SOFTBALL INKS TWO RECRUITS FOR 2007 SEASON

Mueller and Wade To Continue Their Softball Careers At Ferris State

"We are excited to have such high-caliber students and athletes like Mueller and Wade to be joining the Bulldog family," Becker said. "They both fit that athletic mold I look for when recruiting and we are anxious to get them going this fall."

Mueller, who plays at catcher and as a utility player, served as team captain during her senior year in 2006 at Valencia (Calif.) High School. The 5-7 Mueller was a four-year (2003-06) letterwinner at VHS under head coach Donna Lee and helped the Vikings to the Foothill League Championship title three straight times (2004-06) in her varsity prep career. She also spent two years as a mathematics tutor at VHS. Mueller has competed in softball since age four.

The daughter of Paul and Barbara Mueller of Valencia, Calif., Rachel plans to major in pre-veterinary at Ferris State. She will also reunite with her older sister Sarah Mueller, who will be a sophomore on the 2007 FSU softball team.

"Rachel is a great athlete who has the ability to play multiple positions," said Becker. "We like her natural athletic ability and couldn't ignore her potential to become a great contributor at a number of positions that may need to be filled down the road for us. She has a quick release with a strong arm and will add more power to our lineup as well."

Also joining the Bulldogs is outfielder Rachel Wade, who received all-state recognition as a junior second baseman last season at Canton (Mich.) High School. The two-time (2004-05) all-district and all-area honoree batted .464 with 48 hits in 34 contests for the 2005 campaign while helping lead head coach Jim Arnold's squad to a 34-1 overall record along with a Western Lakes Activity Association title and a district championship. The 5-2 Wade also scored 38 runs while posting 12 RBIs en route to garnering all-region and all-division accolades. The Chiefs qualified as as academic all-state team a season ago.

As a sophomore in 2004, Wade picked up honorable mention all-state and all-conference laurels as she hit for a .426 average with 44 base hits in 31 games. She also tallied 23 runs, 16 RBIs, and had 11 stolen bases in as many attempts while guiding the 23-8-1 Chiefs to a championship title at the conference, district, and regional levels. Wade attained all-division laurels in her 2003 freshman season as she notched a .345 batting average with 32 hits in as many outings. She registered 26 runs scored, eight extra-base hits, 13 RBIs, seven stolen bases, and a .480 slugging percentage. CHS claimed both divisional and district championships while compiling a 25-7 overall record for the 2003 season.

The daughter of Richard and Connie Wade of Canton, Mich., Rachel plans to study elementary education at FSU and has an older brother.

"We're excited about the speed Rachel will bring to the lineup and in the outfield next year," stated Becker. "She is a true outfielder who has a great arm and will run down a lot of balls in the grass for us. She will keep the defense guessing with her bat as she has the ability to lay the ball down or hit it over their heads.”

Ferris State concluded the 2006 season at 26-26-0 overall with a sixth-place tying 10-10-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) regular-season record. The Bulldogs finished tied for seventh place in the final overall conference standings.