BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings softball team announced the signing of three additional recruits, who have committed to joining coach Lisa McKinney's Yellowjackets for the 2024 season.
 
Ella Crookston from Laurel, Montana, Caitlyn James from Quincy, California, and Kaylin Galvin from Reno, Nevada will become the newest addition to the Yellowjackets 2024 recruiting class, which now has eight members. All three have are juco transfers, with Crookston playing most recently at Salt Lake Community College, and James and Galvin being teammates at Feather River College
 
Ella Crookston
Pitcher
Laurel, Montana
Salt Lake Community College
Intended Major: Undecided

Crookston, a native of Laurel, Montana, will join the 'Jackets after spending a season playing at Salt Lake Community College, where she pitched in 12 games and had three wins. Crookston played for coach Aleesa Olsen at Laurel High School, where she had a 45-19-1 record across her three seasons. A team captain, Crookston had nine career shutouts, including a no-hitter her senior year. She finished her high school career with 327 strikeouts. Crookston was selected both all-conference and all-state as a junior and senior and was also twice selected to the all-state tournament team. She was also a four-year academic all-state recipient.

Coach McKinney on Crookston: "Ella brings some college experience to our pitching staff next year after playing a year at Salt Lake Community College. She has a strong work ethic and has post season experience from playing at Laurel in the high school state tournaments. We are excited to add her to our pitching staff."

Crookston on choosing MSUB: "I chose MSUB to pursue my academic and softball career because of the family atmosphere. On my visit I felt very welcome and at home. The Yellowjackets are very well coached and have a ton of talent. MSUB is close to home and has everything I was looking for in a school. I love that I get to play softball and pursue my degree with my family and friends by my side, while being close to home."
 
Caitlyn James
Pitcher
Quincy, California
Feather River College
Intended Major: Communications

James joins the Yellowjackets from Feather River College, where she played two years of softball. James earned first-team all-conference honors her freshman year, pitching in 33 games, winning 15 games with a 2.06 ERA. She matched that win total again in her second seasons at Feather River, earning a 3.19 ERA. In high school, James was a four-year varsity team captain at Quincy Junior-Senior High School, while also participating in two years of basketball and volleyball. She achieved all-league and all-conference honors multiple times, while also earning academic honors, striking out almost 500 batters in four years.

Coach McKinney on James: "Caitlyn is coming to us with a ton of collegiate pitching experience. Caitlyn is a competitor, who spins the ball well and will make the hitters work. Caitlyn also has the potential to not only produce for us in the circle but produce for us offensively. We are so thrilled to have Caitlyn as a Yellowjacket."

James on choosing MSUB: "I chose MSUB because of how welcoming and how at home I felt there. The coaching staff, the girls, the school staff, and just simply the vibes I got from my visit were just how it is back home. I am so thankful to be able to say I am transferring to somewhere I know my parents are going to feel comfortable with me going to, and I am so thankful as well to get to know a new team and make new memories while playing the game that I love and that I am so blessed to be even able to transfer and compete at the next level! Go Yellowjackets!"
 
Kaylin Galvin
Catcher/Outfield
Reno, Nevada
Feather River College
Intended Major: Kinesiology

Galvin joins MSUB after playing for two seasons at Feather River College, where she and James were teammates. Appearing behind the plate and in the outfield, Galvin earned first-team all-conference honors her freshman year, batting .392 across 40 games, with two home runs and 27 RBIs. She followed that up with a .368 batting average in her second season, hitting three home runs and 30 RBIs. Before attending Feather River, Galvin attended Reno High School, where she played four years of varsity softball, earning second-team and first-team honors once each and multiple academic honors.

Coach McKinney on James: "Kaylin is coming to us with a couple years of JUCO experience. She is a catcher/UTL that will bring some upperclassmen leadership to the catching position. She is a quick, physical player that is versatile and will give us options and a different look within our lineup."

James on choosing MSUB: "I chose MSUB because of the environment. Seeing the city and campus along with meeting the coaches and girls during my visit and seeing how welcoming they were made the decision easy."