Nov. 21, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. – University of Georgia head softball coach Lu Harris-Champer announced on Monday that Samantha LaZear has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Bulldogs.
LaZear, a 5-11, left-handed hitting outfielder from Danielsville, Ga., will join the Bulldogs from Madison County High School where she played for Doug Kesler. LaZear, a two-time All-State and three-time All-Region selection, helped MCHS win its region championship in both 2009 and 2010, and the Red Raiders advanced to the Elite Eight of the AAAA division in the Georgia High School Association state tournament in both 2010 and 2011. For her career, LaZear holds school record with 150 runs scored and 85 stolen bases. As a senior, LaZear batted .407 with 46 runs, 18 runs batted in and 30 stolen bases. As a junior, she set single-season school records with 56 runs and 40 stolen bases. LaZear plays travel ball for the Southern Force who she helped her team finish in the Final Four at the ASA 16U National Championships in 2010. In 2011, she helped the Southern Force Gold, coached by Kevin Stephens, to a top 25 finish in the 18U division of the Premier National Championships. A 2010-11 National Fastpitch Coaches Association High School All-American Scholar Athlete, LaZear will have earned by 10 varsity letters by the end of her high school career next spring – four softball, four tennis and two basketball. She is also a MCHS Wendy's High School Heisman award winner, National Merit Scholar and ranks at the top of her class academically.
“Sam is the fastest player we have brought in since Nicole Barber," Georgia head coach Lu Harris-Champer said. "We are thrilled to have her speed, defense and toughness joining our program next fall. Sam has incredible hand-eye coordination and rarely fails to make contact at the plate. She has the ability to bunt, slap and hit for power along with being a great student-athlete and the No. 1 student in her high school class at Madison County. We believe Sam is the best slapper in the 2012 class not only in Georgia, but in the country, and look forward to seeing her develop in our program.”
LaZear is the fifth of seven signees to be announced as part of the Georgia signing class that will join the program in 2012-13 joining Bryanna "Cricket" Blanco, Katie Browne, Geri Ann Glasco and Tina Iosefa. Georgia will continue reveal a new member of the signing class each day until all seven have been announced here on www.georgaidogs.com, on www.facebook.com/UGAsoftball and on Twitter @UGAsoftball.
