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Softball action vs KC 700.4836 Leatherneck Softball hosts University of Missouri-Kansas City at Mary Ellen McKee stadium in Macomb, Ill. on Sunday, April 23, 2023. The team celebrated the senior players ahead of the last home game of the season.
Rachael Keating

Coach Goler, WIU Softball Announce 6 Signees in Class of 2024

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
MACOMB, IL – On Wednesday, Western Illinois' Softball Head Coach Alisa Goler announced six new additions to the class of 2024. Four players, Raegan Boone, Audrey Clark, Libby Spaulding, and Ruby Tarr, are all from the state of Illinois, while recruits Katie Green and Ali Williams call Maryland and Missouri their home states, respectively. 

Coach Goler expressed her excitement about the newcomers, saying, "We are so excited about this class that will be joining our family in August 2024. Each of these young women are excellent softball players, who have also proven to be very diligent in the classroom. These six are a perfect mix of competitiveness, wanting the ball in the big moments, and have love for the game. We know that they'll fit in immediately with the culture we have been building over the last three years."
 
Raegan Boone, from Effingham, Illinois, officially joins the program after playing at Effingham High School, as well as travel ball experience with Premier Fastpitch, Midland Magic, and the Illinois Force. An outfielder who also plays second base, Boone is coming off of a junior season highlighted by a school record 34 stolen bases. Her academic achievements include being named to the High Honor Roll, a member of the National Honor Society, as well as being a member of the school's academic Hall of Fame.

Boone helped lead the Flaming Hearts to a first round regional win, hitting a walk-off double that Raegan stated was one of her favorite memories in softball. 

"Western is a place where as soon as I stepped onto campus I loved it," said Boone. She stated that the small-town feel of Macomb is something she is looking forward to, and that she "absolutely loves the coaches and the way the atmosphere feels at Western."

A pitcher and third baseman from Odin, Illinois, Audrey Clark officially signs with the Leathernecks on Wednesday. Clark attends Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese, IL, and has also played travel ball with Illinois Force and Aces Fastpitch. Clark has been named to the High Honor Roll and also is a member of the National Honor Society. Clark credited her mother as a big influencer to her softball and academic career, saying "My mom taught me to never give up, and play for the love of the game, not the stats I could build up." 

Clark said her favorite softball memory would be participating in the World Fastpitch Championship tournament, and said coach Ralph Santana helped her grow as a player. 

Clark also commented on her decision to come to Western, saying "As soon as I stepped on campus and met the coaches, I knew they would have my best interest in mind and would help me become a better player and person."

Katie Green, a right handed pitcher from Ellicott City, Maryland, will also join the Leathernecks in 2024. Green played travel ball with LLG, attended Howard High, where she was named to the school's Honor Roll, and was a member of the National Honor Society, and was named to First Team All-County. Green shared a few of her favorite memories in softball, including making state quarterfinals as a sophomore, and striking out 16 batters in a single game her junior year. 

In her decision to choose to continue her athletic and academic career, Green stated "I chose WIU because of how invested everyone is in the school, and especially athletics. The sense of community is super strong, and I love the small-town feel."

A native of Bourbonnais, Illinois, Libby Spaulding will join the Leathernecks in 2024. Spaulding is a left-handed pitcher who also plays first base. Libby attends Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, where she has been on High Honor Roll and is a member of the National Honor Society. Libby helped lead the Boilermakers to their first-ever sectional championship as a junior, and has accumulated a multitude of awards, including an IHSA First Team All-State selection All-Area Player of the Year, Southwest Suburban Conference Player of the Year, all as a junior. 

Spaulding noted that her father and grandfather were major influences on her softball career, stating "My dad and grandpa introduced me to the game and encouraged me to become a pitcher." Spaulding says she "Can't wait to join the softball family at Western", and that she "really enjoyed the environment when she stepped on campus."

Ruby Tarr, a shortstop/third baseman from Sidney, Illinois, signed with the Leathernecks on Wednesday. Ruby attends Unity High in Tolono, where she is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Tarr was the ninth ranked prospect in the state, from Legacy & Legends' March 2023 rankings, and played travel ball with Midstate Madness, IL Ruthless, and IL Firecrackers. Tarr has helped the Rockets reach the state finals in both 2021 and 2022, while she's picked up All-Area honors and IPC All-Conference honors.

When asked about a major influence on her playing career, Tarr stated that "Coach Matt Reed has been my coach since I was 11 years old, and he has never stopped believing in me. He is currently the assistant principal at my high school. Kelley Cervantes has been my go to person for everything inside and outside of the white lines."

"After coming for the visit, I fell in love with the campus, the coaches, and it all around felt like it could be home," Tarr said of her visit to WIU. "All of my boxes were checked at Western Illinois University."

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Alijah "Ali" Williams will join the Leatherneck softball team as the lone catcher in the class of 2024. Williams attended Liberty North High School, and played travel softball with Aces Fastpitch. At Liberty North, Williams was named Academic All-State, has been a four-year Academic Letterwinner, and is a member of the National Honor Society. Williams was named to Second Team All-District in 2022, and stated that her favorite softball memory was placing fifth in the Independent State Tournament (IDT) with the Aces in 2022.

"I chose Western for the atmosphere, everyone here is so supportive and excited," said Williams. "I also chose Western because of its distance from home and the ability for my family to continue to watch me do what I love, and I love the amazing coaching staff and opportunities they have given me."

As the team has concluded fall play, keep an eye out for the 2024 schedule to release in the near future!
 
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