CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University softball team has added catcher Emma Anthony to the team’s 2021 signing class, head coach Kerri Blaylock announced Wednesday.
Anthony comes to SIU by way of East Carolina, where she appeared in 22 games, which included nine starts, as a true freshman. The Bradenton, Fla. native tallied three hits, which included her first collegiate home run, to go along with three runs scored and four RBI.
Anthony, who will have three years of eligibility remaining, played her prep ball at Lakewood Ranch, where she helped lead the Mustangs to a 30-1 overall record in 2019 as well as a spot in the Florida 8A state championship game and a No. 1 national ranking by MaxPreps. After her senior season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Anthony helped her travel ball team, the Tampa Mustangs 18U TJ, go 40-4 and claim a fifth-place trophy at the 2020 USA Softball GOLD National Championships in Oklahoma. The Mustangs tallied top-five finishes in four of the last five years at national championship events.
“We are so excited that Emma chose to transfer to SIU,” Blaylock said. “We recruited Emma several years ago and when I saw her name go in the portal I decided to reach out. Emma fits in our culture so well. She is a good student, great softball player and she has played in big games during her travel ball career.”
Anthony joins a 2021 signing class that includes outfielder/first baseman Addi Baker (North Manchester, Ind.), outfielder Emma Austin (Brookport, Ill.), pitcher/designated player Alexis Rudd (Greenwood, Ind.), utility player Reagan McGahey (Charleston, Ill.) and outfielder/second baseman Chloe Scroggins (Danvers, Ill.).
Emma Anthony Bio
2021 // Freshman (East Carolina)
Appeared in 22 games, which included nine starts … made her first collegiate start at Coastal Carolina (2/21) and went 1-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and 2 RBI … went 1-for-1 with a RBI at Liberty (3/5).
High School
Helped lead the Mustangs to a 30-1 overall record in 2019 as well as a spot in the Florida 8A state championship game and a No. 1 national ranking by MaxPreps … Batted .525 as a freshman at Braden River High School with 31 hits, 28 RBI, eight doubles, six home runs and eight stolen bases on the way to all-area accolades and honorable mention all-state recognition … Hit .355 her sophomore year when Braden River posted a 22-6 record and advanced to the Florida 7A regional finals … Compiled a .457 batting average with a .562 on base percentage and 46 RBI during the first two seasons of her prep career … Part of a Tampa Mustangs club that finished third overall at the 2019 PGF Premier 18U Nationals and was ranked No. 2 nationally at the end of the season.
