2023 FIU SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
 
MIAMI – The FIU softball program added a total of five new student-athletes as part of its 2023 signing class, which was announced by head coach Mike Larabee on Wednesday.
 
The new additions hail from a total of four states and include Natalie Burns (C/Bloomington, Ind.), Grace Helbling (P/1B/OF – Bedminster, Pa.), Zamya McBurrows (SS – Lake Wales, Fla.), Kally Meredith (OF – Kaukauna, Wis.) and Jewelie Vanderkous (P/2B – North Port, Fla.).
 
Each of the new student-athletes will join the Panthers' program beginning in Fall 2023.
 
FIU Head Coach Mike Larabee on the 2023 Signing Class
"Our coaching staff is very excited about the versatility, depth and the overall athletic ability this class is going to bring to our program.  This signing class moves the needle in furthering our championship program pursuit. This is a class of fierce competitors who love to compete and play the game. We can't wait for the opportunity to begin working with them next fall."
 
Natalie Burns – Catcher – 5-7 – Bloomington, Indiana (Bloomington North HS)
Played club ball with Indiana Magic Gold – where she saw time in the infield as well as behind the plate…during her sophomore season at Bloomington North posted a 1.456 OPS along with 13 doubles, seven home runs, 27 RBIs and 22 runs scored… was honored with All-Conference Indiana and Herald-Times All-Area honors…as a junior she posted even better numbers with a 1.569 OPS (.437 batting average) with six doubles, a triple, 11 home runs, 38 RBIs and 24 runs…in addition she struck out just four times in 2022…her 11 homers broke the Bloomington North High single-season record…defensively, she allowed just three passed balls in over 105 innings of action over her prep career…Burns also called pitches from behind the plate for the Bloomington North pitching staff during her prep career.
 
Head Coach Mike Larabee on Natalie Burns
"Natalie's an excellent receiver behind the plate, with a strong arm and quick release. The one thing that jumped out at me while recruiting her was how well she commands the field. She has a high softball IQ and thrives at throwing runners out. Offensively, she also will add another powerful bat to our lineup. Burns is ranked #127 nationally by Extra Innings Softball."
 
Grace Helbling – Pitcher/1B/OF – 5-7 – Bedminster, Pa. (Pennridge HS)
Played club ball with Rock Gold…helped lead her club squad to a third-place finish at the 2021 Gold Nationals…played prep ball at Pennridge High School in Perkasie, Pa…earned all-league honors after junior season…fanned a total of 52 hitters over 51 innings of work…boasts a 4.0 grade point average in high school…hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who is also a member of the USA All-American Team…also has displayed power at the plate during her club and prep career…2021 honorable mention All-Area selection by the Times/Herald.
 
Head Coach Mike Larabee on Grace Helbling
"Grace came to our elite camp and we knew right away that she was someone we were going to continue to track throughout the summer. She is the most versatile athlete that we've added to our roster with experience at several different positions. She can play outfield, corner infield and she can also pitch. Grace is a great fit for our program. She has an incredible work ethic and definitely belongs here wearing FIU "Blue and Gold".
 
Kally Meredith – OF – 5-5 – Kaukauna, Wis. (Kaukauna HS)
Played club ball with the Beverly Bandits…fleet footed outfielder who racked up a total of 169 stolen bases in club ball for the Bandits from 2020-22…as a prep she helped lead Kaukauna High to the WIAA Division I State Softball Championship in 2022…the leadoff hitter for the Ghosts, Meredith bats lefty and was honored with first team all-conference, all-district and all-state honors as a junior…was nominated as a 2021 USA Today Post Crescent Player of the Year…during her sophomore prep season she posted a .500 batting average, .558 on-base percentage while recording 50 hits, 36 runs scored, 18 RBI and 34 stolen bases…posted a .667 batting average during the 2021 WIAA Division I State Softball Tournament.
 
Head Coach Mike Larabee on Kally Meredith
"Kally's a driven athlete and winner. From the first time I saw her play, her speed and athleticism caught my attention. Kally is a true triple threat with elite speed and the ability to hit for a high average. Kally has excellent range in the outfield and has a very accurate arm. Meredith is ranked #34 nationally by Extra Inning Softball."
 
Zamya McBurrows – SS – 5-7 – Lake Wales, Fla. (Lake Wales HS)
Played club ball with Crush Fastpitch-Lake Wales…a slick fielding shortstop who possesses solid speed and has served as the leadoff hitter for the majority of her prep and club career…played high school ball at Lake Wales HS where she hlped lead them to a second-place finish at the 20222 Florida 4A State Campionships…as a junior she posted a .406 batting average that included 16 extra-base hits (nine doubles, five triples, two home runs)…she led the squad with 38 runs scored and ranked third with 26 RBI…led off the state semifinal game with a home run…was honored as the Lakeland Ledger's 2022 Softball Hitter of the Year…had at least one hit in all five playoff games as a junior with a .438 (7 for 16) average.as a sophomore she tabbed a .466 batting average, 13 extra-base hits and 22 RBI…as a freshman she tallied a .644 clip, six extra-base hits and 14 RBI…three-time all-county honoree.
 
Head Coach Mike Larabee on Zamya McBurrows
"Zamya is an intense competitor and an elite athlete. She will bring a strong presence to our infield. She has a very strong and accurate arm and has incredible range. She has elite speed and will be a force on the bases. McBurrows has the ability to hit for high average."
 
Jewelie Vanderkous – P/2B – 5-7 – North Port, Fla. (North Port HS)
Played club ball with Texas Glory-Venice..hard-throwing pitcher that also saw time in the infield during her prep career at North Port HS…led the district and ranked among the top 40 in the state of Florida with 163 strikeouts…posted a 9-4 record on the mound during junior campaign along with a 2.04 earned run average…she tossed a total of 126.2 innings while recording 163 strikeouts and allowing only 37 earned runs…she allowed four homers and issued 36 walks…offensively in 2022 she posted a .478 batting average with 15 extra-base hits, including seven doubles, four triples and four home runs…also stole six bases as a junior…
 
Head Coach Mike Larabee on Jewelie Vanderkous
"We can't wait to have Jewelie join our pitching staff. She is a great competitor and wants the ball in the big games. She will provide a different look for us with a great drop ball and an excellent changeup. She can also swing the bat at a very high level and can hit for power."
 
  
UP NEXT
The Panthers open the 2023 season on Thursday, Feb. 9 vs. Clemson at Felsberg Field on the FIU Campus beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.
 
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