Ferris State Softball Announces 10 Additions For This Coming Year

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad recently announced the addition of 10 student-athletes, who have joined the program this fall and will compete for the Bulldogs in the upcoming year.

The new additions include four transfers in Kirsten Johnson (Lakeview/Muskegon CC), Kaitlin Kolk (Fremont/Muskegon CC), Kylie Masko (Grand Haven/Kellogg CC) and Connor Proctor (Perrinton/Lansing CC) along with six prep additions in Kaitlin Bologna (Shelby Township/Utica Eisenhower), Kaitlyn Nugent (Fortville, Ind./Mt. Vernon), Kaitlyn Orme (Grandville), Sidni Rushford (Reed City), Jessica Tucci (Canton/Plymouth) and Kylie Winkels (Rockford).

"We're excited about the additions of these student-athletes and look forward to working with them over the course of their careers," said FSU head coach Kristin Janes. "We expect this class to blend in well with our returning players as we continue to grow and build in the years to come."

The Bulldogs, in their first season under Janes, closed the 2018 campaign by winning nine of their final 14 games en route to a GLIAC Tournament appearance.

FSU is midst fall workouts and will open the 2019 season officially Feb. 2 at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky.

Below are biographical sketches on each of the new additions:

Kirsten Johnson
5-10, Pitcher/1B
Lakeview, Mich. 

Coached by Daryl Johnson ... Earned all-conference, all-district, all-region and all-state honors in each of her final two prep seasons ... Tabbed as the CSAA Most Outstanding Player ... Three-time all-conference selection ... Was a four-time all-district and all-region honoree ... Earned honors at the utility, shortstop and outfield positions in her prep career ... Claimed all-conference and academic all-america honors at Muskegon Community College last spring ... Coached by Kevin Dalson at MCC ... Played travel softball for the West Michigan Sabercats under Troy Hall ... Also competed in basketball and volleyball on the prep level ... Daughter of Daryl and Jackie Johnson ... Has two sisters ... Plans to major in Risk Management and Insurance.

Kaitlin Kolk
5-5, Catcher
Fremont, Mich. 

Played for Fremont High School on the prep level under coach Mark Bridges ... Three-time first team all-conference honoree ... Was a four-time all-league selection ... Claimed all-district honors three times ... Two-year team captain ... Chosen as team MVP ... Played at Muskegon Community College for Abi Benedict ... Earned the team's Ultimate Jayhawk Award ... Competed on the travel circuit for the Sabercats under Paul Pladies ... Twice claimed her travel team MVP honor ... Also played volleyball, basketball and ran cross country ... Daughter of Marla and Jon Kolk ... Has three siblings ... Plans to major in Medical Laboratory Sciences.

Kylie Masko
5-2, Pitcher
Grand Haven 

Earned all-area honors three times for Grand Haven High School ... Coached by Paul Masko ... Was a three-time all-district choice ... Also a three-time all-conference pick ... Claimed ESPN Play of the Year honors ... Was a "Game-Changer" Player of the Year ... Claimed all-conference and academic all-league honors for Kellogg Community College ... Played on the junior college level for coach Mike Miller ... Hit .361 with 11 doubles and 18 walks last year ... Daughter of Paul and Reyna Masko ... Plans to major in elementary education.

Connor Proctor
5-3, Pitcher
Perrinton, Mich./Fulton 

Coached by Chris Barrus on the prep level at Fulton High School ... Two-Time All-State honoree ... Tallied 1,131 strikeouts in her prep career ... Twice earned first team all-league recognition in both basketball and softball ... Three-time all-conference softball choice ... Played on the junior college level at Lansing Community College for coach Marc Kibby ... Served as LCC's team captain ... Competed on the travel level for the ICE Black organization under coach Gene Munro ... Also served on the student council in high school and was a National Honor Society member ... Daughter of Steve and Amber Proctor ... Has one brother ... Business Administration major.

Kaitlin Bologna
5-7, Outfield/First Base
Shelby Township/Utica Eisenhower 

Competed for Utica Eisenhower High School under coach Robert Hall ... Led team to the school's first-ever district championship in 2017 ... Competed in the MAC Red Conference ... Played both outfield and first base ... Competed for the Michigan Batbusters travel squad ... Coached on the travel level by Augie Tiseo ... Also played volleyball ... Daughter of Frank and Tracy Bologna ... Has one sister, Jillian ... Elementary Education major.

Kaitlyn Nugent
5-10, Pitcher/First Base
Fortville, Ind./Mt. Vernon 

Coached by Veronica Kirby at Mt. Vernon High School ... Competed in the Hoosier Heritage Conference ... Was the team's top Scholar-Athlete ... Earned Marauder of the Year honors in 2018 ... Was an all-state academic choice in both softball and basketball ... Two-Time all-conference honoree ... Also earned all-state and all-county laurels ... Four-year varsity letterwinner ... Tallied an 8-2 pitching mark with 43 strikeouts as a senior ... Also hit .490 with 11 home runs, 41 RBI's and a .937 slugging percentage ... Played travel softball for the Indiana Dreams under coaches Kelsey Rummel and Bill Hackerd ... Served in a variety of organizations, including student government, Spanish Club and the College Prep Club among others ... National Honor Society member ... Also played varsity basketball ... Daughter of Carla and Shawn Nugent ... Has two siblings ... Nursing major.

Kaitlyn Orme
5-8, Pitcher/First Base/Outfield
Grandville, Mich. 

Competed for Grandville High School under coach Troy Ungrey ... Was a three-time all-conference selection ... Helped team to a conference championship as a sophomore ... Twice earned all-district and all-region accolades ... Garnered all-state kudos as a senior ... Led team to a state runner-up finish in Class A as a junior ... Chosen as team MVP in both softball and basketball ... All-Area First Team pick ... Played travel softball for the Diamonds program ... Coached on the travel level by Bernie Butgereit ... Helped team to a ASA State Runner-Up finish ... Also played basketball and was involved in the Women Athletic Leadership Club ... Served on her school's executive board for four years ... Plans to major in Business.

Sidni Rushford
5-8, Pitcher/First Base
Reed City, Mich. 

Competed for coach Roger Steig at Reed City High School ... Tabbed as the school's senior Student-Athlete of the Year ... Four-time all-conference honoree ... Played both first base and pitcher ... Competed in the CSAA Gold Division ... Also played travel ball for the Elite Softball squad ... Coached on the travel level by Shelly Hance (12u), Stacy Vallad (14 & 16u) and Andy Fesseden (16u) ... Played both volleyball and basketball along with softball ... Daughter of Michael and Paula Rushford ... Has one brother, Owen ... Plans to major in Pre-Pharmacy.

Jessica Tucci
5-0, Outfielder
Canton, Mich./Plymouth  

Played for coach Lauren Evans at Plymouth High School ... Three-Time all-conference honoree ... Tabbed as the league's Offensive Player of the Year ... Helped team to back-to-back division and district championships in 2015 and 2016 ... Also led squad to district and regional titles in 2015 and 2018 ... Earned Honor Roll recognition four consecutive years ... Played travel softball for the Turnin2 squad under coach David Langlois ... Helped travel squad to the 2018 Flag City Firecracker Championship and an Eastern National Qualifier performance ... Travel squad also was the runner-up in the 2017 Big Orange Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn. ... Active in volunteer work with soup kitchens and pet therapy ... Daughter of Jim Tucci along with Jan Tucci-Gillick and Brett Gillick ... Has two siblings ... Hospitality Management major.

Kylie Winkels
5-5, Outfielder
Rockford, Mich. 

Coached by Brad Thomas at Rockford High School ... Was an all-conference, all-district, all-area and all-region pick ... Had 72 putouts in the field for Rockford High School as a senior ... Competed in the OK Conference Red Division .... Played in the outfield ... Also played travel ball for the Diamonds program under coach Bernie Butgereit ... Daughter of Tim and Karen Winkels ... Has one sibling, Tyler ... Health Studies major.