Snyder Signs Three Pitchers at USCA

AIKEN, S.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken head softball coach Jerry Snyder announced the signing of three student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent on Monday, Nov. 16.

The coaching staff spread the nation to bring in the three with India Kornegay joining the Pacer softball program out of Eufaula, Ala. and Samantha Lemm coming to Aiken from Berlin, N.J. Kylee Knop will join the Pacers from Oxford, Ga. All three will line up for the Pacers in the circle.

“The incoming class of pitchers is extremely important to our continued success,” noted Snyder. “We lose two of our three pitchers to graduation at the end of the 2010 season, and we think the three newcomers bring with them the talent and desire to continue on with the winning tradition here at USCA.”

A record-setting pitcher, Kornegay pitches for Eufaula High School. Kornegay set the Alabama state record for most strikeouts in a game in 2009 with 37 strikeouts from the circle in 15 innings. In total in her first three years of high school, Kornegay has 892 career strikeouts in 474 innings inside the circle.

Highly decorated, Kornegay is a three-time All-State selection (2007, 2008 and 2009) in Alabama. She is also a three-time All-Region Super 12 choice (2007, 2008 and 2009).

“India is one of the top pitchers in the state of Alabama,” remarked Snyder. “She throws hard and has all of the pitches necessary to be successful in the Peach Belt Conference.”

Lemm is a two-time All-Conference selection (2008 and 2009) for Eastern High School. She is also a two-time Second Team All-Group pick (2008 and 2009).

“Sam plays for an extremely competitive travel ball organization,” said Snyder. “She is a proven winner at every level. We think she is going to be a tremendous asset to our program.”

Knop played her high school softball for Walton Academy. She currently is attending Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Knop is highly thought of at the junior college level where she was chosen as a Second Team All-American in 2009. She was a First Team All-Region selection in 2009.

“Kylee comes to USCA with much-needed experience at the college level,” noted Snyder. “She has been extremely successful at Kirkwood and I think that success will continue at this level.”

The three newcomers will join a USC Aiken softball program that concluded the 2009 campaign ranked a program-best 12th in the final National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll.

The first Pacer squad to participate in the NCAA Division II Tournament, USC Aiken ended the 2009 campaign with a 34-16 record. The Pacers' 2009 mark garnered the 2009 USC Aiken softball team the best winning percentage (.680) in program history.

USC Aiken's 34 victories in 2009 tied them for second in program history for the most wins in a single season.

The 2009 campaign was an incredibly special year for the Pacers with Snyder, who now has a record of 529-528 in his 22 years at the helm, earning his 500th career win earlier in the year.

The 500th win was just a sign of things to come for the Pacers as they continued to embark on one of the greatest seasons in school history. After splitting with UNC Pembroke on Feb. 15 to claim that special 500th victory, USC Aiken went on to earn its first ever national ranking en route to its first ever NCAA Division II Tournament appearance.

The second game win over UNCP led to a season-high eight-game winning streak and the stretch helped USC Aiken to claim a victory in 12 of its next 13 games to stand at 18-7 after a 4-0 win over Tusculum on March 8.

The Pacers would go 13-5 the rest of the regular season to earn the second spot in the Southeast region by the start of the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Tournament in Florence, S.C.

The Pacers ended the year ranked in the final five NFCA polls, entering the poll for the first time in school history at No. 24 on April 8.

The sixth Snyder team to claim 30 or more victories in a single season, the 2009 Pacers advanced to the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship Game before falling to NCAA Division II softball championship semifinalist and third-ranked North Georgia.