Nov 14, 2019

Rittman Signs Seven to 2020 Class

Clemson 2020 Signing Class

Jaden Cheek • Carnesville, Ga.

McKenzie Clark • Myakka City, Fla.

Ansley Houston • Grantville, Ga.

Sarah Howell • Oxford, Ala.

Carsten Puckett • Ridgeway, S.C.

Regan Spencer • Lexington, N.C.

Millie Thompson • Bedford, Va.

Rittman Signs Seven to 2020 Class

CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson Softball Head Coach John Rittman announced the addition of seven signees Thursday, all of whom are slated to join the program in either the summer or fall of 2020. The signees include: Jaden Cheek (Carnesville, Ga./Franklin County HS), McKenzie Clark (Myakka City, Fla./Lakewood Ranch HS), Ansley Houston (Grantville, Ga./Newnan HS), Sarah Howell (Oxford, Ala./Oxford HS), Carsten Puckett (Ridgeway, S.C.), Regan Spencer (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson HS) and Millie Thompson (Bedford, Va./Liberty HS).

“It’s with great excitement that we announce our 2020 class,” said Rittman. “This is our third recruiting class and it’s made up of competitive and dynamic student-athletes who will complement and improve the quality of our team, both on and off the field. It’s a strong and well-balanced group of young women, who all share the vision for the future of Clemson Softball. These seven players will add quality depth in the pitching circle, a tremendous amount of versatility defensively, and both power and speed to our lineup.”

The incoming freshman class was ranked 14^th in the nation by ExtraInningSoftball.com – and No. 24 by FloSoftball.com – and includes three top-100 prospects (Cheek, Clark and Howell). Additionally, Clemson was the second-highest rated class in the ACC and one of four ACC programs in the top 25, according to ExtraInningSoftball.com.

Jaden Cheek • 3B/UTL • Carnesville, Ga. • Franklin County HS

No. 57 prospect in the country by ExtraInningSoftball.com
2020 First Team All-Region with a .412 BA, 46 RBI, 32 runs scored and 8 HR
Georgia Dugout All-Star game selection
2019 Second Team All-State and state champion
2019 First Team All-Region with a .398 BA, 27 RBI and 5 HR
2018 First Team All-Region with a .365 BA, 28 RBI and 7 HR
2017 Second Team All-Region with .425 BA, 33 RBI and 1 HR

McKenzie Clark • OF/UTL • Myakka City, Fla. • Lakewood Ranch HS

No. 19 prospect according to ExtraInningSoftball.com
36 prospect in the country according to FloSoftball.com
2019 All-State Catcher of the Year
2019 Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) All-Tournament selection
2019 Pro Swings Homerun Derby winner
2019 Lakewood Ranch Defensive Player of the Year
2018 First Team All-State
2017 First Team All-State and Team MVP

Ansley Houston • SS/3B • Grantville, Ga. • Newnan HS

Four-year starter for Newnan High School
2017 Defensive Player of the Year and led the team with 41 RBI
2018 Team MVP
Three-time First Team All-Region selection (2016-18)
In 2019, set single-season home run and RBI records at Newnan

Sarah Howell • C/UTL • Oxford, Ala. • Oxford HS

No. 71 prospect in the country by ExtraInningSoftball.com
2019 Calhoun County Player of the Year
2019 Alabama Sports Writer’s Association (ASWA) Hitter of the Year
2018-19 Oxford HS Team MVP
2016-19 4A-6A First Team All-County
2016-19 6A All-County Tournament selection
2016 6A All-State Tournament selection
2016 ASWA First Team 6A All-State selection

Carsten Puckett • P/3B • Ridgeway, S.C. • Cardinal Newman HS

2019 South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) AAA state champion
2019 High School Sports Report South Carolina Miss Softball
2019 SCISA AAA Player of the Year
2019 SCISA All-Star games participant
2019 All-State and All-Region selection
2019 Team Offensive MVP
2018 South Carolina All-State, All-Region and South Carolina AA Player of the Year
2018 High School Sports Report All-State selection
2018 Gray Collegiate Academy team MVP
2017 South Carolina All State and All-Region selection
2017 High School Sports Report All-State selection

Regan Spencer • P • Lexington, N.C. • North Davidson HS

Two-time North Carolina Softball Coaches Association (NCSCA) 2A All-State selection (2018-2019)
2019 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-Region
2019 Dispatch Player of the Year
Two-time NCSCA District-5 2A Pitcher of the Year (2018-19)
Two-time CCC Pitcher of the Year (2018-19)
Two-time North Davison High School Team MVP (2018-19)
2018 Dispatch County Pitcher of the Year
2018 NFCA Second Team All-Region
2018 CCC-All Conference Team
2017 Dispatch All-County Team
2017 USA Elite Select 30 First Team All-American
2017 North Carolina 4A State Championship MVP
Two-time NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete (2016-17, 2017-18)

Millie Thompson • P/1B • Bedford, Va. • Liberty HS

2019 Roanoke Timesland Pitcher of the Year
In 2019, led Liberty HS to its first-ever state championship for any female sport with a 9-0 playoff record and a 0.75 ERA
Two-time First Team 3A All-State selection (2018-19)
Two-time First Team All-Roanoke Timesland selection (2018-19)
Two-time Lynchburg News and Advance Softball Athlete of the Year (2018-19)
Three-time All-Lynchburg News Area selection (2017-19)
2017 Second Team 3A All-State
2017 Second Team All-Roanoke Timesland

Player	Pos.	B-T	Ht.	Cl.	Exp.	Hometown	Previous School
Jaden Cheek	3B/UTL	R-R	5-9	Fr.	HS	Carnesville, Ga.	Franklin County HS
McKenzie Clark	OF/UTL	R-R	5-5	Fr.	HS	Myakka City, Fla.	Lakewood Ranch HS
Ansley Houston	SS/3B	R-R	5-6	Fr.	HS	Grantville, Ga.	Newnan HS
Sarah Howell	C/UTL	R-R	5-4	Fr.	HS	Oxford, Ala.	Oxford HS
Carsten Puckett	P/3B	R-R	5-6	Fr.	HS	Ridgeway, S.C.	Cardinal Newman HS
Regan Spencer	P/3B	R-R	5-11	Fr.	HS	Lexington, N.C.	North Davidson HS
Millie Thompson	P/1B	L-L	5-7	Fr.	HS	Bedford, Va.	Liberty HS

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