The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Jimmy Kolaitis Announces First Signing Class
11/16/2018 4:21:00 PM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB head softball coach Jimmy Kolaitis announced the addition of five newcomers as part of UAB's 2019 signing class on Friday afternoon.
Jaycee Cook, Gabi Apiag, Chloe Bahruth, Kendall Jennings and Samantha Bean make up the class and will be eligible to compete beginning in the 2019-20 academic year. The class is ranked by Extra Inning Softball as the 48th best in the nation.
"We are excited about our first class at UAB," Kolaitis said. "This is an extremely talented group that will fill our immediate needs and have a chance to compete for early playing time. Not only do they exemplify what we are looking for on the field, but they are great young ladies that will help us to continue to build the culture at UAB."
The Blazer softball program is heading into a new era under Kolaitis, who takes over the program following five seasons as an assistant coach at Oregon. During his time in Eugene, the Ducks went to four Women's College World Series and won four Pac 12 Conference titles.
Learn more about the Blazer signees below.
Gabi Apiag
The 90th ranked player in the 2019 class, according to Extra Inning Softball, Apiag plays her high school softball for Northside High School under the direction of Brandon Jenkins. She led the Patriots to region championships in 2015, '16, '17 and '18, while winning a state title in 2017.
The Columbus Ga., native was named to the All-West Georgia team for four seasons and made First Team All-State in 2017 and Second Team All-State in 2016. In 2017, Apiag hit .380 with a .424 on-base percentage, 41 hits, four home runs, 22 RBI, 40 runs scored and 30 stolen bases.
Apiag played club softball for the Georgia Impact.
Jaycee Cook
Cook is a pitcher from Mansfield, Texas, who Extra Inning Softball ranks as No. 162 on its Extra Elite 100. Cook plays her high school ball at Mansfield Legacy High School under Amie Prater. From 2016-18, Cook compiled a 31-9 record over 252 innings pitched with 286 strikeouts and 16 saves. The right-hander owns the school record for strikeouts per game at 17 and led the Broncos to the post-season in each of her first three seasons.
She was named the District 10-5A Pitcher of the Year and earned nods to TGCA All-State, Academic All-District, 2018 DFW FP All-Metroplex Team and the 2018 Dallas Morning News All-Area Team.
Cook led her club team, Texas Glory, to the USA Elite Select World FastPitch Championship in 2018 and had an ERA of 0.93 over 30 innings. She played alongside fellow UAB signee Kendall Jennings.
Chloe Bahruth
The Claremont, Calif. native joins the Blazers signing class as an outfielder from Glendora High School, playing for Mike Quiroz. During the 2018 season, Bahruth hit .311 with 30 RBI and five home runs.
She has been named First Team All-League, San Gabriel Valley All Star and First Team All-Area twice while earning the 2017 and 2018 Offensive Player of the Year award. Bahruth set the single season school record in RBI in 2017 with 31. She led the Tartans to the Palomares League championship in 2017 as well.
Kendall Jennings
Jennings comes to UAB from Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas, playing for co-head coaches Mark Larriba and Alison Baird. The infielder was named to the 2018 Second Team DFW FP All Metroplex Team, the 2018 Dallas Morning News All-Area Third Team and was the 2018 District 5-6A Co-MVP.
She led the Jaguars to the playoffs each of her first three seasons and plays with fellow Blazer signee Jaycee Cook on the Texas Glory club team.
Samantha Bean
The Rockwall, Texas, native joins the Blazer softball program out of Rockwall High School where she led her team to the third round of the state playoffs in each of her first three seasons. Under the direction of head coach Shadie Acosta, Bean has been a varsity starter every season and has racked up multiple awards.
She was a 2016 All-Academic team member for district 11-6A while being named to the 11-6A Honorable Mention team that season as well. In 2017, she again earned all-academic honors and was selected to the First Team All-District before being named the Catcher of the Year in 2018. Bean earned all-academic and all-district honors in 2018 as well.
Jaycee Cook, Gabi Apiag, Chloe Bahruth, Kendall Jennings and Samantha Bean make up the class and will be eligible to compete beginning in the 2019-20 academic year. The class is ranked by Extra Inning Softball as the 48th best in the nation.
"We are excited about our first class at UAB," Kolaitis said. "This is an extremely talented group that will fill our immediate needs and have a chance to compete for early playing time. Not only do they exemplify what we are looking for on the field, but they are great young ladies that will help us to continue to build the culture at UAB."
The Blazer softball program is heading into a new era under Kolaitis, who takes over the program following five seasons as an assistant coach at Oregon. During his time in Eugene, the Ducks went to four Women's College World Series and won four Pac 12 Conference titles.
Learn more about the Blazer signees below.
Gabi Apiag
The 90th ranked player in the 2019 class, according to Extra Inning Softball, Apiag plays her high school softball for Northside High School under the direction of Brandon Jenkins. She led the Patriots to region championships in 2015, '16, '17 and '18, while winning a state title in 2017.
The Columbus Ga., native was named to the All-West Georgia team for four seasons and made First Team All-State in 2017 and Second Team All-State in 2016. In 2017, Apiag hit .380 with a .424 on-base percentage, 41 hits, four home runs, 22 RBI, 40 runs scored and 30 stolen bases.
Apiag played club softball for the Georgia Impact.
Jaycee Cook
Cook is a pitcher from Mansfield, Texas, who Extra Inning Softball ranks as No. 162 on its Extra Elite 100. Cook plays her high school ball at Mansfield Legacy High School under Amie Prater. From 2016-18, Cook compiled a 31-9 record over 252 innings pitched with 286 strikeouts and 16 saves. The right-hander owns the school record for strikeouts per game at 17 and led the Broncos to the post-season in each of her first three seasons.
She was named the District 10-5A Pitcher of the Year and earned nods to TGCA All-State, Academic All-District, 2018 DFW FP All-Metroplex Team and the 2018 Dallas Morning News All-Area Team.
Cook led her club team, Texas Glory, to the USA Elite Select World FastPitch Championship in 2018 and had an ERA of 0.93 over 30 innings. She played alongside fellow UAB signee Kendall Jennings.
Chloe Bahruth
The Claremont, Calif. native joins the Blazers signing class as an outfielder from Glendora High School, playing for Mike Quiroz. During the 2018 season, Bahruth hit .311 with 30 RBI and five home runs.
She has been named First Team All-League, San Gabriel Valley All Star and First Team All-Area twice while earning the 2017 and 2018 Offensive Player of the Year award. Bahruth set the single season school record in RBI in 2017 with 31. She led the Tartans to the Palomares League championship in 2017 as well.
Kendall Jennings
Jennings comes to UAB from Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas, playing for co-head coaches Mark Larriba and Alison Baird. The infielder was named to the 2018 Second Team DFW FP All Metroplex Team, the 2018 Dallas Morning News All-Area Third Team and was the 2018 District 5-6A Co-MVP.
She led the Jaguars to the playoffs each of her first three seasons and plays with fellow Blazer signee Jaycee Cook on the Texas Glory club team.
Samantha Bean
The Rockwall, Texas, native joins the Blazer softball program out of Rockwall High School where she led her team to the third round of the state playoffs in each of her first three seasons. Under the direction of head coach Shadie Acosta, Bean has been a varsity starter every season and has racked up multiple awards.
She was a 2016 All-Academic team member for district 11-6A while being named to the 11-6A Honorable Mention team that season as well. In 2017, she again earned all-academic honors and was selected to the First Team All-District before being named the Catcher of the Year in 2018. Bean earned all-academic and all-district honors in 2018 as well.
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