BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings softball team and head coach Lisa McKinney announced the addition of five recruits to their 2024 signing class.
 
The new additions are set to join up with MSUB this fall, and make their Yellowjacket debuts in 2025 season. The five signees all join from the high school ranks, with four of the signees playing in the field, and one pitching recruit.
 
Alanna Christiaens
Third Base/Short Stop
Lakeside, California
El Capitan High School
Intended Major: Undecided
 
Christiaens, who is nicknamed Jojo, features primarily at third base and shortstop for El Capitan High School. She has lettered in each of her high school seasons, and is currently in the midst of her senior season. A one-season team captain, Christiaens was a second team all-east county and second team all-league selection as a sophomore, before taking the jump to first team all-east county and all-league as a junior. She batted .424 in her junior campaign, with 42 hits and seven home runs. Her 43 RBIs ranked 9^th in the San Diego area, and 58^th most in the state of California. Christiaens has also been an honor roll student all four years in high school.
 
Coach McKinney on Christiaens: "Jojo got on our radar within the last year. She showed us her versatility and aggressiveness on the infield early and often. She has a strong arm and moves well, giving us a couple of options with her on the left side of the infield. As a hitter, she is disciplined and does a good job of spraying the ball around the field. Jojo is going to bring some strong competition to the left side of our infield and will be a great addition."
 
Christiaens on choosing MSUB: "I chose MSUB for many reasons, my parents and their parents were born and raised in Montana, and we have always visited whenever we got the chance. Every time we did, I fell more and more in love with the state. I also chose this school because of the amazing dynamic of the campus, and the softball team and coaches. They were welcoming, funny, talented, and overall comforting. I think I am going to be a great fit on the team and in the classrooms! I love the size of the school and the city that surrounds it. I cannot wait to be there for the next 4 years."
 
Kennedy Dypwick
Shortstop
Missoula, Montana
Sentinel High School
Intended Major: Undecided
 
Dypwick will letter in four seasons of high school softball at Missoula Sentinel, primarily featuring in the field at shortstop. Dypwick has been a two-time second team all-conference selection in her high school career. She hit .446 in her sophomore season, scoring 22 runs while driving in 18 RBIs, and stealing seven bases. She followed that up with a .365 batting average as a junior, increasing her totals to 27 runs, 22 RBIs, and 11 steals, while increasing her fielding percentage. Dypwick has also earned two letters in volleyball, and has received academic all-state honors for both sports, and is a National Honor Society member.
 
Coach McKinney on Dypwick: "We had the fortune of seeing Kennedy a couple years ago at the Montana High School State tournament and her athleticism is one of the first things that stuck out to us. She is the type that will go all out and will find a way to make the play. She has a strong arm and bat, which will make her a nice addition to our middle infield."
 
Dypwick on choosing MSUB: "I made my decision to go to MSUB because I felt as if I had fit in from the start. I felt extremely welcomed and wanted by the coaches and players. I felt as if the coaches not only cared about me as a player, but also as a person. I am close enough to home, but far away at the same time."
 
Avery Gray
Pitcher
Gillette, Wyoming
Campbell County High School
Intended Major: Health & Human Performance
 
Gray has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the state of Wyoming, lettering in three seasons of softball at Campbell County High School, with her senior year yet to be played. She has been a first team all-conference and first team all-state selection every year of her high school career, and has earned Wyoming Player of the Year honors in each of her three seasons from various organizations. She helped her team win a state championship as a freshman, picking up the win in the championship game, and has helped guide Campbell County to two consecutive third place state finishes the following years. Gray owns a number of state and school records as a pitcher, including for strikeouts in a game, season, and career. She also holds the record for lowest ERA and WHIP totals in Campbell County program history, as well as the most wins and shut outs. Gray is also more than capable as a batter, where she holds the state and school records for single season batting average, hits, doubles, and RBI totals, while holding school records for the highest slugging percentage and on base percentage. Gray has been an honor roll member in each year of her high school career, and is a member of National Honor Society.
 
Coach McKinney on Gray: "We are excited to have Avery join our staff. We have had the privilege of getting to watch her for a while now and have seen her grow each and every year. The movement on her pitches, her competitiveness, and her ability to be a hitter helps our roster to be diverse and gives us more options on the mound and in the lineup."
 
Gray on choosing MSUB: "I wanted to attend a college where I could pursue my degree and play softball that was closer to home. I also wanted to go somewhere where I felt wanted and felt a connection with the coaches. Coach Boomer and Olsen have been great to work with and I am looking forward to my next chapter!"
 
Grace Hood
Catcher/Third Base
Missoula, Montana
Big Sky High School
Intended Major: Business
 
Hood will letter in all four seasons of her high school career at Big Sky High School, featuring behind the plate and at the corner infield positions. She has earned first team all-conference selection at both catcher and first base in her career, and has also been a first team all-state selection. Hood was the Western Montana Offensive Player of the Year the previous season.
 
Coach McKinney on Hood: "Grace is someone that we have been watching for a while and have really enjoyed watching her grow as a player behind the plate, at third base, and especially at the plate. She is a versatile player that can work at catcher and third for us. She will add another strong bat to our lineup in the upcoming year."
 
Hood on choosing MSUB: "I really created a relationship with the coaches and felt very comfortable with all the girls. Overall felt very at home in the program."
 
Peyton Roberge
First Base/Outfield
Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Tesoro High School
Intended Major: English
 
Roberge has lettered in three seasons of high school softball at Tesero High School, appearing at first base, third base, and the outfield. She has been a key piece in the heart of the lineup over multiple seasons for the Titans, with the team achieving a 51-29-1 record in her career. She holds a batting average over .400 in her career, and set the single season record for hit by pitches as a sophomore. She has earned the Scholar Athlete award in her time at Tesoro, and multiple awards for excellence in a number of classes.
 
Coach McKinney on Roberge: "Peyton is someone that first caught our eye at one of our camps and we had the opportunity to continue to watch her improve over the years. She is a hard worker that is willing to play any position her team needs her. She has a strong bat as well. Her versatility on the field will be an excellent addition to our roster."
 
Roberge on choosing MSUB: "Ever since I started my recruiting journey, MSUB has always been at the top of my list. They were my first camp and experience with recruiting. The coaching staff has been amazing and MSUB itself is gorgeous. Billings is kind and beautiful. The nature around MSUB makes Billings feel like home."