University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Hermanek Adds Two Transfers to 2019 Roster
12/13/2018 5:47:00 PM | Softball
Transfers from Utah and Elon to Join the 2019 Roster
PITTSBURGH – Pitt softball head coach Jodi Hermanek announced Thursday the addition of two transfers to the Panthers 2019 roster.
Walker Barbee, a junior from Elon University, and Chandler Walter, a sophomore from the University of Utah, will both be eligible to compete in the spring season.
"The coaching staff is excited about the mature experience these two student-athletes bring to our roster," said Hermanek. "They are quality people who will excel academically and contribute athletically."
Walker Barbee / Catcher / Oakboro, N.C. / Elon University / West Stanly High School
AT ELON (2018)
Played in 41 games with 31 starts mostly at catcher … Threw out eight stolen base attempts … Had a season-best two hits at North Carolina … Drove in a season-high three RBIs versus Drexel and also belted her first career homerun in that game … Added another two RBIs versus Princeton.
AT ELON (2017)
Played in 25 games with 12 starts ... Registered a .195 average with eight hits and a double ... Also scored a pair of runs and drove in five RBIs ... Had two multi-hit games … Went 2-for-3 with a double versus Norfolk State ... Had two hits and a season-best three RBIs versus UNCG … Registered 28 putouts with a .967 fielding percentage … NFCA Academic All-American and CAA Commissioner Academic Honor Role member.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended West Stanly High School … Team went 91-20 over four years … Team won three conference championships and one state championship … Three-time All-Conference, All-District and All-State honoree … Three-time West Stanly MVP … Two-time Conference Player of the Year … Also competed in basketball and swimming.
CLUB
Played for Carolina Elite 18U.
PERSONAL
Daughter of Kelly and Mandy Barbee … Has one sibling, Shelby.
HERMANEK ON BARBEE
"Walker is a true catcher that will provide us with depth and Division I experience behind the plate."
BARBEE ON PITT
"I love the game of softball and having the opportunity to play for a highly successful ACC program is a dream come true. Pitt is a highly competitive academic school in a beautifully historic city and I cannot wait to continue my academic and athletic career here."
Chandler Walter / Infield / Chandler, Ariz. / University of Utah / Perry High School
AT UTAH (2018)
Played in 31 games with 27 starts at shortstop and first base ... Registered a .182 batting average with five doubles … Had two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs versus No. 3 UCLA ... Had the first two runs batted in of her career in a contest against No. 11 Tennessee ... Notched her first hit in the season opener versus New Mexico ... Recorded her first multi-hit game in a win over Syracuse, adding a run ... Had her first double in a game against Nebraska ... Scored her first run in a win over Saint Mary's ... Had a pair of hits, including a double, in a win at Maryland ... Drove in a pair with a double in a win over Yale ... Scored two runs in a game for the first time in a win over Stanford ... Smacked a two-run double in a win over Southern Utah.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Perry High School and competed in 6A, Division 1 … Led Perry High School JV team to 16-0 record in her freshman year … Offensive Player, Co-MVP and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, CUSD – First Team, 6A Division 1 All Selection First Team, 6A –All Division Honorable Mention in her sophomore year … Female Athlete of the Year, CUSD – First Team , 6A Division 1 All Section Second Team, Dave Kopps Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team in her junior season … Co-MVP and Female Scholar-Athlete of the year, CUSD – First Team, 6A Premier First Team, 6A All Conference Second Team and PGF Rocky Mountain Region All-American in her senior year … Led her team to first place in the Premier Division and third in the state in her senior season … Academic letterwinner in senior year.
CLUB
Played for the Arizona Athletics-Householder from 2014 to 2016 … Played for the AZ Firecrackers-Hinkle from 2016 to 2017.
PERSONAL
Daughter of Lori and Kevin Walter … Has two siblings, Ted and Lindsey.
HERMANEK ON WALTER
"Chandler brings a high level of experience to our roster as a PAC-12 transfer. We anticipate Chandler will deliver an impact right away to our infield while also offering offensive power."
WALTER ON PITT
"I chose the University of Pittsburgh for many reasons. I love the city of Pittsburgh, with all of its interesting architecture, and the University itself offers a great education that aligns with my degree. Additionally, I love how the coaches value hard work and having a family atmosphere. After meeting with the team, I knew I wanted to be a part of this great program."
The Panthers return 15 players from a roster that won its first ACC Coastal Division Championship in program history a season ago. Returning to the team are seniors Sarah Dawson, Marissa DeMatteo, Gabrielle Fredericks, Olivia Gray, Taylor Myers, Taylor Rahach, Alexis Solak and Nava Susi, juniors Alexee Haynes, Kaitlyn Kruger and Connor McGaffic, redshirt sophomore Brittany Knight and sophomores Morgan Batesole, Brie Horrell and Hunter Levesque.
Among the returnees are multiple key contributors to last year's success. Kruger earned NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region Third Team recognition a season ago, while Gray received First Team All-ACC honors, Levesque was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and Dawson earned ACC All-Tournament Team accolades.
The Panthers also welcome four freshmen to the team in Hannah Bach, Abby Edwards, Katlyn Pavlick and Sarah Seamans.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Walker Barbee, a junior from Elon University, and Chandler Walter, a sophomore from the University of Utah, will both be eligible to compete in the spring season.
"The coaching staff is excited about the mature experience these two student-athletes bring to our roster," said Hermanek. "They are quality people who will excel academically and contribute athletically."
Walker Barbee / Catcher / Oakboro, N.C. / Elon University / West Stanly High School
AT ELON (2018)
Played in 41 games with 31 starts mostly at catcher … Threw out eight stolen base attempts … Had a season-best two hits at North Carolina … Drove in a season-high three RBIs versus Drexel and also belted her first career homerun in that game … Added another two RBIs versus Princeton.
AT ELON (2017)
Played in 25 games with 12 starts ... Registered a .195 average with eight hits and a double ... Also scored a pair of runs and drove in five RBIs ... Had two multi-hit games … Went 2-for-3 with a double versus Norfolk State ... Had two hits and a season-best three RBIs versus UNCG … Registered 28 putouts with a .967 fielding percentage … NFCA Academic All-American and CAA Commissioner Academic Honor Role member.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended West Stanly High School … Team went 91-20 over four years … Team won three conference championships and one state championship … Three-time All-Conference, All-District and All-State honoree … Three-time West Stanly MVP … Two-time Conference Player of the Year … Also competed in basketball and swimming.
CLUB
Played for Carolina Elite 18U.
PERSONAL
Daughter of Kelly and Mandy Barbee … Has one sibling, Shelby.
HERMANEK ON BARBEE
"Walker is a true catcher that will provide us with depth and Division I experience behind the plate."
BARBEE ON PITT
"I love the game of softball and having the opportunity to play for a highly successful ACC program is a dream come true. Pitt is a highly competitive academic school in a beautifully historic city and I cannot wait to continue my academic and athletic career here."
Chandler Walter / Infield / Chandler, Ariz. / University of Utah / Perry High School
AT UTAH (2018)
Played in 31 games with 27 starts at shortstop and first base ... Registered a .182 batting average with five doubles … Had two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs versus No. 3 UCLA ... Had the first two runs batted in of her career in a contest against No. 11 Tennessee ... Notched her first hit in the season opener versus New Mexico ... Recorded her first multi-hit game in a win over Syracuse, adding a run ... Had her first double in a game against Nebraska ... Scored her first run in a win over Saint Mary's ... Had a pair of hits, including a double, in a win at Maryland ... Drove in a pair with a double in a win over Yale ... Scored two runs in a game for the first time in a win over Stanford ... Smacked a two-run double in a win over Southern Utah.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Perry High School and competed in 6A, Division 1 … Led Perry High School JV team to 16-0 record in her freshman year … Offensive Player, Co-MVP and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, CUSD – First Team, 6A Division 1 All Selection First Team, 6A –All Division Honorable Mention in her sophomore year … Female Athlete of the Year, CUSD – First Team , 6A Division 1 All Section Second Team, Dave Kopps Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team in her junior season … Co-MVP and Female Scholar-Athlete of the year, CUSD – First Team, 6A Premier First Team, 6A All Conference Second Team and PGF Rocky Mountain Region All-American in her senior year … Led her team to first place in the Premier Division and third in the state in her senior season … Academic letterwinner in senior year.
CLUB
Played for the Arizona Athletics-Householder from 2014 to 2016 … Played for the AZ Firecrackers-Hinkle from 2016 to 2017.
PERSONAL
Daughter of Lori and Kevin Walter … Has two siblings, Ted and Lindsey.
HERMANEK ON WALTER
"Chandler brings a high level of experience to our roster as a PAC-12 transfer. We anticipate Chandler will deliver an impact right away to our infield while also offering offensive power."
WALTER ON PITT
"I chose the University of Pittsburgh for many reasons. I love the city of Pittsburgh, with all of its interesting architecture, and the University itself offers a great education that aligns with my degree. Additionally, I love how the coaches value hard work and having a family atmosphere. After meeting with the team, I knew I wanted to be a part of this great program."
The Panthers return 15 players from a roster that won its first ACC Coastal Division Championship in program history a season ago. Returning to the team are seniors Sarah Dawson, Marissa DeMatteo, Gabrielle Fredericks, Olivia Gray, Taylor Myers, Taylor Rahach, Alexis Solak and Nava Susi, juniors Alexee Haynes, Kaitlyn Kruger and Connor McGaffic, redshirt sophomore Brittany Knight and sophomores Morgan Batesole, Brie Horrell and Hunter Levesque.
Among the returnees are multiple key contributors to last year's success. Kruger earned NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region Third Team recognition a season ago, while Gray received First Team All-ACC honors, Levesque was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and Dawson earned ACC All-Tournament Team accolades.
The Panthers also welcome four freshmen to the team in Hannah Bach, Abby Edwards, Katlyn Pavlick and Sarah Seamans.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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