CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M head softball coach Michael Mook announced that two players have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Lady Buffs in the fall of 2021. The incoming class features Heidi Vortherms and Emma Parrish.
 
Heidi Vortherms
Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt High School / RHP
Vortherms plays under head coach Scott Rider as a right-handed pitcher and infielder.  She helped the Rough Riders to a 14-8-1 record in her senior campaign as she hit .386 with a 1.019 earned run average.  She received All-Tournament and All-State recognition her junior and senior seasons. 
 
Vortherms was also a three-time All-State orchestra member who excelled in the classroom as a member of National Honors Society and Science National Honor Society.  She was a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist.
 
She is the daughter of Pam and Jim Vortherms and has one older sibling, Josh.  She is expected to major in athletic training while attending West Texas A&M.
 
"I am extremely excited to have Heidi join or Lady Buff softball family," said Mook.  "She is a hard worker with a lot of talent and a student of the game.  I am looking forward to working with her for the next four years."
 
Emma Parrish
Frankfort, Ill. / Lincoln-Way East High School / RHP
Parrish played under head coach Elizabeth Hyland as a right-handed pitcher before the season was cancelled due to the pandemic.  In her sophomore campaign, she helped the Griffins to a 21-0 record leading them to a conference championship. 
 
Parrish also shines in the classroom as she is a member of the National Honors Society, National Science Society, and National Mathmatics Society while serving time as a board member of the FFA.
 
She is the daughter of Michelle and Jeremy Parrish and has one sibling, Carlie.  She plans to major in animal science at WT.
 
"I am thrilled to have Emma joining our Lady Buff softball family.  She is a player that will really fit in well to what we are looking to build her at WT.  She is a player that puts in the work and picks up on things quickly.  I am looking forward to having her in our program for four years."