FERRIS STATE SOFTBALL SIGNS FIRST 2004 RECRUIT

The Ferris State University softball program has signed pitcher Jenna Thiede (LaSalle/Airport) (pronounced tee-dee) to a National Letter-of-Intent to attend and play softball at FSU, starting with the 2004 season. The announcement was made by assistant coach Lesa Bickley, who’s presently serving as head coach in an interim capacity as a result of head coach Keri Becker’s call to active military duty in the Persian Gulf area in February.

“We’re excited to sign a player of Jenna’s caliber,” said Bickley. “She’s a power pitcher who posseses a good fastball and has the potential to help us get to the next level. She compliments our current pitching staff really well with her style of pitching.

“We’re expecting her to play right away and be a major contributor for us throughout her career,” Bickley added.

A three-year starting pitcher at Airport High School in Carleton, Mich., Thiede received all-state, all-region and all-district accolades during her senior year in 2003 as she registered a 21-6 record to go with a 0.43 earned run average (ERA) in 179 innings pitched. She also recorded 231 strikeouts and 15 shutouts, both career personal season bests, this spring en route to garnering Huron League Division III Most Valuable Player and all-league first-team honors as the Jets captured their third consecutive conference championship title under head coach John Warren. Thiede was also selected both the Monroe Guardian’s and Monroe Evening News’ Player of the Year along with being chosen as a member of the Monroe County All-Star Team. She was a participant in the Michigan Division II All-State game.

As a junior, the 5-5 Thiede attained all-state, all-conference and conference MVP kudos as a result of hurling a 19-6 pitching mark with a 0.70 ERA in 169.1 innings. She struck out 180 hitters while totaling nine shutouts to receive all-region and all-district laurels for the second straight season. Thiede posted a 21-5 mark with a 0.98 ERA during her sophomore year in 2001 and was an all-conference pick along with a Monroe County newspaper all-region squad member. In summer league play, Thiede was a four-year member of the Michigan Generals.

Thiede’s sister, Amy, concluded her four-year (2000-03) collegiate career at Wayne State University this spring and was named to the 2000 All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Second Team as a freshman after establishing a school single-season record in strikeouts.

Jenna, the youngest of Larry and Kathy Thiede’s three daughters, plans to pursue a degree in criminal justice at Ferris State.

Ferris State concluded the 2002 season with an 18-29-1 overall record, which included a 6-10-0 regular-season GLIAC ledger.