HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State head softball coach Adrian Mohr announced the addition of three more student-athletes for the 2017 season. Two transfers and one freshman join a list of five freshmen that signed in the early period with the Tigers. The latest commitments include Collette West, Candace Bollig, and Hailey Chapman.
 
West transfers to FHSU from Colby (Kan.) Community College and will be a junior in 2017. West led Colby in batting average for two consecutive seasons and earned All-KJCCC West Division Second Team honors in 2016 at catcher. West is a versatile player that can also play multiple infield positions. As a sophomore in 2016, she batted .403 with 30 extra-base hits (10 home runs, 18 doubles, 2 triples), while driving in 57 runs and scoring 56. She finished with a .699 slugging percentage for the season and also provided a threat with her speed by stealing 32 bases. As a freshman in 2015, she had a .349 batting average with 26 extra-base hits (8 home runs, 16 doubles, 2 triples), while recording 43 runs and 37 RBI. She added nine stolen bases that year. West is a native of Centerville, Utah.
 
Bollig is a local product from Ellis, Kan., who enters her junior year transferring from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College. She also earned All-KJCCC West Division Second Team honors in 2016, getting the nod at third base. Bollig also has a good balance of power and speed. She led the team in batting average at .408 with 27 extra-base hits (11 home runs, 12 doubles, 4 triples), while scoring 46 runs and driving in 41. She had an impressive .518 on-base percentage and .815 slugging percentage, while adding a team-best 12 stolen bases. Bollig played her freshman season at Barton (Kan.) Community College in 2014. She batted .425 with 25 extra-base hits (8 home runs, 14 doubles, 3 triples), while adding 46 runs and 37 RBI. She had five stolen bases that season.
 
Chapman was one of the top pitchers in Kansas Class 5A as a senior in 2016 at Salina South High School. She earned all-state second team honors and was twice an all-league first team selection as a pitcher. She helped the Cougars to a league championship during her senior year.
 
The five freshmen that signed in the early period includes Lexie Kimminau, Lily Sale, Jeni Mohr, Bailey Boxberger, and Tess Gray.