Softball program signs five

The Montana softball program signed five prep athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday as the NCAA's signing period for 2020 enrollees opened.

Griz coach Melanie Meuchel added Anna Toon, the 2018-19 Gatorade Montana Softball Player of the Year for Great Falls High, in addition to two players from Washington and one each from Oregon and California.

Joining Toon as Grizzlies next fall will be Riley Stockton, a catcher from Spanaway, Wash.; Kelly Sweyer, a utility player from Woodland, Wash.; Allie Brock, a pitcher from La Grande, Ore.; and Elise Ontiveros, an outfielder from Bakersfield, Calif.

"This group fits our program very well," said Meuchel, "from their core values to their personalities to their blue-collar work ethic and determination.

"They are very skilled but also true team players. We talk about not getting anywhere without the entire group being a family, and they understand what that takes both individually and collectively."

Toon, a pitcher who also can play multiple infield positions and batted .500 as a junior for the Bison, will give the Grizzlies a pair of Gatorade Montana Players of the Year on next year's roster.

Pitcher Tristin Achenbach, a junior on this year's team, won the award in 2016 and '17.

Toon had a 15-2 record with a 1.75 ERA and 114 strikeouts against just 12 walks in 100 innings pitched last spring.

In addition to batting .500, she hit eight home runs, scored 44 runs, drove in 38 and had a .963 slugging percentage.

"Anna is a right-handed pitcher and left-handed power hitter. I've seen her play shortstop, I've seen her play some corner, so she has the utility of being a pitcher-infielder," said Meuchel.

"She will come in as a pitcher but I love the way she can hit and I love the way she can defend other positions as well."

She helped Great Falls High win its second consecutive Class AA state title in May, with the Bison winning three games on the final day of the tournament to overcome an earlier loss.

Last summer, she and her club team, the Nor Cal Firecrackers, finished second at the Triple Crown World Series in Park City, Utah.

In September she made her official visit to Montana.

"I absolutely fell in love with everything the school has to offer," she said. "The town and campus are gorgeous, and I had a great time with the team, the coaches and the other 2020 commits.

"It's a great program that I'm so excited to join. I'm happy my family will be able to be in the stands watching our games."

Brock and Stockton give Montana both ends of a future battery.

Brock was named the Oregon Class 4A Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore and junior after leading La Grande High to back-to-back state titles.

She and her Oregon Lightning teammates have three times won the Division II championship at the Triple Crown Valley Invite, held each summer in Hillsboro, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash.

"Allie is a hidden, small-town kid with a very good skillset," said Meuchel. "I'd heard about her, and when I walked by her field, she had a maturity and presence about her. Not many players were squaring up balls when she was pitching.

"I love the competitor she is on the mound. It will be fun to have her here. She's come to our camps, and our players were like, who is this kid? She caught a lot of people's attention."

Montana will not graduate either of its catchers next spring, but both -- Jessica McAlister and McKenna Tjaden -- will be upperclassmen when Stockton arrives, and "you're always one foul tip away from being a catcher down," said Meuchel.

Stockton, who has played for the Washington Ladyhawks the last six years, a club that's been very good to the Grizzlies in the past, was first-team All-South Puget Sound League as a utility player as a sophomore, a first-team catcher as a junior.

"I love her presence and the way she commands a game behind the plate. She is very strong defensively and is starting to supply some power at the plate," said Meuchel.

"She's a competitor. She's gritty. She's fun to watch. I think she'll make an impact on our pitchers and on our team overall."

If Stockton is fun to watch behind the plate, what would that make Ontiveros, who has never seen a ball hit to the outfield that she didn't think she could track down?

The senior at Independence High was voted both all-area and all-region last year.

"Her athleticism stands out, as does her IQ of the game," said Meuchel. "She plays one step ahead, so she doesn't let a lot of balls drop in the outfield.

"I've seen her go over fences and run all the way across the outfield to make plays. She competes with a lot of passion."

Her high school team won the CIF Central Section Division III championship in 2017, the first in school history. Her club, the So Cal A's, is one of the best in the nation.

"Elise is really starting to hit her growth in the game," said Meuchel. "She'll add some good skillsets for us in our outfield and supply some power at the plate."

Sweyer, a senior at Woodland High, will catch if she's asked. Or play third. Or short. Or second base. As long as she's playing.

Meuchel is always hesitant to compare a future Griz with a former player, especially one as decorated as Delene Colburn, but she has to admit Sweyer and Colburn at least share some common softball DNA.

"Kelly is a true ball player. She reminded me of Delene Colburn the first time I watched her play," said Meuchel. "She's gritty, she's tough, she has a blue-collar-work-ethic style about her. She just wants to play and compete."

Play and compete she has, both for the Washington Illusion travel-ball team and Woodland High, which won Washington Class 2A state titles in both 2018 and '19. The latter was a 3-0 win over W.F. West High, with Sweyer helping the cause with a home run.

She earned first-team all-state honors at third base, which may or may not be more impressive than this: she one time entered a local home-run derby and hit 19 over the fence in the final round, including 11 in a row.

"She has a lot of power at the plate. She's a true hitter who loves to hit. I think she's going to be one of the most versatile athletes on our team," said Meuchel.

Montana will lose four seniors off its current team when the 2020 season ends in May: Kylie Hayton, Michaela Hood, Morgan Johnson and Anne Mari Petrino.

"When you're recruiting, the hope is you're recruiting individuals who are better than those who are in the program so that the growth continues," said Meuchel.

"This group has a lot of power offensively, and they are very gritty on defense and make some big-time plays."

What the signees are saying:

Allie Brock (pitcher, La Grande, Ore.): I committed to play softball at the University of Montana because of the family-like atmosphere of the Griz softball team and the university itself. Missoula is beautiful and reminds me of a bigger version of my hometown.

I was impressed by the amount of support the tightly knit community provides UM. From the amazing coaching staff to the limitless number of outdoor activities, the University of Montana is an ideal fit for me. I am overjoyed to be attending Montana to continue my educational and softball career. Go Griz!

Elise Ontiveros (outfielder, Bakersfield, Calif.): Choosing to sign with the University of Montana was an easy decision because of the family-like atmosphere both within the softball program and the university. When I took my official visit I fell in love with the scenery of the campus and the opportunities I would have as a student-athlete.

I connected with Coach Mel and the coaching staff from the first conversation I had with them. I saw this as a program in which I could develop as an athlete and as an overall person. The university gives me the opportunity to pursue my career interests and compete as a softball player.

Riley Stockton (catcher, Spanaway, Wash.): Ever since I was a little girl I've been looking for the perfect school, the school that could offer both great academics and a very competitive softball program. With all the different colleges out there, something stood out about the University of Montana that made it feel like home. The minute I stepped on campus, I knew for sure this is where I wanted to play college softball.

When Coach Mel gave me an offer, I was speechless. It didn't take me long to decide this is where I wanted to be. I had an opportunity to watch a fall softball game and the turnout from the community was amazing. I'm looking forward to being a part of the Griz family and this college softball program.

Kelly Sweyer (utility, Woodland, Wash.): There were many reasons why Montana stole my heart, the first being the amazing coaching staff and all the players currently there. I felt welcomed in with open arms, which made Montana feel like home. I also determined on my visit that I will have all the support from the coaches and academic staff that I will need to excel in the classroom and on the field. The University of Montana and the Missoula community feels like the perfect fit for me. I'm so excited for the next four years! Proud to be a GRIZ!

University of Montana Athletics

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Tristin Achenbach

Delene Colburn

Kylie Hayton

Michaela Hood

Morgan Johnson

Jessica McAlister

Anne Mari Petrino

McKenna Tjaden

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