Lee University head softball coach Emily Moore recently announced the addition of her first signing for next year’s softball team. Jessica Lander hails from Lebanon, Ohio and will help try to offset the loss of senior starting pitcher Jamie Ensminger.
Lander is presently a senior at Lebanon High School. She is a right-handed starting pitcher, although she plays shortstop and outfield as well. Lander has led Lebanon to two Ohio District Championships, including Regional Runner-Up for the 2003 season. She has received several first team All-Area awards, and was the 2002 Mid-Miami League (MML) North Division Player of the Year.
Lander, a two-time MML first team All-League selection, has been a very successful pitcher through her three seasons at Lebanon. For her career, she has pitched in 49 games, posting an outstanding 35-4 record with four saves. In 283 innings, she has walked only 35, while striking out 432 batters, or 13.5 per nine innings. Her earned run average over that time is a stingy 0.48. The 5-foot-8 senior has hurled 16 shutouts and has three perfect games to her credit.
In addition to high school softball, Lander has also traveled with several teams during the summer. She said, “I love the challenge of competition and the tougher the situation the more I enjoy it.” Lander has faced tough opponents, helping guide several traveling teams to championships, including one in the Sluggerfest Tournament and also the U.S. traveling team that won the Campbelltown 19-Under Softball Challenge in Australia.
Lander has not decided on a major at Lee, but is interested in chemistry. She said she wants to attend a college “with both a strong academic and a strong softball program that will help me reach my fullest potential in both areas.”