UTEP Softball Addresses Pitching Void with Kaylee Hewitt

It doesn't take a genius to realize that the UTEP softball program has struggled mightily over the years because they have been unable to consistently recruit quality pitchers to El Paso. Head coach T.J. Hubbard is working to change that, and his latest signee could be the start of better times for the Miners. Kaylee Hewitt, who won six games as a freshman for Virginia Tech with an ERA of 2.08 has signed with UTEP.

"Kaylee Hewitt is a great addition to UTEP softball," Coach Hubbard said in the official school release. "I am excited to welcome her to El Paso. Her experience in the ACC and success against top 25 opponents will help us elevate the program to new heights. I look forward to watching her lead the Miners to the top of C-USA."

Hewitt was born in Clovis, New Mexico and she began her high school in Carlsbad before she moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She received offers from Oregon, Oklahoma State, Pitt and Virginia Tech. She originally committed to Oregon before she flipped to the Hokies. As a freshman, Hewitt no-hit North Carolina A&T and then she got a huge 2-1 win against #13 Minnesota. However, she did not play in 2021 as she was battling a variety of injuries. Now healthy, she immediately becomes one of the top starting pitchers for the Miners. UTEP also signed Annika Litterio, a top high school pitcher from Earl Warren High School in San Antonio.

Earlier this week, UTEP announced a trio of junior college transfers that will help solidify the Miners infield for the 2022 season. The three signees are infielders hailing from Texas junior colleges: Cheyenne Stark (C/UTL) from Grayson College and teammates Marijn Crouwel (C/3B) and Hunter Harkrider (SS) from Odessa College.

As a sophomore, Stark hit 13 HRs, 50 RBIs, stole 17 bases and had 63 base hits in 56 games to help lead Grayson College to the NJCAA World Series National Championship Game. Crouwel slashed .416/.481/.664 and was a Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) All-Conference First Team selection in her first and only year as the Wranglers’ starting catcher in 2020-21. Harkrider led the Odessa Wranglers with 18 home runs, was second on the team with 66 RBIs, and she hit .418 in the 2020-21 season.