Kansas softball signs four to National Letters of Intent

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas softball and head coach Megan Smith announced the signing of four high school seniors to National Letters of Intent on Thursday.

Signing NLIs with the Jayhawks are infielder Cheyenne Hornbucke (Bakersfield, Calif.), pitcher and utility player Lexy Mills (Calabasas, Calif.), outfielder Macy Omli (Goddard, Kan.) and infielder Morgyn Wynne (Pittsburg, Calif.).

“We have grown closer to each of their families over the three- to four-year recruitment period and could be more pleased to make this official today,” Smith said. “This class is such a strong, dynamic and well-balanced group. They are going to make a huge impact on our program throughout the University during their careers as Jayhawks. We already feel like they have been a part of our family, so we feel the transition will be seamless when they arrive in Lawrence next year.” 

Hornbuckle, despite growing up in California, will be a fourth-generation Jayhawk with deep roots in the Lawrence community. The 5-foot-2 infielder attends Stockdale High School in Bakersfield, California, where she led the Mustangs to three-straight Southwest Yosemite League (SWYL) titles entering her senior season this spring. She was named the SWYL Rookie of the Year in 2015 and is coming off back-to-back seasons as a first-team All-SWLY performer.

“I just love the way Cheyenne plays the game with energy,” Smith said. “Cheyenne is a true Jayhawk, not only in her family tradition but also in the way she approaches the game. She is a selfless teammate who does whatever she needs to do for her team. She is also a very polished infielder and takes a lot of pride in her defensive fundamentals. Offensively, she is a consistent force at the plate. She is going to be a spark plug in terms of her demeanor on the field.”

Mills, a 5-foot-8 pitcher and utility player, attends Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, California, where she has earned all-state honors twice. Mills is the back-to-back leader in strikeouts in the competitive Marmonte League in southern California. At the plate in 2017, she was also tops in the league with a .433 batting average. Mills was the league MVP in 2016 and pitcher of the year in 2017.

“Lexi is a very talented pitcher and she has all the tools to come in and be very successful for us quickly,” Smith said. “She moves the ball very well, has great spin and great movement. We would classify her as a power pitcher for her ability to affect a lot of swings and misses. Not only is she a talented pitcher, but a very athletic player as well. She hits. She fields her position extremely well. She has a lot of poise as a pitcher. The thing that has impressed me the most about her is her growth and progression. It has been exciting to see her get better and better the last few years. She is going to be a great addition to our pitching staff next season.”

Omli is a speedy 5-foot-7 outfielder and slap hitter. She attends Eisenhower High School in Goddard, Kansas, where she is a three-sport athlete and member of the National Honor Society. She boasted a .722 batting average on the diamond as a sophomore. Her speed and quickness are not only evident on the base paths, but also in the fact that she qualified for the Kansas Class 5A state track meet and set a program record for steals in basketball for the Tigers.

“Macy caught our eye immediately when we watched her play with her summer team,” Smith said. “She is extremely fast. Her speed is going to be a huge asset for our team. Offensively, she uses her speed to get on base and steal bases with great consistency. Her speed also gives her incredible range as an outfielder.”

Wynne, a 5-foot-7 infielder and power hitter, attends Concord High School in California, where she is a three-time all-North Coast Section (NCS) performer. She helped lead the Minutemen to the NCS title in 2017.

“When I first saw Morgyn, the biggest thing that stood out was her pure power as a hitter,” Smith said. “She has the ability to change the game with one swing of the bat. She is very savvy and smart as a hitter. On top of that, she is able to play multiple positions. She can do it all and her versatility will allow her to compete at a lot of different places on the field — first and foremost as a power hitter in our lineup.”

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