ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson University head softball coach Tommy Hewitt has announced that four prep standouts signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period in in late November, and will compete for the Trojans beginning in the fall of 2015.

"I have said it before about other signees but these four young ladies are exactly what we are looking for in an AU student-athlete and they are a perfect fit for our university," said Hewitt. "They are good students and extremely motivated. All of them played on highly competitive high school and travel ball teams. I would expect all of them to have an immediate impact on our program. All four love to play the game."

Kasey Grant, an infielder for The Lakeside School (Eufaula, Ala.), helped lead the Chiefs to second place in the 2013 state tournament and was a member of the 2009 state championship team. The Comer, Ala., native was an honorable mention selection at shortstop by the Alabama Sportwriters Association (ASWA) following both her sophomore and junior seasons, while capturing Dothan Eagle Super 12 honorable mention accolades by the newspaper. Grant was named to the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Class A State Tournament Team the past two years, while being named the team's Most Valuable Player following her freshman and junior campaigns.

Grant was named the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player as a sophomore and took home the Captain's Award as a sophomore and junior. She has also excelled on the hardwood for The Lakeside School, earning six letters in hoops action. She was a member of three consecutive state championship teams, earning the squad's Most Valuable Offensive Player honor as a sophomore and was named MVP following her junior season. She has been a two-time first-team ASWA honoree and was the Dothan Eagle Player of the Year following her junior campaign and has reached both the 1,000-rebound and 2,000-point plateaus during her prep career.

"Kasey is a student of the game and plays with high intensity," added Hewitt. "She is all about business on the ball field. It will be fun to watch Kasey's contributions to the program. She really thinks through situations and performs."

Madison Bivins, a native of Ellaville, Ga., was an infielder for the Schley County High School Wildcats who earned first-team all-region 4-A honors the past three seasons and was a GHSA All-State Honorable Mention in 2012. Bivins earned the SCHS Coaches' Award in 2011, while earning the school's Offensive Player of the Year award in 2012 and was named the Black and Silver's Defensive Player of the Year following the 2013 campaign. Bivins helped lead the 'Cats to a 19-7 overall record last season, including a sterling 11-1 region record, while the team advanced to the second round of the GHSA State Tournament.

"Madison is one of those players who always seems to be around the ball and always comes up with the big play," noted Hewitt. "Madison will hit for good average, but she is another one who has the power to hit the ball over the fence."

Michaela Smith helped lead her Laurens District High School (Laurens, S.C.) Lady Raiders to a 24-6 record and a Region I-AAAA Championship last season, before falling, 10-6, to Byrnes in the AAAA district finals. Smith was named All-County in both 2011 and 2012 and earned seven individual MVP awards from the National Softball Association during her travel ball career. The Laurens, S.C., native recorded 17 career home runs and garnered Elite Weight Lifting Awards from 2011-13.

Smith was selected as a 2013 Athletic and Leadership Standout for Female Athletes at Laurens High School and represented LDHS at the South Carolina High School League Leadership Summit. The infielder has been named the recipient of the 2014 Wendy's Heisman Award for Outstanding Female Athlete at LDHS and is also a three-year letterwinner in cross country. Off the field, Smith is a member of the National Honor Society.

"Michaela has power in the gaps and also has the ability to hit the ball out of the park," said Hewitt. "She works extremely hard at her craft, always looking for the rewards from her hard work. She knows hard work pays off."

Virginia "V" Moore, a native of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., is a three-year starter at Wando High School with a .410 career batting average and a .450 on-base percentage. The outfielder has 22 career stolen bases through three seasons and earned All-Region honors in 2014.

Moore was also selected to the All-Low Country Team last season, while earning a spot on the High School Sports Report "Players to Watch" list since her freshman season. She played travel ball for Carolina Elite and is active with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and holds the distinction of being the first player to agree to play for South Carolina FCA when the organization was founded. Away from the diamond, Moore has won the Golden Warrior Award, which recognizes citizenship, four times at Wando and holds a 3.9 GPA in the classroom.

"V is a left-handed slapper who reads defenses very well and is quick and smart on the base paths," noted Hewitt. "She has the ability to slap for hits but can also put the ball in the gap when the situation calls for it."

The Trojans open their 2015 season at home versus Conference Carolinas opponent Lees-McRae on Feb. 1. First pitch for the doubleheader is slated for 1:30 p.m.