May 15, 2008

Contact: Brian McCann

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Brandy Holmes, who has won 31 games in three high school seasons, has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Cleveland State University and play softball beginning in the fall of 2008. CSU head coach Angie Nicholson made the announcement on Thursday (May 15).

A two-time all-district selection at Clay High School in suburban Toledo, Holmes is currently 5-2 with a 1.38 ERA this season, striking out 70 batters. At the plate, she is hitting .405 with three homeruns.

"Brandy is going to be a nice addition to our program and I look forward to working with her this fall," Nicholson said. "She is a low-ball pitcher who throws hard and consequently, gets a lot of ground ball outs.

"Brandy's versatility will also be a good addition. When she isn't pitching, she has the ability to contribute at another position with a solid bat at the plate."

A three-year starter, she was 13-3 with a 1.17 ERA and 147 strikeouts as a junior in 2007 and 13-2 with an 0.85 ERA with 119 strikeouts as a sophomore in 2006. She allowed opposing batters to hit just .197 during her junior year and .168 as a sophomore.

Holmes, a right-hander, set the school record for strikeouts in a game with 15 as a sophomore. She matched the record again in a game last season.

Holmes, who also plays defensively at first base, earned first team all-city honors as both a sophomore and junior, was also a second team all-district pick and the MVP of the City League Tournament each year.

A standout at the plate as well, she hit .333 (12-36) with six runs scored and 11 walks as a sophomore and .366 (26-71) with five doubles, nine runs scored and eight walks as a junior.

Holmes, who has a 3.8 GPA at Clay High School, is interested in majoring in nursing at CSU. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the International Club as well as being a three-year member of the Honor Roll and the National Honor Society.

Cleveland State returns all but one regular from the 2008 team that won 30 games for a school-record third consecutive season, going 31-18 and winning the Horizon League regular season title for the first time in program history.