Five area players are among eight recruits announced recently by Covenant College softball coach Sara Russell.

Corner infielders Jennifer Friar from Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School and Jacy Tinker from Ringgold, LaFayette pitcher Brooke Trapp, Rhea County middle infielder Jenny Keener and Valley Head’s Aubrey Shields are among the new Lady Scots.

The others are Sonja Townsend from Covenant Christian School in Florida, catcher/infielder Morgan Booker from Stanley High in Louisiana and catcher Jenni Jobe from Landmark Christian School in Fairburn, Ga.

Trapp was a second-team Times Free Press All-North Georgia selection last fall, when she had a 0.69 earned run average.

“Brooke was far and away the best player we had last year,” LaFayette coach Glen Woodard said. “She drove in some big runs and she threw two no-hitters, even though we lost one of those. Covenant is going to be a better team with her pitching for them.”

“And she’s a great girl. She’s very bright — her GPA is like 3.8 — and very cheerful to be around.”

Friar was a three-year starter at third base for a LFO team that won 100 games during that time, with only 14 losses.

“Jennifer was a big part of that,” Lady Warriors coach Tony Ellis said. “She’s a really hard-nosed kid who loves to play softball. I don’t think Coach Russell realizes yet just how good a player Jennifer is.”

Tinker, according to Ringgold coach Vince Phillips, “is one of the hardest working young ladies who has come through this program. She was hurt a lot this last year, but she overcame her injuries to make a contribution at first base. She has played third in the past and is equally good at both, and she handles the bat real well. She’s good at moving runners up — she will put the ball in play.

“And she’s an even better young lady,” Phillips added. “She’s a great student and has real strong character.”

Keener, a second baseman who moved to catcher after a Rhea teammate’s injury, had a .971 fielding percentage and batted .369 with 10 extra-base hits in the 2009 regular season. The leadoff batter as a junior, she moved to the third spot in the lineup this year and was an all-district selection.

Russell described Shields as a utility player and praised her speed.

Jobe, the Lady Scots coach said, “is a great young lady with drive and passion for the game.”