SIUC softball coach Kay Brechtelsbauer decided Monday that it is never too early to begin planning for the future.

With the Salukis’ 1998 season still three months away, Brechtelsbauer signed two new recruits during the early signing period for the 1999 season.

Catcher/first baseman Andrea Harris and outfielder Jessica Laughry became the latest athletes to join the Salukis’ program. Although the Salukis have no seniors on this year’s club, Brechtelsbauer said she recruited this season to prepare for their departures.

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We have no senior class, and it is important for us to bring in two quality players, Brechtelsbauer said. One (reason) is to bolster the team we already have and also not to have a big gap the following year when we’re going to lose five seniors.

Harris will be looked upon to help relieve junior catcher Brooke Hattermann from the daily grind of games. As a junior at Harrison High School in Evansville, Ind., Harris hit .475 with 33 RBI. Harris was a third-team all-state selection and holds the school record for career home runs (11) and RBI (97).

But Brechtelsbauer is not limiting her options with Harris.

She’ll have to do some catching because Brooke won’t be able to do all the catching, Brechtelsbauer said. (It is important) particularly when you get into tournaments and you have to play two or three games a day. She may be doing a little first base to get some experience behind [junior] Theresa [Shields].

Laughry also put up stellar offensive numbers as a prep, hitting .447 with 33 runs batted in as a senior. But her defensive abilities impress Brechtelsbauer the most. At Jenks High School in Tulsa, Okla., Laughry had a .998 fielding percentage in centerfield.

The combination of Laughry’s speed on the bases and her defensive play allows her to contribute in many ways. Laughry stole 127 bases during her high school career.

She may be stepping in as a freshman, but she’s got that much speed, Brechtelsbauer said. And she’s an excellent left-side slap hitter.

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Brechtelsbauer enjoys the idea of having such talented players come in as freshmen. In the preseason, she received strong contributions from first-year players Marta Viefhaus, Julie Meier and Erin Stremsterfer.

Brechtelsbauer said strong freshman play forces the more experience players to work harder in practice.

It creates a little bit of an atmosphere of competitiveness, Brechtelsbauer said. If somebody is going to step up and move forward in the program, it’s a plus.