DEKALB, Ill. – Tenth-year Northern Illinois University head softball coach Christina Sutcliffe added 11 players for the 2022-23 NIU softball team with the announcement of her signing class.
 
"The 2022 class comes to us as 11 of the strongest players across the country with seven coming from the state of Illinois," NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe said.  "We couldn't be more excited about this class, especially as it was navigated through COVID. They bring a passion for the game that will continue to move our culture in a positive direction. We will add a ton of depth in the circle and outfield while increasing our speed tenfold. Collectively, our future is bright with this class."
 
The 11 players represent five different states, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, California and Wisconsin. Kenzie Barry (Skokie, Ill./Loyola Academy), Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone H.S.), Kiley Conner (St. John, Ind./Lake Central H.S.), Cara Cruthers (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin H.S.), Emma Giese (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail H.S.), Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher H.S.), Trinity Jones Estrada (Sylmar, Calif./John F. Kennedy H.S.), Brianna Pechman (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community H.S.), Ally Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East H.S.), Mia Ruder (Herscher, Ill./Herscher H.S.) and Dee Dee Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East H.S.) have signed letters of intent to continue their education and softball careers at NIU.
 
Kenzie Barry (Skokie, Ill./Loyola Academy) • P/1B
• Two-year letterwinner on Ramblers softball team.
• Named team captain as a junior.
• Selected team MVP in 2021.
• Career record of 34-9 with 279.1 innings pitched in two seasons.
• Garnered first team all-conference and first team all-area by the Chicago Tribune as a junior.
• Third team all-state honoree in 2021.
• Played for the Dennison Silverhawks, which took first place at the Battle of the Boarders and Indy Firecracker.
• Loyola Scholar in Spring of 2020.
 
Sutcliffe on Barry
"In the last few years, Kenzie has developed into a dominant force on the mound for the Silverhawks. She is a phenomenal team player and shines under pressure. Additionally, Kenzie's competitive nature serves her well offensively as she will also provide power in our lineup and compete to play first base."
 
Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone H.S.) • P
• Two-year letterwinner for the Wildcats.
• Posted a career record 32-1 in 33 career games.
• Allowed 47 runs, 35 earned in 182.2 innings pitched in two years.
• Named first team all-conference in 2021 and honorable mention honors in 2019.
• Posted a 30-1 record as a member of the Ohio Division 2 State Champion Keystone High School Wildcats.
• Member of 2019 Ohio Division 2 Regional Champion team that finished third in state.
• Played for the Ohio Hawks and Pennsylvania Strikers softball clubs.
 
Sutcliffe on Cassell
"Lily knows how to win and leads her teams in the circle. Winning a state championship at Keystone and competing nationally with both the OH Hawks and PA Strikers will get her ready to compete for innings on the mound. We look forward to seeing Lily continue to grow as a player over the next four years."
 
Kiley Conner (St. John, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) • OF
• Three-year varsity letterwinner at Lake Central.
• Garnered all-conference honors in 2021
• Batted a career-high .393 while driving in 24 runs as a junior.
• Of her 33 hits in 2021, 17 went for extra bases including nine doubles and four triples and four home runs.
• Member of the 2021 state runner-up Lake Central Indians which finished 31-2.
• Participated for the Windy City Ice, Tinley Park Rockers and the Tennessee Mojo softball teams.
 
Sutcliffe on Conner
"Kiley plays at the highest level of competition year round, both at Lake Central High School and for the Mojo travel organization. She will compete to take over patrolling the outfield in centerfield. At the plate, Kiley is a power threat that we are excited to watch develop over the next four years here."
 
Cara Cruthers (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin H.S.) • UTL
• Two-year letterwinner South Elgin Storm.
• Member of back-to-back Upstate Eight Conference championship teams.
• Career .430 hitter with 68 hits in 158 at bats with 35 going for extra bases.
• Tallied six home runs in each of her last two seasons with the Storm.
• Garnered All-Upstate Eight Conference honors as a freshman and junior.
• Named to the High Honor Roll from 2017-21 and an Illinois State Scholar in the fall semester of 2021.
• Currently plays for the Wasco Diamonds (2018-present) which placed third at the PGF Nationals in July 2021.
• Grandfather Mike Szucs played on Purdue's 1967 Rose Bowl Team.
 
Sutcliffe on Cruthers
"Cara comes to us from the Wasco Diamonds with a solid knowledge of the game and a work ethic that will lead her class. She will compete to play at third, short, second, outfield, and behind the plate. Cara has a canon of an arm and a power packed swing we couldn't be more excited to add to our roster."
 
Emma Giese (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail H.S.) • UTL
• Three-year letterwinner for the Indian Trail Hawks.
• Two-sport athlete, participates in softball and cross country.
• Named a team captain on the softball team for 2021 and 2022
• Earned first-team all-conference, all-are and all-state honors in 2021.
• Garnered team MVP honors as a junior after batting .494 38 hits in 77 at bats.
• Hit 10 home runs and drove in 43 RBIs in her junior year, both school records.
• Member of the Wisconsin Lightening softball club team.
• Excels in the classroom, named to the Honor Roll both semesters in each of the last three years.
 
Sutcliffe on Giese
"Emma's energy on the field is contagious for the WI Lightning. We look for her to bring that leadership and energy to NIU as she works to lead the middle infield. She puts her heart into every pitch during the game. Emma will also provide pop at the plate that will become RBI producing for the Huskies."
 
Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher H.S.) • UTL
• Two-year letterwinner for the Herscher Tigers.
• Named team captain in 2021.
• Garnered all-conference and all-area by the Daily Journal in 2019 and 2021.
• Earned first team all-state honors by the IHSA in 2021 and third team accolades in 2019.
• Gained membership to the National Honors Society in spring of 2021.
• Named to the Honor Roll both semesters in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
• Plays for Orland Park A's softball team.
• Volunteers at Feed My Starving Children.
 
Sutcliffe on Harman
"Rylie will bring needed versatility to our roster and compete to break into the lineup either at third, outfield, or behind the plate. Her love for the game is easily identified while playing for the Orland Park A's. The offensive consistency that Rylie provides at the plate will instantly make our lineup better."
 
Trinity Jones Estrada (Sylmar, Calif./John F. Kennedy H.S.) • C/INF
• Two-year letterwinner for the Cougars of John F. Kennedy.
• Career .445 hitter with 33 hits, 15 for extra bases in two seasons.
• Tallied a career-high six doubles in 2021.
• Recorded 16 RBIs as a freshman in 2019, a career best.
• Involved with the Black Student Alliance and Chicano Studies clubs at John F. Kennedy.
• Played softball for 15 since Feb. 2021.
 
Sutcliffe on Jones Estrada
"Trinity will provide depth for us defensively, both behind the plate and in the middle infield. Her vocality and leadership on the field sets her apart. Trinity comes from a competitive west coast travel schedule playing for I5, so she will be well prepared for the competition she'll face at the collegiate level."
 
Brianna Pechman (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community H.S.) • OF
• Two-sport athlete, competing in volleyball and softball.
• Earned two letters in softball, three in volleyball.
• Garnered all-conference accolades in softball in 2019 and 2021.
• School record holder in batting average (.629), stolen bases (69), which also led IHSA, hits (73), runs (57), triples (4), slugging pct. (.707), on base percentage (.674) and OPS (1.381) set in 2021.
• Gained membership into the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.
• Earned High Honor Roll accolades all six semesters of her high school career.
• Played five years for the Dennison Silverhawks, leading the team in hits, runs, batting average and stolen bases in multiple years.
 
Sutcliffe on Pechman
"Bri's speed is an asset that we are excited to add to our roster, both in the outfield and offensively. While playing for the Silverhawks, she has continued to develop all facets of her game, creating havoc on the bases and expanding her range in the outfield. Bri is a student of the game who is always looking to improve."
 
Ally Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East H.S.) • OF
• Two-year varsity letterwinner at Plainfield East.
• Earned all-conference honors in 2021.
• Batted .256 with 22 hits, four four extra bases in 86 at bats.
• Named to the honor roll the previous six semesters.
• Gained membership into the National Honor Society.
• Competed with the Chicago Batbusters softball club 11u-18u.
• Sister Amberly is a current member of the NIU softball team.
 
Sutcliffe on Rodriguez
"We've had the fortune of watching Ally grow over the last five years while she has competed for the Chicago Batbusters She comes to us with solid fundamentals and our staff is excited to coach her in the outfield as she competes to take over centerfield. She is methodical at the plate and looks to master her craft."
 
Mia Ruder (Herscher, Ill./Herscher H.S.) • OF
• Two-year letterwinner for the Herscher Tigers.
• Earned all-conference and all-area accolades as a freshman and junior.
• Two-time all-state selection, earning first team honors in 2021 and third team accolades in 2019.
• Honor roll student.
• Also lettered in basketball.
• Gained membership into the National Honor Society.
• Plays for Premier Fastpitch softball club.
 
Sutcliffe on Ruder
"Mia is a defense's nightmare. Her ability to read the defense combined with her speed has led to her being an offensive sparkplug while playing for Premier Fastpitch. Mia will make an immediate impact on our offensive production and her range in the outfield will strengthen our defense."
 
Danielle "Dee Dee" Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East H.S.) • UTL
• Two-year letterwinner for the Lincoln Way Griffins
• Earned all-conference accolades as a junior.
• Garnered second team all-area honors and third team all-state awards in 2021.
• Honor roll student.
• Gained membership into the National Honor Society and Math Honor Society.
• Plays for Orland Park A's softball team.
 
Sutcliffe on Stewart
"Also playing for the Orland Park A's, Dee Dee's ceiling for success is limitless. She will provide depth at every position on the field, including in the circle. She has developed into a pitcher that continuously keeps hitters off balance. Dee Dee also provides tremendous power at the plate that can change the game with every swing."
 
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