SIOUX FALLS – University of Sioux Falls Head Softball Coach Shannon Pivovar announced Tuesday (June 9) the signings of Mika Rodriguez and Kennedy Thomas who will enroll at USF and begin classes in the fall of 2020 to continue their academic and athletic careers at USF.  

Thomas is an infielder from Ankeny, Iowa (Johnson County Community College) and Rodriguez, a shortstop from Laveen, Ariz., who is a graduate transfer from Minnesota Crookston. They join a 2020 class that also includes fall signees Damaris Cuevas, catcher-third base, Millard, Neb.; Megan Lawson, middle infield, Omaha, Neb.; Shayla Shaver, pitcher/infielder, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Emma Spizzirri, infield/outfield, Omaha, Neb.
 
"We are excited to welcome both Mika (Rodriguez) and Kennedy (Thomas) into our USF softball family," said Pivovar, whose USF team finished 11-8 in 2020. "Each player brings something different in terms of their softball skills and will help to complete the overall dynamic of our team next season. Collectively, they bring great families, high academic standards and excitement to join into the Cougar family. Mika and Kennedy will be great additions to our family," Pivovar said.
 
Rodriguez, who will enroll in USF's Master of Business Administration program, was a standout at Minnesota-Crookston. The daughter of Nancy and Rueben Rodriguez, she comes to USF after a senior season cut short due to CoVID-19. In her collegiate career, Rodriguez, who has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international business from Minnesota-Crookston (2020), totaled 13 home runs with 67 RBI during her time with the Golden Eagles.

As a sophomore transfer at Minnesota-Crookston, Rodriguez hit .301 with three home runs, 24 RBI and 20 runs scored.  During her junior campaign, Rodriguez hit .269 with 33 runs, six stolen bases, and a program-record nine home runs along with 25 RBI. Rodriguez, who had a .524 slugging mark and .361 on-base percentage, led UMC with 111 assists. Before the 2020 softball season ended this spring she had a home run, triple and .229 average in 16 games for the Golden Eagles.  

Rodriguez played her freshman season collegiately at Briar Cliff University (NAIA, Sioux City, Iowa). With BC, she hit .286, scored 11 runs, collected seven doubles and had 12 RBI's while posting a .357 slugging percentage. In the field, Rodriguez had a .940 fielding percentage with 75 putouts and 83 assists.
 
A standout at Betty H. Fairfax High School in Laveen, Ariz., Rodriguez had six career home runs, 18 doubles, and hit at least .386 in her final two seasons. In fact, she batted .418 as a junior with 27 runs, four home runs, 11 doubles and three triples. As a senior, she hit .386 with 10 runs, seven doubles, a triple and two home runs.
 
"Mika is joining our team as a grad transfer, so she brings a ton of high level softball experience to our team. We will be looking for her to jump in and hit the ground running - bringing with her that knowledge and passion. She is a fierce competitor and works hard on and off the softball field. I'm so glad Mika and her parents Nancy and Reuben (Rodriquez) have joined our USF family for her final year of softball!"
 
Thomas, who will be a sophomore, will play first base and serve as a utility player. A transfer from Johnson County Community College (Overland Park, Kan.), she totaled a .333 average (18 hits, 54 at bats) in 21 games with 10 runs, seven doubles and a home run with 19 RBI in two seasons. She also had a .397 on base percentage and .519 slugging mark.
 
A member of the Sting Softball club team, she was a standout at Ankeny (Iowa) High School where she was a four-time CIML All-Conference selection. Named to the 2018 All-State team, she set the Ankeny High's single season RBI record with 68 and also owns the all-time RBI mark at the school of 159. Additionally, she had 23 HRs, 35 doubles, and 15 stolen bases while hitting at least .363 or better her final three years. As a junior she batted. 413 with four homers, 46 RBI, 50 hits, 20 runs and 14 doubles. As a senior, she hit .458 with 66 hits, 34 runs scored, 15 homers, 68 RBI and 10 doubles.
 
At AHS, she also played basketball (post/center) and participated in track (discus, shot put) while starring as a pitcher, infielder and outfielder in softball. The daughter of Dawn and Harlan Thomas, she was academic all-conference seven times (softball, track and basketball). At USF, she plans on majoring in elementary education.
 
"We are super excited to welcome Kennedy to our USF family. She graduated from Ankeny HS as one of the top hitters in the state and had great success at Johnson County prior to an injury," said Pivovar. "She brings power at the plate and will elevate our team offensively. I am looking forward to seeing her grow and progress even further as we will get to have her as part of the family for three years! We welcome Kennedy and her parents Dawn and Harlan to our USF family," said Pivovar.