3 Canyon View softball standouts are latest to sign to play at collegiate level

Composite image of Canyon View softball players Jayda Gleave, Kamryn Allen and Madison Fuller, dates and locations not specified | Photos courtesy of Jayda Gleave and JR Robinson, St. George News / Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY — Three seniors on Canyon View High School’s softball team have recently signed letters of intent to play at the collegiate level.

Promotional image announcing Canyon View infielder Jayda Gleave’s signing to play at Utah Tech University starting in 2023 | Image courtesy of Utah Tech Athletics, St. George News

Jayda Gleave has signed to play at Utah Tech University in St. George, Kamryn Allen has signed with Snow College in Ephraim and Madison Fuller has signed with Central Christian College of Kansas.

All three players have started for the Falcons since their freshman year, former Canyon View head softball coach JR Robinson told St. George News / Cedar City News.

“Each of these girls was a rock,” said Robinson, who coached Gleave, Allen and Fuller for the past three years. “I don’t know if any of them ever missed a practice. They approached practices with the same focus that they approached games. They all worked hard every day.”

Robinson also spoke about each of the trio individually.

Gleave, who plays second base, is valued for her defensive skills.

“With her speed, Jayda has the ability to field hits and throw out runners who should have been safe,” Robinson said. “ Her batting and speed on the bases were a major contribution to continually adding runs. I love Jayda’s work ethic, her optimism, and her ability to be a good teammate.”

Canyon View catcher Kamryn Allen is joined by family members after signing a letter of intent to play for Snow College, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 14, 2023 | Image courtesy of Canyon View Athletics, St. George News / Cedar City News

Robinson had similar praise for Allen, the team’s catcher.

“As a catcher, Kamryn is a smart player who has studied the opposing team in order to call the pitches,” Robinson said. “ In addition to her pitch calling, she grew into the defensive general of the team and was a key piece in many pick-offs and double plays her junior year.”

Robinson added that Allen is also an accomplished hitter who was among the state’s top leaders in home runs last year.

“I appreciated Kam’s ability to communicate with our pitchers, calm the infield, and command respect in the batters box,” Robinson said.

Fuller, an outfielder, was described by Robison as “an anchor in the outfield with an arm that kept baserunners close.”

“Her bat has surprised many defenses and she’s an intelligent baserunner,” Robinson added.

Canyon View softball player Madison Fuller, Cedar City, Utah, 2022 | Photo courtesy of JR Robinson, St. George News / Cedar City News

Robinson also praised Fuller’s emotional maturity and her consistency on offense and defense.

“I appreciated her quiet smile and her ability to perform in big moments,” Robinson added.

In just a few short weeks, Gleave, Allen and Fullmer will be back on the diamond for their fourth and final season of high school softball, where they and their Falcon teammates will be under the direction of new head coach Hailee McDonald.

Last year, the Falcons went 16-14 in season play and 3-2 in the 3A playoffs.

The Class of 2023 trio are the latest in a string of Canyon View softball players that have signed to play at the collegiate level.

Four other Falcon softball players, one each from the graduating classes of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, are as follows (in chronological order):

Taylee Braegger of the CVHS Class of 2019 first played at Western Nebraska Community College, then transferred to Thomas University in Georgia, where she played for the Night Hawks.

“I coached Taylee for one year and appreciated her work ethic, her efforts to help the incoming freshmen, and her mental approach to the game,” Robinson said.

Breanne Hancock of the CVHS Class of 2020 signed to play at Northwestern Colorado Community College. Although she likely would have been the Falcons’ top pitcher her senior year, the season was canceled after one game due to COVID-19.

“Sadly, with a coaching change at NCCC, Bre was never able to play in college,” Robinson noted, adding, “I loved Bre’s work ethic, her optimism and humility.  Everyone on the team was her friend.”

Laynee Anzalone of the CVHS Class of 2021 is about to start her second year at College of Southern Nevada.

“During the COVID moratorium, she took the opportunity to work on her own on her pitching nearly every day, which helped her to be a pitching force her senior year,” said Robinson, who added, “Her pitching was a key element in the team’s success. I loved Laynee’s dedication to her craft and to the game of softball as a whole.”

Erin Robinson of the CVHS Class of 2022 is in the middle of her freshman year at Salt Lake Community College, having started last fall.

She was a key contributor and starter for the Canyon View Falcons since the first game of her freshman year, said JR Robinson, her father and high school coach.

“Erin often was the lead-off batter who started the offensive momentum for the team,” coach Robinson said. “Her sure-handed glove at first base and the ability to get additional outs kept us competitive.”

“Given that she was my daughter, I know I held her to a higher standard and undoubtedly caused additional pressure throughout her high school career,” he admitted, adding, “I appreciated Erin’s ability to perform under pressure and the focus with which she played each game and brought to every practice.”

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