Liberty Adds 4 Transfers to Softball Roster
7/12/2024 12:27:00 PM | Softball
The Liberty softball team has announced the addition of four transfers. Alyssa Henault (Campbell), Paige Doerr (Oregon State), Savanah Whatley (Oregon State) and Haley McManus (Virginia Tech) will all transfer to Liberty and will be eligible immediately. Â
Henault and Whatley will each have one year of eligibility remaining, while Doerr (three) and McManus (four) both have multiple years left to compete.
These players will join an incoming class that includes previously-signed incoming freshmen Danner Allen, Alexia Carrasquillo, Felicity Fonseca, Aubrey Fulcher, Hallie Meeks and Maci Strickland.
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Paige Doerr (OF, Fr., Coburg, Ore./Marist (Oregon State))
Doerr joins the Lady Flames after competing for Oregon State as a freshman. She started 38 games during the 2024 campaign, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors on March 10 after batting .444 with a homer and three RBI. For the season, she batted .235 with two doubles, one homer, six RBI and 10 runs scored. The Oregon native hit a homer against No. 21 Arizona and registered two-hit games versus both No. 12 UCLA and No. 8 Stanford. A 4A All-State player in high school, she batted .637 with 12 homers and 70 RBI as a junior, being named the 2022 Oregon Co-Player of the Year. As a senior, she hit .590 with eight homers and 41 RBI.
Doerr's older sister, Abby, was a catcher for Oregon State in 2023 and 2024, while her mother, Melissa, played softball at Oregon. Â
"Paige will bring speed and experience to the outfield. She will also bring those attributes to our offense," Head Coach Dot Richardson said. "She has an infectious personality and we are excited to see how she helps to elevate the team both on and off the field."
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Henault, the 2024 CAA Player of the Year, brings impressive credentials with her to Liberty. She helped Campbell win Big South titles as both a freshman and sophomore, while the Camels made the CAA Championship final in their first year in the conference. The junior earned Big South All-Conference first team honors in 2023 before receiving CAA All-Conference first team laurels this season. As a sophomore, she batted .343 with 13 RBI and 15 stolen bases while scoring 29 runs. This past season, she hit .346 with five doubles, four triples, 26 RBI, a .432 on base percentage, 21 stolen bases and 31 runs scored. She stole a career-high four bases at Elon on March 24. For her career, Henault bats .310 (145-for-468) with 20 doubles, five triples, 58 RBI, 38 stolen bases, 75 runs scored and a .374 on base percentage.
"We are so blessed that the CAA Player of the Year decided to spend her last season with us," Richardson said. "Alyssa will add another dimension to our team on both sides of the ball.  We can't wait to see all that she will accomplish as a Flame."
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McManus comes to Liberty from nationally-ranked Virginia Tech, where she redshirted as a freshmen during the 2024 season. During her senior year at West Wilkes High School, McManus was named the 2023 Mountain Valley 2A Pitcher of the Year while also earning Mountain Valley All-Conference honors. As a senior, she posted a 0.171 ERA and .075 opponents' batting average, while also batting .409 with 26 RBI. The North Carolina native recorded a 0.96 ERA and .123 opponents' batting average during her junior year, being named to the 2022 Foothills 2A All-Tournament Team and All-Conference Honorable Mention. She helped her team claim the 2022 Conference Championship.
"We are excited to add Haley to our team," Richardson said. "She brings velocity and a blue-collar work ethic to our pitching staff. We can't wait to see the impact she will make in the circle and with her teammates."
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Savanah Whatley brings Pac-12 and postseason experience to the Lady Flames. After redshirting at Utah as a freshman in 2021, she transferred to Oregon State, where she played three seasons. She has made 80 career starts at shortstop for the Beavers, including a career-high 44 starts last season. Whatley batted .226 as a redshirt freshman in 2022, hitting an RBI double against Ohio State in the Knoxville Regional. The following season, she was a part of Oregon State's run to the Women's College World Series. In 2024, she posted at .966 fielding percentage in 147 chances at shortstop. Among her many honors in high school, she was the 2019 Prep2Prep Junior Player of the Year.
"Savanah brings to the team WCWS experience," Richardson said. "She has a veteran mindset and we can't wait to see her leadership both on and off the field."
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Henault and Whatley will each have one year of eligibility remaining, while Doerr (three) and McManus (four) both have multiple years left to compete.
These players will join an incoming class that includes previously-signed incoming freshmen Danner Allen, Alexia Carrasquillo, Felicity Fonseca, Aubrey Fulcher, Hallie Meeks and Maci Strickland.
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Paige Doerr (OF, Fr., Coburg, Ore./Marist (Oregon State))
Doerr joins the Lady Flames after competing for Oregon State as a freshman. She started 38 games during the 2024 campaign, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors on March 10 after batting .444 with a homer and three RBI. For the season, she batted .235 with two doubles, one homer, six RBI and 10 runs scored. The Oregon native hit a homer against No. 21 Arizona and registered two-hit games versus both No. 12 UCLA and No. 8 Stanford. A 4A All-State player in high school, she batted .637 with 12 homers and 70 RBI as a junior, being named the 2022 Oregon Co-Player of the Year. As a senior, she hit .590 with eight homers and 41 RBI.
Doerr's older sister, Abby, was a catcher for Oregon State in 2023 and 2024, while her mother, Melissa, played softball at Oregon. Â
"Paige will bring speed and experience to the outfield. She will also bring those attributes to our offense," Head Coach Dot Richardson said. "She has an infectious personality and we are excited to see how she helps to elevate the team both on and off the field."
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Alyssa Henault (INF, Jr., Wake Forest, N.C./Wake Forest (Campbell))From Oregon State to Liberty, welcome to the Mountain Paige Doerr! ??? ?? pic.twitter.com/esqcFVD4U1
— Liberty Softball (@LibertySB) July 12, 2024
Henault, the 2024 CAA Player of the Year, brings impressive credentials with her to Liberty. She helped Campbell win Big South titles as both a freshman and sophomore, while the Camels made the CAA Championship final in their first year in the conference. The junior earned Big South All-Conference first team honors in 2023 before receiving CAA All-Conference first team laurels this season. As a sophomore, she batted .343 with 13 RBI and 15 stolen bases while scoring 29 runs. This past season, she hit .346 with five doubles, four triples, 26 RBI, a .432 on base percentage, 21 stolen bases and 31 runs scored. She stole a career-high four bases at Elon on March 24. For her career, Henault bats .310 (145-for-468) with 20 doubles, five triples, 58 RBI, 38 stolen bases, 75 runs scored and a .374 on base percentage.
"We are so blessed that the CAA Player of the Year decided to spend her last season with us," Richardson said. "Alyssa will add another dimension to our team on both sides of the ball.  We can't wait to see all that she will accomplish as a Flame."
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Haley McManus (RHP, Fr., Hays, N.C., West Wilkes (Virginia Tech))From Campbell to Liberty, welcome to the Mountain 2024 CAA Player of the Year Alyssa Henault! ????? pic.twitter.com/P0K36ljSX9
— Liberty Softball (@LibertySB) July 12, 2024
McManus comes to Liberty from nationally-ranked Virginia Tech, where she redshirted as a freshmen during the 2024 season. During her senior year at West Wilkes High School, McManus was named the 2023 Mountain Valley 2A Pitcher of the Year while also earning Mountain Valley All-Conference honors. As a senior, she posted a 0.171 ERA and .075 opponents' batting average, while also batting .409 with 26 RBI. The North Carolina native recorded a 0.96 ERA and .123 opponents' batting average during her junior year, being named to the 2022 Foothills 2A All-Tournament Team and All-Conference Honorable Mention. She helped her team claim the 2022 Conference Championship.
"We are excited to add Haley to our team," Richardson said. "She brings velocity and a blue-collar work ethic to our pitching staff. We can't wait to see the impact she will make in the circle and with her teammates."
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Savanah Whatley (SS, Sr., Oakley, Calif./Heritage (Oregon State))From Virginia Tech to Liberty, welcome to the Mountain Haley McManus! ????? pic.twitter.com/qXvJenBlp2
— Liberty Softball (@LibertySB) July 12, 2024
Savanah Whatley brings Pac-12 and postseason experience to the Lady Flames. After redshirting at Utah as a freshman in 2021, she transferred to Oregon State, where she played three seasons. She has made 80 career starts at shortstop for the Beavers, including a career-high 44 starts last season. Whatley batted .226 as a redshirt freshman in 2022, hitting an RBI double against Ohio State in the Knoxville Regional. The following season, she was a part of Oregon State's run to the Women's College World Series. In 2024, she posted at .966 fielding percentage in 147 chances at shortstop. Among her many honors in high school, she was the 2019 Prep2Prep Junior Player of the Year.
"Savanah brings to the team WCWS experience," Richardson said. "She has a veteran mindset and we can't wait to see her leadership both on and off the field."
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These newcomers join a strong Liberty program that has gone to the postseason each of the last seven full seasons, including NCAA Regional finals appearances in 2018, 2021, 2023 and 2024 and nine total NCAA Regional game victories.ÂFrom Oregon State to Liberty, welcome to the Mountain Savanah Whatley! ????? pic.twitter.com/90B76I6zol
— Liberty Softball (@LibertySB) July 12, 2024
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