Ball State University Athletics
Porter & Rodriguez Sign NLIs To Join Softball In 2016
November 14, 2014 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State softball program has bolstered its infield depth with the signing of Madeline Porter (Birmingham, Ala./Oak Mountain) and Rebecca Rodriguez (Tucson, Ariz./Sunnyside) to National Letters of Intent according to second-year head coach Tyra Perry.
Porter is a 5-foot-2 middle infielder from Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Ala., while Rodriguez is a 5-foor-1 shortstop from Sunnyside High School in Tuscon, Ariz. Both players will begin their senior seasons in the spring of 2015 and join the Cardinals for the 2016 season.
Porter enters her senior year at Oak Mountain as a .327 career batter, with five home runs, two triples and 88 runs batted in. This past spring, Porter was a starter for the Alabama North/South All-Star game and helped the South jump out to a 2-0 lead in the opening game with a two-run single in the first inning. A two-time All-Over The Mountain honoree, Porter helped guide OMHS to a third-place finish in the regional tournament in 2012. She was also named to the Hoover All-Tournament Team in 2012.
“Madeline is a hidden gem in that she is quiet and laid-back in person, but she is a firecracker on the softball field,” Perry said. “Madeline is extremely versatile and can help us in the middle infield, as well as in the outfield. She is a student of the game and I believe Madeline will make an immediate impact in the classroom and in the MAC.”
"When I first visited Ball State, I had no idea where or what I wanted to do with my life,” Porter said. “But when I got there, I fell in love. I am so excited to be able to continue my softball career at Ball State. I cannot wait to get there and make my dream as a little girl come true."
Rodriguez enters her senior season at Sunnyside as a two-time All-Division 11 pick, earning first team honors as a junior and honorable mention status as a sophomore. She has batted above .400 in each of the last two seasons, while being named team captain as a junior. Rodriguez will also serve as a team captain for her senior campaign.
“Rebecca has one of the best gloves I have seen in a long time,” Perry said. “She is one of those players that cannot go an entire game without getting dirt on her uniform. She plays with her heart and always gives 100 percent. Rebecca comes to us from the Desert Thunder, one of the strongest travel organizations in Arizona. I am excited to add a young lady with her talents to our roster.”
"The opportunity to play college softball at Ball State University is a dream come true,” Rodriguez said. “Not only because I get to be hours away from 105 degree weather, but I get the chance to be a part of a new family"
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