Third-year UTEP softball head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk announced five additions to the program on Tuesday. El Paso native Bryanna Molina, Pamala Baber, Macey Brown, Mallorie Cross and Allie Johnson signed letters of intent and will suit up for the Miners, beginning with the 2016 fall season.
Bryanna Molina | INF | El Paso, Texas | Hanks High School
Bryanna Molina blasted 11 home runs with 61 RBI her junior season (2015). Hit .464 (52-for-112) with a .851 slugging percentage, 47 runs scored, seven doubles and two triples in 34 games played at Hanks High School. Efforts surged the Knights to a 28-6 overall record and a 13-1 league mark.
Named to 2015 El Paso Times All-City Softball first team. Molina produced monster numbers, going 5-for-5 with a home run, six RBI and three runs scored during a 17-7 triumph over El Dorado (3/3). She registered three hits, including a long ball with five RBI and a pair of runs scored in a 12-1 win over Riverside. Molina connected on home runs during three consecutive games (4/17 vs. Bel Air; 4/18 vs. Del Valle; 4/21 vs. Eastlake), while producing 10 total RBI on seven hits.
Echo-Hawk on Molina: “Bryanna is a well-rounded, hardworking athlete that is going to add a ton of power to our line-up.”
Pamala Baber | UTL | Rialto, Calif. | Carter High School
Pamala Baber played in only seven games her junior season due to an injury. Baber was productive though, hitting .556 (10-for-18) with a pair of home runs, five RBI, eight runs, two doubles, a triple and two stolen bags. She has played three years on the varsity team, hitting .506 in 54-career games with 14 long balls and 71 RBI.
In her first game of 2015, Baber went 3-for-3 with two RBI, a triple and crossed the dish twice during a victory over Indian Springs (3/5). Baber went 4-for-4 with two RBI, two doubles and a pair of runs scored during an 8-7 win over Tahquitz (3/9). In her sophomore season, Baber hit .567 (38-for-67) with nine dingers, 41 RBI, 13 doubles and three triples.
Echo-Hawk on Baber: “Pam’s energy and enthusiasm is second to none. She is definitely going to bring a spark and a lot of power to offense.”
Macey Brown | INF | League City, Texas | Clear Springs High School
Macey Brown hit .289 with 20 runs scored, six RBI, five doubles and four stolen bases in 29 games played her junior season (2015) at Clear Springs High School. Efforts helped the Chargers to a 24-8 overall record and a 12-2 district mark. Opened her junior campaign with a 3-for-3 performance (one double) during a 6-3 victory over Sterling (2/17).
Brown registered an RBI during a 7-3 win over Goose Creek Memorial (2/27). She went 2-for-4 (two doubles) with a run scored and an RBI during an 11-8 victory over La Porte (2/28). Brown went 3-for-3 with a trio of runs scored and a stolen bag during a 12-4 triumph versus Clear Brook (3/17).
Echo-Hawk on Brown: “She is one of the most consistent and fundamentally sound kids I have seen. She is definitely going to add some depth to our middle infield.”
Mallorie Cross | C | Yucaipa, Calif. | Yucaipa High School
Mallorie Cross hit .319 (29-for-91) with a pair of home runs, 29 RBI and 20 runs scored in 32 games during her junior season (2015). Cross’ efforts helped Yucaipa High School to a third national championship in 18 years. The Thunderbirds posted a 31-3 overall record, including a 14-0 league mark. Yucaipa defeated Mission Viejo, 1-0, in the CIF-SS Division 2 championship game on May 5.
Cross played earned an honorable mention for the all-area team. She tallied a season-high three hits (3-for-3) with a pair of runs scored and four RBI during a 12-0 win over Carter (3/31). Against Aliso Niguel (4/1), Cross went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs and four RBI to lead the Thunderbirds to a 9-4 win. Cross registered season highs in RBI (five) and runs scored (four), while adding a triple during a 28-3 win over Eisenhower (4/28).
Echo-Hawk on Cross: “Mallorie has a tremendous amount of talent and a great presence on the field. She is going to bring some depth to our catching position.”
Allie Johnson | P | Peotone, Ill. | Peotone High School
Allie Johnson fashioned an 11-2 mark in the circle with 130 Ks and a 1.24 ERA. Johnson missed a few games due to injury, but pitched in 23 games for Peotone High School in 2015. Efforts helped the Blue Devils advance to the Class 3A Elite Eight of the Illinois state playoffs for the first time in school history.
Named to the Daily Journal All-Area team. During sophomore season, hit .373 with 18 RBI, while picking up seven wins and 126 Ks with a 1.40 ERA. Played club softball with the New Lenox Lightning and the Lemont Rockers. Maureen Hohman, mother of current UTEP graduate assistant and former UTEP pitcher Colleen Hohman, coaches the Rockers. Colleen worked with Johnson as well.
Echo-Hawk on Johnson: “We are so excited about the addition to Allie. We really think that she can come in and have an immediate impact on our pitching staff.”
