SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana head softball coach
Gretta Melsted announced Friday
E.J. Scharmer, a transfer student-athlete from Division I Oakland University, has committed to the Vikings.
A Mankato, Minn., native, Scharmer spent the fall at OU and enters Augustana as a freshman this spring. She has four years of eligibility remaining.
A 2011 graduate of Mankato East High School, Scharmer was a four-year starter and letterwinner and captained her team as a senior. The four-year all-conference first team recipient was also named all-state first team and all-section first team as a junior and senior after leading the Cougars to a pair of section championships and third-place finishes in the state tournament. Scharmer batted .548 as a senior and smashed 36 hits and 14 home runs to earn her second conference championship.
"We are excited that E.J. transferred to Augustana because she is great fit for our program and our school,” said Melsted. “She is a very intelligent young woman who will be studying pre-medicine. Athletic wise, she is a very strong defensive catcher who can also hit for power."
The Vikings finished the 2011 season 50-11, marking the most wins in a season since 2000. Augustana also won the Central 1 Regional to advance to the Super Regional for the first time since 2000.
Augustana opens the 2012 season with five games in two days – Feb. 10 and 11 – at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas, Nev.
