November 15, 2005

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech Athletics Department, along with head softball coach Scot Thomas, announced Tuesday the two signees who comprise the early 2006 signing class. Destiny Covington and Heather Lowry have signed National Letters of Intent to enroll and play softball at Virginia Tech. The two will enroll for the Fall, 2006 semester and begin playing on the 2007 squad.

Covington, a native of Midland, N.C., (just outside of Charlotte) was a 2004 Louisville Slugger/NFCA First-Team High School All-American after her sophomore season. Last year, as a junior, she led Central Cabbarus High to a Group 4A state title, going 32-0. She had four hits in the championship game. Her high school team has won 56 games in a row dating back to her sophomore year, when they also won a state title. As a junior, she had a state-record 52 hits, scoring 52 runs, batting .470 and stealing 25 bases. The speedy outfielder stole 37 bases as a sophomore, scoring 46 runs and batting .478. She was named first-team Group 4A all-state last season and is a two-time first-team All-Observer selection, by The Charlotte Observer.

"Destiny gives us somebody who has great speed and can hit from both sides of the plate," Thomas said. "We're definitely looking for her to be in the leadoff spot in the near future. She is a great individual with great character and comes from the type of family we want associated with our program."

Lowry is a Riverdale, Ga., product who is one of the top pitchers in her state. The Jonesboro High product is finished with her high school career as Georgia high schools play softball in the fall. She won 22 games her final season, striking out 400 and walking just 22 in 167 innings pitched with an ERA of 0.46. She earned Southern Crescent and all-region first-team honors (2005 state teams have not been named yet). As a junior, she was named second-team GACA Class AAAAA all-state after going 19-5 with 354 strikeouts, an ERA of 0.23 and just 16 walks. She was also named the Southern Crescent Player of the Year and earned all-region first-team honors that year. She was named honorable mention all-state as a sophomore.

Lowry pitched virtually every game for Jonesboro in her four years. She led them to state sectionals for the first and only four times in school history, placing fourth in 2002 and 2003, and first in 2004 and 2005 at the regional tournament. Lowry plays summer ball for Xtreme-Mavericks out of Atlanta, a team that has finished in the top 20 at ASA Nationals each of the last three years. She also carries an impressive GPA and earned an NFCA Academic award.

"We think Heather is going to be a great replacement for Katie Maynard, who will graduate this year," Thomas said. "She is a versatile pitcher who has a lot of different pitches. I feel like she's going to come in and fit in nicely with our staff. She also comes from a great family. Both kids are types we want around our program."

Thomas has indicated that he would like to sign an additional player in the late signing period, which begins in April, 2006.