CCU

Coastal Softball Adds Two in Early Signing Class

       

Coastal Softball Adds Two in Early Signing Class

Tolleson and Birnbaum join Lady Chanticleers

CONWAY, S.C. – Glynn Tolleson (Tomball, Texas/Tomball) and Brittany Birnbaum (Chino Hills, Calif./Ryben Ayala) have signed to play softball at Coastal Carolina University, head coach Jess Dannelly announced today.

A transfer from Radford University, Tolleson was a starter at catcher for the Highlanders during the 2002 and part of the 2003 season, starting all 75 games she played at Radford. She was second in hitting on the team, batting .273 her freshman season with five doubles, 15 RBI and 12 stolen bases and earned Big South Conference All-Tournament honors for her play in the postseason event in Rock Hill, S.C. The sister of 2003 Big South Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Second Team All-Big South selection Morgan Tolleson, the younger Tolleson has enrolled at Coastal for the spring semester, majoring in communications, but will sit out the 2005 year due to NCAA transfer rules and retain two years of eligibility.

Birnbaum signed a National Letter of Intent in the early signing period and will enter CCU as a freshman for the 2005-06 school year. Heading into her senior season this spring, Birnbaum has earned three letters and was named All-Sierra League and First Team All-Academic for the second consecutive season, while leading her team to its second Southern California playoff appearance her junior season. She batted .340 and led the squad with a .990 fielding percentage in the infield. Birnbaum was Ruben Ayala High School's Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a junior, as well as being named to the honor roll in each of her years at Ayala. As a sophomore, she led the team in batting average (.386) and hits. Birnbaum also played summer ball with the California LITE organization for the past four years and has competed with various teams in the National Championship Tournament five times.

"These two are going to be part of the future of Coastal softball," Dannelly said. "Glynn brings proven experience in the Big South to the roster and gives us additional depth in the catcher position. Brittany adds depth in the infield and has extensive experience against top summer teams. She could also be a key element to continuing the tradition of quality softball here."