Nov. 16, 2011

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CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Oregon State softball program has inked three prep standouts from the state of California to National Letters of Intent as part of its most recent recruiting class, head coach Kirk Walker announced Wednesday. Natalie Hampton (Antelope, Calif./Center HS), Christie Langlois (Oak Park, Calif./Oak Park HS) and Sarah Shadinger (Camarillo, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo HS) will join the Beavers on campus next fall.

"We are extremely excited about this incoming class," Walker said. "We have added three amazing individuals who possess both immense talent and impressive character and will undoubtedly be tremendous additions to the Oregon State softball program."

Hampton, a left-handed, power-hitting first baseman, attends Center High School and plays her travel ball with All-American Sports Academy. She's been a three-year varsity starter, the team's 2009 and 2010 offensive MVP and its 2011 overall MVP. She has been named first-team all-conference for three consecutive years and helped her squad to a runner-up finish in Sac-Joaquin Section Division 4 in 2010. Last year, Hampton drove in 22 runs and scored 21 during her junior campaign, finishing with a .474 batting average and a .930 slugging percentage. Her All-American Sports Academy team finished in fifth place at the 2011 ASA 18 and Under Gold National Championships.

"Natalie is an exceptional hitter," Walker said. "She swings the bat with such ease and puts so much power behind the ball. She really came on strong last year, we got in early on her and it ended up being a really good fit with her family. She's a great young woman that really has a great passion for the game and for Oregon State and I think she's going to step in and contribute right away."

Langlois is another gifted offensive player from Oak Park High School who plays her travel ball for the SoCal Pumas. Her freshman year she led the team in batting and slugging and was named to the All-Tri-Valley League First Team after her squad tied for the league championship. She was again named to the conference's First Team as a sophomore in 2010 and as a junior last season she was selected First Team All-County, was named the team MVP and ended the season batting .523, slugging 1.058 and launching eight home runs, in addition to posting a .567 on-base percentage, scoring 32 runs and driving in 37 en route to her third consecutive appearance on the All-Tri-Valley League First Team. Her brother, Bryan, is also an outfielder on the baseball squad at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.

"Christie Langlois is an exceptional recruit with a very unique story that we had the great fortune to get in on rather late," Walker said. "We thought we were done with our recruiting class, but when you have the opportunity to bring in an athlete of that caliber, you just can't pass it up. She's a woman among girls and swings the bat with a presence and athleticism that is very unique. She is versatile as an athlete, has very good speed for her size and very solid defensive skills, but offensively is where she really sets herself apart. Many people consider her one of the best hitters coming out in this class."

Shadinger, a power pitcher from Adolfo Camarillo High School, helped her team claim its first state softball title since 1991 when she tossed a complete-game four-hitter in the CIF Division II Championship this past June. In 2011, the junior set school records with 23 wins and 256 strikeouts, posting a 1.47 ERA in 176 innings. For her efforts she was named CIF Division II Softball Player of the Year, First Team All-CIF, First Team All-LA County Daily News, First Team All-Ventura County, Second Team All-State, Second Team All-State All-Underclassmen and was the CIF Division II Championship Game MVP. Shadinger is a three-time First Team All-Pacific View League selection and was the 2011 Pacific View League Pitcher of the Year. She also plays her travel ball with the Strike Force 18 Gold team that took 10th place at the ASA Gold Nationals in 2011.

"We are really excited about Sarah," Walker said of Shadinger. "Not only because of her experience and her competitive success, but the one thing we liked about her so much early on was how aggressive she is on the mound - she has no fear."

Oregon State opens up its 2012 season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Beavers' first game will be at noon on Thursday, Feb. 9 against BYU.

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