SPEARFISH, S.D. – Following arguably the best season in program history, head coach
Ashlyn Englehorn and the Black Hills State University softball program looks to carry that momentum forward as they announce the 2025 signing class on Wednesday afternoon. A total of seven will join the Yellow Jackets next season, including freshmen Sammie Kaufman-Warner (Chandler, Ariz./Perry H.S.), Jessica Melendez (Pasco, Wash./Chiawana H.S.), Brooklyn Theiler (Buckeye, Ariz./Canyon View H.S.), Dakota Poag (Cypress, Texas/Bridgeland H.S.), and Makenna Harrington (Parker, Colo./Legend H.S.), and a pair of transfers, Delaney Milanowski (Spring Green, Wis./Des Moines Area Community College) and Kaitlyn Geschwill (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Central Lakes College).
"Our 2025 signing class is going to come in behind a solid group of returners and push us to a new level of competition within our program and the RMAC," commented head coach
Ashlyn Englehorn. "We knew exactly what we wanted when we were looking at incoming freshmen and transfer student-athletes and we truly feel like this group will help us excel on and off the field."
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Sammie Kaufman-Warner // Outfielder // 5' 5" // Chandler, Arizona // Perry H.S.
One of the top recruits out of the state of Arizona, Kaufman-Warner was a 4-year letterwinner and starter for Perry High School and head coach Nathan Harder. She closed out her prep career in 2025 by being named both Honorable Mention AIA 6A Premier All-Region and Honorable Mention All-CUSD for the second time in her career, previously earning the accolades in 2023, as she hit .514 with a .622 on-base percentage and five extra base knocks in a shortened senior year. She was a part of three Puma squads to advance to the AIA Class 6A State Tournament, including the 2023 team which finished as state runners-up with their second straight 20-win season. Outside of prep softball she also plays in the Arizona Storm Westover program. Sammie is the daughter of Julie Kaufman and Linda Warner, and has three siblings, Jacob, Ethan, and Emma.
Coach Englehorn's Thoughts: "Sammie is going to be a big addition for us on the left side of the plate and will fit in well with our team on and off the field. What stood out to us when recruiting Sammie was her ability to use her tools to create problems for opposing defenses. She is a true 5-tool player who has the ability to hit for contact, power, and play small ball, which is something you look for in an elite outfielder."
Jessica Melendez // Infielder/Utility // 5' 2" // Pasco, Washington // Chiawana H.S.
Melendez was a 4-year starter for head coach Matt Hirai at Chiawana High School, helping guide the Riverhawks to a 65-33 record overall and a 45-20 mark in the Mid-Columbia Conference during that time span. She capped her prep career with her second First Team All-MCC honor as a senior, batting a career-best .560 at the plate with 38 hits, 16 RBIs, 25 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. She earned Honorable Mention All-MCC as a junior, after she began her high school career by earning First Team All-MCC honors in 2022 as a freshman, helping lead the team to a WIAA Class 4A State Tournament appearance as she batted .455 and added a .571 on-base percentage on the year. She also played travel ball for the Washington Angels, where her team qualified for the PGF Nationals for 14U in 2022, 16U in 2023, and 18U in 2024 and 2025. Jessica is the daughter of Jesus and Angel Melendez, and has two siblings, Alyssa and Samantha.
Coach Englehorn's Thoughts: "Jessica plays with and against some of the best athletes in the Pacific Northwest and we are thrilled to add her to our class. She has been able to grow as a player working with her sisters who will also compete at the collegiate level respectively. Jessica offers us a solid offense, speed on the bases, and a great glove on defense. She will mix in well with the middle infielders in the conference. Jessica also has won four state championships in slowpitch with the Chiawana Riverhawks."
Brooklyn Theiler // Outfielder // 5' 6" // Buckeye, Arizona // Canyon View H.S.
Theiler was a 2-year letterwinner for head coach John Jacobs at Canyon View High School as she helped lead the Jaguars to the AIA Class 5A state title game in 2024 and the state semifinals in 2025. In her final season of prep softball in 2025, she earned First Team All-5A Desert West as she hit .386 with a .507 on-base percentage, and a 1.033 on-base plus slugging percentage, recording 22 hits, four doubles, two triples, 17 RBIs, 24 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. The year prior she earned Honorable Mention All-5A Desert West honors as a junior in 2024, hitting .412 with a .524 on-base percentage. Brooklyn is the daughter of Brandie and Tim Theiler, and has one sibling, Mason.
Coach Englehorn's Thoughts: "Brooklyn meshed with us as soon as we got on a phone call with her and assimilated with the team the moment she stepped on campus. We knew she was going to fit in well with our program not only with her personality but also her competitiveness. She comes from a very competitive program with the Arizona Storm, and we expect her to come in battle tested and ready to compete from day one. A true lefty, Brooklyn is going to add a reliable glove to our outfield."
Dakota Poag // Pitcher // 5' 8" // Cypress, Texas // Bridgeland H.S.
Poag, a graduate of Bridgeland High School, joins the Yellow Jackets after spending three years as a part of the Texas Riptide 18U Campbell program, one of the top organizations in the country that continuously produces elite level talent. Her teams have competed at the 2023 Top-12 PGF Nationals and the 2024 Top Gun Invitational – Kansas City Top 16. The Riptide were co-champions of the silver bracket in the 2024 Triple Crown Texas State Tournament. Dakota is the daughter of Joel and Sandra Poag, and has one sibling, Madeline.
Coach Englehorn's Thoughts: "Dakota has been around elite competition in Texas and has continually impressed us with her ability to show command in the circle. Dakota is a pitcher who has the ability to tunnel her pitches exceptionally well, and her pitching arsenal will add a new look to our pitching staff and help us continue to compete at a high level in the RMAC."
Makenna Harrington // Infielder/Utility // 5' 4" // Parker, Colorado // Legend H.S.
Harrington joins the Yellow Jacket after being a 4-year letterwinner and starter for head coach Kristen Shirk at Legend High School. She helped lead the Titans to the CHSAA Class 5A State Softball Tournament all four years, winning the title in 2021 and advancing to the semifinals in 2022 and 2024. They also won three Continental League Championships during her time at LHS in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Hitting better than .320 each season, she closed her prep career with her best year as a senior as she was named Honorable Mention CHSAA Class 5A All-State, hitting .412 with an on-base percentage of .489 and a .763 slugging percentage. She recorded a total of 33 hits, nine doubles, two triples, and five homeruns for 27 RBIs and 36 runs scored. In addition to the all-state honor, she earned First Team All-Continental League in 2024. Outside of prep softball, she also plays for the Colorado Batbusters 18U National Smith program, who competes on the national stage with other top travel ball teams. Makenna is the daughter of Lance and Jesica Harrington and has one sibling, Gunner.
Coach Englehorn's Thoughts: "We are so excited to get another player from the Denver area on our squad. Makenna brings quiet confidence to the field and will be able to add depth to our middle infield. Makenna has the ability to make game changing plays both defensively and on the basepaths."
Delaney Milanowski // Catcher/Utility // 5' 6" // Spring Green, Wisconsin // River Valley H.S. // Des Moines Area Community College
Milanowski will enter the Yellow Jacket program as a junior after spending the previous two years at NJCAA power, Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). She was a part of two trips for the Bears to the NJCAA Division II World Series, helping the team to a 103-18 record and a 50-6 mark in the ICCAC. She played in 83 games during her career, batting .330 as she recorded 67 hits, 18 doubles, 15 homeruns, 64 RBIs, and 41 runs scored. En route to Second Team All-Region 11 honors, Milanowski boasted an impressive freshman year that saw her hit .360 with a .401 on-base percentage, and a .734 percentage. She tallied 50 hits, 13 doubles, 13 homeruns, 49 RBIs, and 31 runs scored during the 2024 season. Prior to joining the DMACC program, she helped River Valley High School win the Southwest Conference title in 2021 and 2022 and the regional title in 2021 and 2023. She was a 3-time All-WIAA, All-Region, and All-SWC selection for head coach Jane Brehil and the Blackhawks. She played travel ball for the Team Heat softball program. Delaney is the daughter of Denise and Todd Milanowski and has two brothers Foster and Abbott.
Coach Englehorn's Thoughts: "Delaney comes from DMACC who is continually competing with the highest junior college competition in the country. Not only is she a confident leader behind the plate, but she has the ability to play multiple infield positions. With two years of top JUCO competition under her belt, we are looking forward to Delaney helping add experience to our infield and battery."
Kaitlyn Geschwill // Pitcher/Utility // 5' 4" // Pequot Lakes, Minnesota // Pequot Lakes H.S. // Central Lakes College
Geschwill will add key experience and depth in the circle for the Yellow Jackets, joining the program as a junior after spending two seasons at Central Lakes College. The 2-time MCAC North Division Player of the Year, All-MCAC, First Team All-MCAC North Division, and All-Region 13 selection guided the Raiders to a 58-27 record overall and an undefeated 36-0 mark in league play in the 2024 and 2025 season. After finishing as the regional runners-up in 2024, CLC won the regional title and advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament in 2025. She appeared in a total of 48 games in the circle, pitching 243.0 innings and 32 complete games. She struck out a total of 309 batters, averaging 8.90 per seven innings as she allowed just a 2.05 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. She was a Second Team All-American in 2024 in the NJCAA and was the NJCAA National Pitcher of the Week on three occasions. Geschwill also made her presence known as a hitter for Central Lakes, holding a .380 batting average and .472 on-base percentage as she tallied 104 hits, 22 doubles, five triples, six homeruns, 63 RBIs, and 109 runs scored during her career. Prior to attending CLC she was a prep standout at Pequot Lakes High School where she threw 14 no-hitters and graduated as the school record holder in strikeouts with 646 in her four seasons as a Patriot. As a 4-year starter she was a 4-time All-Mid State Conference selection and a 3-time all-section honoree in addition to being a Second Team All-MSHSL Class AA selection in 2022 and First Team All-MSHSL Class AA in 2023. More than half of her 646 career strikeouts came as a senior, throwing 352 in 176 innings as she posted a 0.75 ERA and only walked 28. Geschwill also broke the Minnesota state record with 17 shutouts during the 2023 season as she helped lead PLHS to a state tournament bid. She helped lead the Patriots to Mid-State Conference titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Kaitlyn is the daughter of Kris and Larry Geschwill and has one sibling, Jordan.
Coach Englehorn's Thoughts: "Kaitlyn has been an incredible asset for Central Lakes for the last two years. She is a proven competitor and proven winner and will add more depth and experience to our young pitching staff."
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