CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois head coach Kim Schuette has announced the addition of softball standout Haylee Beck who is set to join the Panther squad for the 2013 season.

“Haylee is a strong kid who loves to play ball,” said Schuette.  “She's an accomplished multi-sport athlete who has speed, a great arm, and power slaps left handed.   She has a lot of experience playing middle infield and with her arm and speed can be a great asset in the grass.”

Haylee played high school softball for coach Josh Carlile at Manteno HS, which is located just north of Kankakee, while also a member of the Team Oak Stars summer ball team for coach Laura Harms.

As a middle infielder and outfielder, Haylee is a four-time all-conference, three-time all-area and multi-year all-state award winner, while also a four-year starter on Manteno's basketball squad where she also earned all-conference and all-area honors.

“She is a very well-rounded player and person who has shown great determination and drive in the goals she sets,” added Schuette.  “She will be a nice addition to our program and representative of Panther softball as she gets it done in the classroom, on the field and in her community.”

Haylee also played volleyball and active as a member of her school's wind ensemble, math club, Panther Nation, M-Club and WYSE Team, while as an Illinois State Scholar and national honor society member at Manteno, she'll enter Eastern as a Presidential Scholar.

A daughter of Kevin and Amy Beck, Haylee chose EIU “because I knew it has a great teaching program, plus, when I walked on the campus I automatically felt comfortable and saw this as a place that I could live for the next four years.  Playing college softball has always been a goal of mine and when I got the chance to talk to the players and coaches at EIU they automatically made me feel welcome and part of the family. I could not be more thrilled to get the chance to play for, and represent, this school and program,” she said.

Haylee joins the previously signed fall recruiting class of Kylie Bennett, Jennette Isaac, and April Markowski.

The Eastern softball squad just ended a fine 2012 campaign at 28-25 (18-10 in conference) as the Panthers earned a second place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference and fifth consecutive appearance at the end-of-season league championship.

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID