable mention … Midland Daily News All-Area … member of Bay City Times Dream Team … Bay City Western team most valuable player … (sophomore year) All-SVL … All-State All-Academic … All-District … member of Division I state championship team … Midland Daily News All-Area … (freshmen year) All-SVL second team … member of Division I state runner-up team … Midland Daily News All-Area second team.
