November 23, 1998

Columbia, Mo. - Head softball coach Jay Miller is pleased announced that the Missouri Tiger Softball team has added loads of power and skill to its lineup this week when it received letters of intent from five outstanding high school softball players. Angela Hiatt (Belton, MO-Belton HS) and Sara Vassmer (Excelsior Springs, Mo.-Excelsior Springs) join out-of-state recruits Kristen Burke (Oklahoma City, OK-Westmoore), Dara Throneburg (Casey, Ill.-Casey Westfield), and Ingrid Werner (Fremont, Calif.-Mission San Jose) as the newest Tiger softball team members.

These signees mark the first time in four years that Missouri has wrapped up recruitment following the early signing period. This attests to the hard work done during recruitment by assistant coaches Mindy Johnson and Annie Smith. The recruits will help fill in the positions vacated by the graduating 1999 senior class.

Burke will add pop to the Missouri lineup. She is a strong hitter and outfielder who runs well and covers a great deal of ground in the outfield. She has a strong arm and power at the plate and should help both offensively and defensively next season.

Hiatt plays high school ball at Belton High School, the alma mater of starting center fielder Stacy Gemeinhardt. Hiatt is expected to play a variety of positions when she starts at Missouri. She played shortstop on her high school team and has spent time at first base and in the outfield during the summer. She also has experience behind the plate at catcher. Her current coach Brandi Jones Thomsen is a former catcher for Missouri (1992-1995). With tremendous hitting power, Hiatt is fully capable of hitting the ball out of the ballpark.

Throneburg, one of the top recruits in the nation, chose to sign with Missouri rather than play for Indiana, Ohio State, Iowa, and Illinois State. She was chosen as a first team high school NFCA All-American. During her freshman and sophomore seasons, she carried her team to two Class A State Championships finishing with a 119-6 record over those two years. Last season in 137 at-bats Dara posted an astounding .482 bating average with 47 runs, 51 RBI, 4 homeruns, and 11 triples. This outstanding shortstop has been selected to tryout for the USA Junior World team for the next summer. Throneburg is a left-handed hitter who has power in the gaps and good speed around the bases. Dara's talent does not stop in the infield. Last season she pitched a 12-1 record. Coach Miller expects her to start at a middle infield spot for the Tigers next year.

Vassmer, an outfielder, led her high school team to the State Championship this year. She is an extremely hard worker with a good arm and great speed who will add another leadoff type hitter to Missouri's lineup. Vassmer, a very quick left-handed slapper, is expected to fill in very nicely in the loss of Wendy Harrison who graduates in May.

Werner has developed in the last year into one of the top pitcher's in the country. This power pitcher chose to sign with Missouri over Big 12 rival Oklahoma State University. Missouri just seemed to have everything to offer her...a great Physical Therapy program, and good team. It reminds her of home. She helped lead the CA Lightning, her summer team, to the Western Nationals where she was voted the Most Valuable Pitcher for the tournament.

Overall, Head Coach Jay Miller is extremely pleased with the caliber of athletes recruited, more importantly he is pleased with the quality of people coming to join the program for the 2000 season. "This is the best recruiting class Missouri has had since 1988." With the additions to the outfield, Missouri is sure to remain one of the quickest in the nation. With Ingrid Werner joining the pitching crew, Miller sees a power pitcher who "throws harder than anyone we have right now."

All of the newest Tigers will bring great power and speed to the team for the 2000 season.

Quick Bios:

Kristen Burke: Outfield; 5-8; Bats R/ Throws R; Oklahoma City, Ok.; Westmoore High School (Jeanne Barber); OK Ultimate (Harold Copas); Intended major: Journalism.

Angela Hiatt: Utility; 5-8; Bats R/ Throws R; Belton, Mo.; Belton High School (Brandi Jones Thomsen); DeSoto Belles (Bill Fletcher); Intended Major: Education.

Dara Throneburg: Infield; 5-7; Bats L / Throws R; Casey, Ill.; Casey Westfield (Denny Throneburg); Casey Chaos (Denny Throneburg); Intended Major: Radiology.

Sara Vassmer: Outfield; 5-2; Bats L/ Throws R; Excelsior Springs, Mo.; Excelsior Springs High School (Terri Irons); DeSoto Belles (Bill Fletcher); Intended Major: Advertising.

Ingrid Werner; Pitcher; 6-0; Bats R / Throws R; Fremont, Calif.; Mission San Jose (Roger Baysden); CA Lightning (Phil Mumma); Intended Major: Physical Therapy.