They say good things come in threes. The softball team has added three new recruits to this year’s team that has the coaching staff very excited about the upcoming season.

Junior college transfer Allyson Nolte along with freshmen Lauren Brackett and Kelly Coleman will be the new additions to the Panthers’ roster this season, adding a combination of good defense, scrappy offense, and what head coach Kim Schuette wanted most, speed.

“This team we added a little bit more speed, a lot more athleticism, and players that just play a lot,” Schuette said. “We have a good solid foundation. I’m excited about the fall.”

Nolte played two seasons at nearby Lake Land College where she helped her team win the Region 24 championship and move on to the JUCO National Tournament. The Mattoon native has done such things as coached Mattoon’s summer league teams, given lessons, and volunteered in her community.

For Eastern, Nolte will be doing some catching and playing some third base, trying to fill the big shoes left by Rachel Karos, who committed all but six errors in 266 attempts at third last season, with only one coming in conference play. She also led the team in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, runs scored and

on-base percentage.

Schuette, however, has all the confidence she can fill the spot.

“She has a great know and love of the game,” she said. “She was brought up by the game, loves being around the game, is a hardworking player and shows it on the field.”

Brackett started all four years in softball at West Aurora High School in Aurora. As a senior, the outfielder/third basewoman slugged 48 base hits, setting a single season hit record. That year, her team went on to the sectional championships. She will be used likewise for the Panthers as Schuette plans to use her in centerfield and at third base.

“She’s a quiet player and will make that stunning play when no one’s looking,” said Schuette. “Lauren’s a slapper and you’ll want the bat in her hand when the game’s on the line.”

Although only a three year starter at Naperville North High School, Coleman became an All-City selection her senior year and made it to the Academic All-Conference List three straight times. She also made the first-team All-DuPage Valley Conference selection in 2006 and made the All-Star selection in 2005.

Schuette has said that Coleman will be used at second base and some outfield and will satisfy the ‘speed need’ of the team, as she is a sneaky/quick player on the field and on the bases.

“She’ll be able to provide a lot of help in the outfield and hopefully tie up the middle infield,” assistant coach Jason Dorey said. “That sneaky/quick speed of hers will be able to stop a lot of the balls going into the outfield.”

The team, which is set to start practice the second week of the fall semester, looks to improve upon last season’s 36-26-1 record (second most wins for Panther softball history). And both coaches agree that they’ve put the speed factor in place to do that.

“Kim always tries bringing the team across as more of a speed team,” Dorey said. “She believes in speed, because speed doesn’t really go into slumps.”