Lehigh University Athletics
Troyan Announces Lehigh Softball Class of 2021
1/18/2017 12:58:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With the Lehigh softball program set to begin preseason preparations for the 2017 season next week, head coach Fran Troyan has announced the addition of four student-athletes who will join the Mountain Hawks in the fall. Lehigh's incoming class features four versatile players who can all play multiple positions, including one pitcher. Three states are represented among the class of 2021, with two players from Arizona, one from Michigan and one from southern California.
"We are thrilled with the makeup of the Class of 2021," Troyan said. "The fact of the matter is that this class will be replacing the outstanding seniors we presently have in the program. This class brings us a little of everything: strong pitching; outstanding defense; power hitting; and instinctive base running."
The Mountain Hawks went 36-16 in 2016, good enough to win their fifth consecutive Patriot League regular season title. Before the class of 2021 arrives in the fall, the 2017 Mountain Hawks will be aiming to win their 14th Patriot League Tournament title and second in the last three seasons. Lehigh returns four all-league performers from a season ago and will open the 2017 campaign at the Citrus Classic, Feb. 24-26 in Orlando, Fla.
More information on the class of 2021 can be found below:
Payton Alsobrooks • OF/C/UT • Glendale, Ariz. • Arts and Sciences
A versatile offensive player who combines power and speed, Payton Alsobrooks comes to Lehigh from Glendale, Arizona and Mountain Ridge High School. In 2016, Alsobrooks was a second team all-section selection and the Mountain Ridge Offensive MVP. A four-year varsity starter and three-time captain, Alsobrooks batted .322 with 19 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 50 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in her junior season. She was named a Scout All-American in 2016. The honorable mention Academic All-State performer can catch or play the outfield. She plays her travel softball for Gary Davis and the AZ Hotshots. Alsobrooks also lettered and served as a team captain in volleyball.
Troyan on Alsobrooks: "We are very lucky have Payton join our program. We saw Payton relatively late in the recruiting process and were impressed with her athleticism and versatility. She will be able to play a myriad of positions and has been fortunate to play on a strong Arizona Hotshots team which will allow her to be ready to go when she arrives on campus."
Allyson Dibsie • C/UT • San Diego, Calif. • Arts and Sciences
Lehigh has brought in yet another player from Southern California in catcher/utility Allyson Dibsie. A San Diego product, Dibsie attends Westview High School, the same school that produced current junior Katie Schultz. A two-time all-league selection, Dibsie was her team's Rookie, Defensive Player and then Offensive Player of the Year in her first three high school seasons. She batted .344 with 12 home runs and a .461 on-base percentage last year and was named to the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Team. Dibsie plays her travel ball for Mike Imoto's So Cal Breakers.
Troyan on Dibsie: "Allyson is a tremendous power hitter, and while she gets much recognition for her hitting she is quite accomplished as a catcher. We feel like this combination of offense and defense will serve her incredibly well at Lehigh."
Lainey Stephenson • P/UT • Scottsdale, Ariz. • Arts and Sciences
Pitcher/utility player Lainey Stephenson joins the program from Veritas College Prep in Scottsdale Arizona. She joins Alsobrooks as Arizona products who played their travel softball for Gary Davis and the AZ Hotshots. Stephenson is a two-time underclass All-American as well as a two-time small school All-American. She capped her first two seasons by being named AIA Division Player of the Year. As a junior she was named first team All-Division as a utility player and second team All-Division as a pitcher. Stephenson batted .551 with five home runs as a junior and pitched to a 0.72 ERA with 1,059 strikeouts in 449.2 innings of work.
Troyan on Stephenson: "Lainey comes to Lehigh with a tremendous softball pitching pedigree. She has been outstanding at the high school level, and has competed at the highest levels extremely well for her travel ball teams. She also has the ability to hit for some power. We can't wait to get Lainey on campus."
Sophie VanAcker • OF • Highland, Mich. • Arts and Sciences
Sophie VanAcker is an outfielder who comes to Lehigh from Mercy High School in Highland, Michigan. VanAcker is already a three-time All-Catholic League performer and is a two-time All-State performer, including a first team selection last year. She batted .532 with 82 hits, 57 runs scored, 24 RBI, and five triples in her junior season. VanAcker was a member of Catholic League champions in 2014 and 2016 as well as the 2016 state championship winning team. She plays her travel softball for Donny Dreher's Finesse Fastpitch team. VanAcker also lettered in hockey where she is a two-time all-league selection who won state titles in 2015 and 2016.
Troyan on VanAcker: "Sophie is a feisty outfielder from Michigan. She plays on a great travel team and has shown that she is a tough out for any pitcher in the country. She also has great base running instincts. We love Sophie's competitiveness, which will help her from day one at Lehigh!"
Lehigh Softball Class of 2021
"We are thrilled with the makeup of the Class of 2021," Troyan said. "The fact of the matter is that this class will be replacing the outstanding seniors we presently have in the program. This class brings us a little of everything: strong pitching; outstanding defense; power hitting; and instinctive base running."
The Mountain Hawks went 36-16 in 2016, good enough to win their fifth consecutive Patriot League regular season title. Before the class of 2021 arrives in the fall, the 2017 Mountain Hawks will be aiming to win their 14th Patriot League Tournament title and second in the last three seasons. Lehigh returns four all-league performers from a season ago and will open the 2017 campaign at the Citrus Classic, Feb. 24-26 in Orlando, Fla.
More information on the class of 2021 can be found below:
Payton Alsobrooks • OF/C/UT • Glendale, Ariz. • Arts and Sciences
A versatile offensive player who combines power and speed, Payton Alsobrooks comes to Lehigh from Glendale, Arizona and Mountain Ridge High School. In 2016, Alsobrooks was a second team all-section selection and the Mountain Ridge Offensive MVP. A four-year varsity starter and three-time captain, Alsobrooks batted .322 with 19 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 50 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in her junior season. She was named a Scout All-American in 2016. The honorable mention Academic All-State performer can catch or play the outfield. She plays her travel softball for Gary Davis and the AZ Hotshots. Alsobrooks also lettered and served as a team captain in volleyball.
Troyan on Alsobrooks: "We are very lucky have Payton join our program. We saw Payton relatively late in the recruiting process and were impressed with her athleticism and versatility. She will be able to play a myriad of positions and has been fortunate to play on a strong Arizona Hotshots team which will allow her to be ready to go when she arrives on campus."
Allyson Dibsie • C/UT • San Diego, Calif. • Arts and Sciences
Lehigh has brought in yet another player from Southern California in catcher/utility Allyson Dibsie. A San Diego product, Dibsie attends Westview High School, the same school that produced current junior Katie Schultz. A two-time all-league selection, Dibsie was her team's Rookie, Defensive Player and then Offensive Player of the Year in her first three high school seasons. She batted .344 with 12 home runs and a .461 on-base percentage last year and was named to the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Team. Dibsie plays her travel ball for Mike Imoto's So Cal Breakers.
Troyan on Dibsie: "Allyson is a tremendous power hitter, and while she gets much recognition for her hitting she is quite accomplished as a catcher. We feel like this combination of offense and defense will serve her incredibly well at Lehigh."
Lainey Stephenson • P/UT • Scottsdale, Ariz. • Arts and Sciences
Pitcher/utility player Lainey Stephenson joins the program from Veritas College Prep in Scottsdale Arizona. She joins Alsobrooks as Arizona products who played their travel softball for Gary Davis and the AZ Hotshots. Stephenson is a two-time underclass All-American as well as a two-time small school All-American. She capped her first two seasons by being named AIA Division Player of the Year. As a junior she was named first team All-Division as a utility player and second team All-Division as a pitcher. Stephenson batted .551 with five home runs as a junior and pitched to a 0.72 ERA with 1,059 strikeouts in 449.2 innings of work.
Troyan on Stephenson: "Lainey comes to Lehigh with a tremendous softball pitching pedigree. She has been outstanding at the high school level, and has competed at the highest levels extremely well for her travel ball teams. She also has the ability to hit for some power. We can't wait to get Lainey on campus."
Sophie VanAcker • OF • Highland, Mich. • Arts and Sciences
Sophie VanAcker is an outfielder who comes to Lehigh from Mercy High School in Highland, Michigan. VanAcker is already a three-time All-Catholic League performer and is a two-time All-State performer, including a first team selection last year. She batted .532 with 82 hits, 57 runs scored, 24 RBI, and five triples in her junior season. VanAcker was a member of Catholic League champions in 2014 and 2016 as well as the 2016 state championship winning team. She plays her travel softball for Donny Dreher's Finesse Fastpitch team. VanAcker also lettered in hockey where she is a two-time all-league selection who won state titles in 2015 and 2016.
Troyan on VanAcker: "Sophie is a feisty outfielder from Michigan. She plays on a great travel team and has shown that she is a tough out for any pitcher in the country. She also has great base running instincts. We love Sophie's competitiveness, which will help her from day one at Lehigh!"
Lehigh Softball Class of 2021
| Name | Pos. | Hometown/High School | College |
| Payton Alsobrooks | OF/C/UT | Glendale, Ariz./Mountain Ridge | Arts and Sciences |
| Allyson Dibsie | C/UT | San Diego, Calif./Westview | Arts and Sciences |
| Lainey Stephenson | P/UT | Scottsdale, Ariz./Veritas College Prep | Arts and Sciences |
| Sophie VanAcker | OF | Highland, Mich./Mercy | Arts and Sciences |
Players Mentioned
OF
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