University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Six Iowans Added to UNI Softball
11/15/2018 9:04:00 AM | Softball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – University of Northern Iowa head softball coach Ryan Jacobs has announced the signing of six student-athletes that will join the Panther softball program in 2020.
The Panthers have signed six girls in this recruiting class, all from the state of Iowa. New to the Panther program are Macy Akers (West Liberty High School), Angie Gorkow (Benton Community High School), Samantha Heyer (Charles City High School), Taylor Hogan (Waterloo Columbus High School), Sammy Moss (Mount Vernon High School), and Madison Parks (Pella High School).
"We are adding six outstanding young ladies to our program, all of them are very talented, and most of all great people," stated Coach Jacobs. "Each one of them is a multi-sport athlete and come from winning programs. This group is all from the state of Iowa and one of the most versatile groups we have ever recruited."
Macy Akers, Outfield/Infield
West Liberty Iowa, West Liberty High School
Macy Akers has been a four-year letter winner at West Liberty High School entering her senior year. Starting as an eighth grader for the Comets, Akers has earned all-conference honors each of her four years. Along with her all-conference honors, Akers secured all-state recognition in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Over the last two seasons, Akers has recorded a .472 batting average while batting in 60 runs. Akers is a multiple sport athlete for the Comets, earning all-state honors in volleyball and all-conference honors in basketball and golf throughout her high school career.
"Macy is a versatile defender, and can play short game or swing away from the left side of the plate, said Jacobs. "Her athleticism is very high and it shows with her all-state and all-conference honors in four sports. When she puts all her focus on one sport, she could make some very big developmental strides very quickly."
Angie Gorkow, Infielder
Norway, Iowa, Benton Community High School
Angie Gorkow has earned four varsity letters for softball at Benton Community High school. Not only did Gorkow play as an eighth grader but she earned first team all-conference recognition. An impressive start to high school career, Gorkow only improved, earning second team all-state honors as a freshman. Benton moved from 3A to 4A in Gorkow's sophomore season, while facing larger schools Gorkow continued to dominate, earning first team all-state recognition. Benton moved back down to 3A for her junior season and again captured a first team all-state honor. Gorkow is a member of the National Honor Society and also competes in volleyball.
"Angie is a tremendous hitter with power who will impact our line up quickly," stated Jacobs. "Her ability to play a few different positions on the field will help our defensive depth around the field. Angie's passion for UNI was clear when she first visited campus, we are excited to have her in the program."
Samantha Heyer, Pitcher
Charles City, Iowa, Charles City High School
Samantha Heyer has played the last three seasons at Charles City High School, helping her team to the state tournament each season. As a freshman, Heyer helped Charles City to a regional championship and a fifth-place finish in the state tournament. As a sophomore, Heyer earned third team all-state recognition while leading Charles City to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament. Last season, as a junior, Heyer again led her team to the state tournament and earned first team all-state honors. Heyer is a member of the National Honor Society and also competes in volleyball, basketball, and track and field.
"Sami is a strikeout pitcher who has led her team to the Iowa State Tournament the past two seasons," said Jacobs. "She does a great job of locating her pitches and moving the ball. She will be a great addition to our pitching staff and add a different look for opponents."
Taylor Hogan, Shortstop
Waterloo, Iowa, Waterloo Columbus High School
Taylor Hogan is a four-year varsity starter for the Sailors of Waterloo Columbus. A dominant force from a young age, Hogan earned all-conference honors as an eighth grader in 2015 and was also selected to the all-metro team. Hogan continued her dominant play as a freshman, earning first team all-state honors, picking up the same honor as a sophomore and a junior. A gifted athlete, Hogan was a national qualifier in gymnastics in 2017 and 2018, she has won three state titles in tennis, and was a three-time state qualifier in diving, placing seventh in 2017 and fourth in 2018.
"Taylor is an unbelievable athlete with tremendous commitment and drive to compete, stated Jacobs. "It is amazing at how she is able to participate in so many activities growing up. Even at the next level she will continue to participate in multiple sports on the swimming & diving team."
Sammy Moss, Infielder/Catcher/Utility
Mount Vernon, Iowa, Mount Vernon High School
Sammy Moss has been a four-year varsity starter at Mount Vernon High School entering her senior year. Moss earned a second team all-conference nod as an eighth grader and backed it up with second team all-state recognition as a freshman, scoring 40 runs with 74 hits on the season. Moss finished her sophomore season with a .479 batting average, 65 RBI on 78 hits, and earned first team all-state honors. A dominant season for Moss, she was rewarded by making the all-tournament team at the state tournament. As a junior, Moss recorded a .612 slugging percentage and a .425 batting average to help her earn a second team all-state nod. Moss is a three-sport athlete at Mount Vernon, earning all-conference honors in basketball and soccer.
"Sammy has been an offensive leader in the state for the past three seasons," said Jacobs. "She has been a major part of the run production for a very successful high school program. Defensively she is what I call a Swiss army knife, she has the tools to do whatever we need from catching to middle infield and outfield. She is always so focused on the task at hand."
Madison Parks, Shortstop/Pitcher
Pella, Iowa, Pella High School
Madison Parks is a three-year varsity starter, the last two at Pella High School. As a freshman, Parks played center field and pitched for Sycamore High School before coming to play in Pella as a sophomore. In her first season at Pella, Parks recorded a .418 batting average with 46 hits, 14 doubles and scored 27 runs to earn her second team all-conference honors. As a junior, Parks finished with a .465 on-base percentage with 35 runs on 38 hits. Parks is also a member of the basketball team and has run track for the Dutch.
"Madison will fit into our system very well, she is hard working and does whatever her team needs her to do, " stated Jacobs. "She can play in the infield or outfield and does a great job in the pitching circle. She is a speedy left hand hitter that can slap or lay down a bunt. She has a great mind for the game and hustles everywhere."
The Panthers have signed six girls in this recruiting class, all from the state of Iowa. New to the Panther program are Macy Akers (West Liberty High School), Angie Gorkow (Benton Community High School), Samantha Heyer (Charles City High School), Taylor Hogan (Waterloo Columbus High School), Sammy Moss (Mount Vernon High School), and Madison Parks (Pella High School).
"We are adding six outstanding young ladies to our program, all of them are very talented, and most of all great people," stated Coach Jacobs. "Each one of them is a multi-sport athlete and come from winning programs. This group is all from the state of Iowa and one of the most versatile groups we have ever recruited."
Macy Akers, Outfield/Infield
West Liberty Iowa, West Liberty High School
Macy Akers has been a four-year letter winner at West Liberty High School entering her senior year. Starting as an eighth grader for the Comets, Akers has earned all-conference honors each of her four years. Along with her all-conference honors, Akers secured all-state recognition in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Over the last two seasons, Akers has recorded a .472 batting average while batting in 60 runs. Akers is a multiple sport athlete for the Comets, earning all-state honors in volleyball and all-conference honors in basketball and golf throughout her high school career.
"Macy is a versatile defender, and can play short game or swing away from the left side of the plate, said Jacobs. "Her athleticism is very high and it shows with her all-state and all-conference honors in four sports. When she puts all her focus on one sport, she could make some very big developmental strides very quickly."
Angie Gorkow, Infielder
Norway, Iowa, Benton Community High School
Angie Gorkow has earned four varsity letters for softball at Benton Community High school. Not only did Gorkow play as an eighth grader but she earned first team all-conference recognition. An impressive start to high school career, Gorkow only improved, earning second team all-state honors as a freshman. Benton moved from 3A to 4A in Gorkow's sophomore season, while facing larger schools Gorkow continued to dominate, earning first team all-state recognition. Benton moved back down to 3A for her junior season and again captured a first team all-state honor. Gorkow is a member of the National Honor Society and also competes in volleyball.
"Angie is a tremendous hitter with power who will impact our line up quickly," stated Jacobs. "Her ability to play a few different positions on the field will help our defensive depth around the field. Angie's passion for UNI was clear when she first visited campus, we are excited to have her in the program."
Samantha Heyer, Pitcher
Charles City, Iowa, Charles City High School
Samantha Heyer has played the last three seasons at Charles City High School, helping her team to the state tournament each season. As a freshman, Heyer helped Charles City to a regional championship and a fifth-place finish in the state tournament. As a sophomore, Heyer earned third team all-state recognition while leading Charles City to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament. Last season, as a junior, Heyer again led her team to the state tournament and earned first team all-state honors. Heyer is a member of the National Honor Society and also competes in volleyball, basketball, and track and field.
"Sami is a strikeout pitcher who has led her team to the Iowa State Tournament the past two seasons," said Jacobs. "She does a great job of locating her pitches and moving the ball. She will be a great addition to our pitching staff and add a different look for opponents."
Taylor Hogan, Shortstop
Waterloo, Iowa, Waterloo Columbus High School
Taylor Hogan is a four-year varsity starter for the Sailors of Waterloo Columbus. A dominant force from a young age, Hogan earned all-conference honors as an eighth grader in 2015 and was also selected to the all-metro team. Hogan continued her dominant play as a freshman, earning first team all-state honors, picking up the same honor as a sophomore and a junior. A gifted athlete, Hogan was a national qualifier in gymnastics in 2017 and 2018, she has won three state titles in tennis, and was a three-time state qualifier in diving, placing seventh in 2017 and fourth in 2018.
"Taylor is an unbelievable athlete with tremendous commitment and drive to compete, stated Jacobs. "It is amazing at how she is able to participate in so many activities growing up. Even at the next level she will continue to participate in multiple sports on the swimming & diving team."
Sammy Moss, Infielder/Catcher/Utility
Mount Vernon, Iowa, Mount Vernon High School
Sammy Moss has been a four-year varsity starter at Mount Vernon High School entering her senior year. Moss earned a second team all-conference nod as an eighth grader and backed it up with second team all-state recognition as a freshman, scoring 40 runs with 74 hits on the season. Moss finished her sophomore season with a .479 batting average, 65 RBI on 78 hits, and earned first team all-state honors. A dominant season for Moss, she was rewarded by making the all-tournament team at the state tournament. As a junior, Moss recorded a .612 slugging percentage and a .425 batting average to help her earn a second team all-state nod. Moss is a three-sport athlete at Mount Vernon, earning all-conference honors in basketball and soccer.
"Sammy has been an offensive leader in the state for the past three seasons," said Jacobs. "She has been a major part of the run production for a very successful high school program. Defensively she is what I call a Swiss army knife, she has the tools to do whatever we need from catching to middle infield and outfield. She is always so focused on the task at hand."
Madison Parks, Shortstop/Pitcher
Pella, Iowa, Pella High School
Madison Parks is a three-year varsity starter, the last two at Pella High School. As a freshman, Parks played center field and pitched for Sycamore High School before coming to play in Pella as a sophomore. In her first season at Pella, Parks recorded a .418 batting average with 46 hits, 14 doubles and scored 27 runs to earn her second team all-conference honors. As a junior, Parks finished with a .465 on-base percentage with 35 runs on 38 hits. Parks is also a member of the basketball team and has run track for the Dutch.
"Madison will fit into our system very well, she is hard working and does whatever her team needs her to do, " stated Jacobs. "She can play in the infield or outfield and does a great job in the pitching circle. She is a speedy left hand hitter that can slap or lay down a bunt. She has a great mind for the game and hustles everywhere."
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