Softball program adds four

The Montana softball program has signed four prep players to National Letters of Intent.

Breiana Bonkavich (Las Vegas, Nev.), Grace Haegele (Redmond, Wash.), Chloe Saxton (Seattle, Wash.) and Makena Strong (Las Vegas, Nev.) will be freshmen for the Grizzlies next fall.

Haegele is a six-foot pitcher, Saxton a shortstop. Bonkavich, who can play either third base or the outfield, and Strong, who is a middle infielder, both can play multiple positions.

"This group is very intelligent, both on and off the field," said coach Melanie Meuchel. "They excel academically, they are competitive and they are skilled.

"I am excited to work with them to keep elevating those skills because it will elevate Griz Softball. I'm excited to watch them make a name for this program while making names for themselves."

For all the COVID-caused disruptions that arrived in 2020, it's the 2022 class that probably had its recruiting schedule and opportunities most upset.

The four signees were late in their sophomore years when sports shut down, which continued into the summer, when they needed to be seen and evaluated by college coaches. That didn't happen.

"I think they had one of the hardest, toughest recruiting periods, and they stayed the course," said Meuchel. "For them to continue to work hard and play the game and excel is impressive.

"I'm excited we were able to find them and they were able to find us. They'll do well in a Griz uniform."

Bonkavich and Strong both come out of Las Vegas and the Lil Rebels travel-ball club. And that's generally good news, considering that led Montana to Michaela Hood and Kylie Becker, both All-Big Sky Conference players.

"We have had good success with players from Nevada and are excited to add two more," said Meuchel. "Each one has shown grit, is blue-collar and loves to play the game."

Bonkavich was on the Shadow Ridge High team that won the school's first Nevada Class 4A state title in 2019.

"Bre is a true power hitter who exemplifies strength at the plate," said Meuchel. "And she'll continue to develop into a huge threat at the plate. She plays with a lot of spunk and a lot of energy and will give us some versatility. I'm excited to have her sign with us."

Bonkavich signed for the usual reasons: The opportunity to play Division I softball. The support Missoula provides. And because campus reminds her of a certain Pixar movie that came out in 2013.

"I choose to go to the University of Montana to pursuer my education and dream of playing softball at a higher level," she said. "What really sealed the deal was the community and also how the campus looks like my favorite movie, Monsters University."

Strong was named second-team all-region as a utility player following her junior year at Arbor View High after leading her team to the 5A regional championship, the highest level contested due to COVID.

"I chose Montana simply because it felt like home," Strong said. "The recruiting process for the class of '22 was anything but normal, but Coach Mel and the rest of the staff always did their best to make it special.

"Everything anyone had to say about the program, the school and the state was always positive and reassuring. It checked all of my boxes. My official visit just set everything in stone. The team was so welcoming and loving and made it such an amazing experience."

Strong is a three-time Nevada All-Academic Team selection. She has a 4-star rating by OnDeck Softball and a rating of 94.1 on the Allister Index.

"Getting to watch and getting to know her, she is someone who fits Griz Softball," said Meuchel. "She is a competitor, blue-collar, a solid athlete on both sides of the ball.

"Defensively she is just steady. She makes every play. Offensively she always makes noise in whatever lineup she's in. I look for her to do that with us."

Playing shortstop for the Grizzlies will forever come with some weighty expectations. Now in its eighth year as a program, Montana has had just two players field the position. Both have been all-region.

Delene Colburn played shortstop from 2015-18. Maygen McGrath, now going into her senior season, took over in 2019 and has held it down ever since. They are two of the best players in program history.

Saxton will come in and compete to be next in line.

"She is fun to watch every pitch, because she plays the game with so much love and passion," said Meuchel. "Her energy is just contagious.

"She is talented offensively and defensively. She provides a ton of power at the plate and has made some big-time plays at shortstop over the course of being able to watch her. I'm excited for her to step in and compete for our program."

Saxton was honorable-mention all-conference in 2019 as a freshman at Holy Names Academy and her team MVP as a junior. She was a member of the ai Bandits team that finished second in the Platinum Division at PGF Nationals last summer.

"I chose to sign with Montana because of the amazing coaches, the many appealing academic programs and the beautiful campus and facilities," Saxton said.

"I was so excited when I first started the recruitment process, and the more I learned about Montana, the more I fell in love with it. After learning more about both the softball program and the university, I was sold, and I knew I wanted Montana to be my future."

Haegele led Redmond High to an undefeated 2021 spring season with a 10-0 record. Haegele had a 1.32 ERA and 107 strikeouts.

"I'm really excited about Grace. She is a very talented pitcher," said Meuchel. "She brings velocity, good movement and a passion for pitching, for the game and for competing, and it's pretty contagious when you watch her. I think she'll elevate the strength of our staff."

Haegele, who competed in the 2018 Little League Junior Softball World Series, was a member of Redmond High's team that placed third at the 2019 Washington Class 4A state tournament.

"I chose to sign with Montana because the family environment is like nothing I have ever seen in a softball program," Haegele said.

"Not only is Missoula beautiful, but the community is incredible. The Montana softball program will give me the competitive environment I want to play and win in."

University of Montana Athletics

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