Louisville Softball Welcomes Six Newcomers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville softball coach Holly Aprile has announced that six prospective student-athletes have signed a National Letter-of-Intent to play for the Cardinals. Ally Alexander, Sam Booe, Dylann Cravens, Maddi Grant, Easton Lotus and Korbe Otis will join the team in the fall of 2021.

"Signing Day is always an exciting time, but the class of 2021 is very special to us," said Aprile. "They personify what it means to be a Louisville Cardinal softball student-athlete with their character, work ethic, and most importantly their love for the game. This class has great versatility particularly in Ally Alexander and Dylann Cravens; it has exciting power capability in Maddi Grant; great speed and a winning mindset in Korbe Otis; passion and determination in Easton Lotus; and lighthearted fun along with a some nice upspin in Sam Booe. I highlighted just a few qualities that stand out but there is so much more that each of these outstanding young women will bring to our program. We cannot wait to get them all on campus and get to work on what I know is going to be an amazing four years!"

Ally Alexander
Position: INF/C
B/T: L/R
Hometown: Taylorsville, Ky.
High School: Spencer County
Travel Team: Beverly Bandits Moran

Ally Alexander joins the Cardinals from Taylorsville, Ky., where she is a four-time all-district and three-time all-region selection for Spencer County High School.

In 2019, she helped lead her team to a 20-9 overall record and a second-place finish in the district. She finished the year ranked 13^th in the state in triples and among the top 25 in RBI. She was named to the all-region and all-district tournament teams and was a Courier-Journal Metro Louisville all-area selection. As a sophomore, she posted a .520 batting average and was a Class 2A All-State honorable mention. Alexander also plays for the Beverly Bandits Moran travel team.

Ally Alexander on Louisville
"I chose Louisville because when you go on campus it always feels like home. I love the facilities and everything about campus. Louisville is the best college town!"

Sam Booe Signing Graphic

Samantha Booe
Position: RHP
B/T: R/R
Hometown: New Palestine, Ind.
High School: New Palestine
Travel Team: Louisville Sluggers Huecker

Samantha Booe hails from New Palestine, Indiana and helped lead New Palestine High School to the 2019 state championship.

As a sophomore, Booe helped her team to a 29-3 overall record as New Palestine became the first school in Indiana High School Athletic Association history to win three state championships (2017-19) and finished the year ranked No. 12 in the nation. In the 2019 state championship game, the right-handed pitcher tossed a two-hit complete game shutout to get the win in the circle. She went on to earn Hoosier Heritage All-Conference and All-Hancock County honors after finishing the season with an 18-0 record along with a 1.58 ERA and 116 strikeouts.

She also plays for the Louisville Sluggers Huecker travel team.

The multi-sport athlete also competes in swimming/diving, cheerleading and basketball.

Samantha Booe on Louisville
"I chose Louisville because it reminds me of my hometown. The community comes together to support the athletes. I also love the coaches - I know they will push me to my limits and I couldn't be more excited!"

Dylann Cravens Signing Graphic

Dylann Cravens
Position: INF
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Mooresville, Ind.
High School: Decatur Central
Travel Team: Beverly Bandits Moran

Dylann Cravens, who hails from Mooresville, Ind., and is a two-year starter for Decatur Central, helping the Hawks to the 2018 Indiana High School Athletic Association state title.

In 2019, the infielder was named the MaxPreps Player of the game four times while playing an integral role in Decatur Central's 27-2 overall record. She finished her sophomore season with a .438 batting average, 34 runs and 22 RBIs.

Cravens also plays for the Beverly Bandits Moran travel team.

Dylann Cravens on Louisville
"The immediate comfort I felt on this journey from the coaches and the feeling of finding my home away from home on campus is why I chose Louisville. I'm so excited to be a part of this 2021 class! When you know, you know!"

Maddi Grant
Position: INF
B/T: R/R
Hometown: River Forest, Ill.
High School: Oak Park and River Forest
Travel Team: Beverly Bandits Skeens

Maddi Grant joins the Cardinals from River Forest, Illinois and is a four-year varsity starter for Oak Park and River Forest High School where she helped lead the Huskies to the 2018 and 2019 Illinois High School Association Regional Championships.

In 2019, she earned Illinois Coaches Association All-State third team honors after batting .558 with 58 hits, eight home runs, 11 doubles and 57 RBIs. The two-time West Suburban All-Conference team selection was named to the 2019 Pioneer Press All-Area Softball second team and was an All-Area honorable mention in 2018.

While playing for the Beverly Bandits 18U Premier Skeens, she helped the team to a 24-16 record in the summer. Grant is ranked among the top 85 in Extra Inning Softball Class of 2021.

Grant also competes in swimming.

Maddi Grant on Louisville
"I chose UofL because I am pumped to learn from and play for Coach Holly, Coach Griff, and Coach Ashley. I am excited to continue to play the sport I love and get a really good engineering education. The campus and the city of Louisville are everything I was looking for in my college experience."

Easton Lotus Signing Graphic

Easton Lotus
Position: INF
B/T: L/R
Hometown: New Lenox, Ill.
High School: Marist
Travel Team: Beverly Bandits Skeens

Easton Lotus comes to Louisville from New Lenox, Illinois, where she is a four-year starter for Marist High School and keyed the RedHawks to fourth-place finish in the 2019 Illinois High School Association state championship as well as the Super Sectional and Sectional titles. Additionally, her team won back-to-back Regional and East Suburban Conference Championships in 2018 and 2019.

In 2019, she was a MaxPreps Sophomore All-American after registering a .492 batting average with 64 hits and 51 runs. That same year, she earned Illinois Coaches Association l All-State, East Suburban Catholic All-Conference and Chicago Tribune/Daily Southtown All-Area honors.

She currently stands among Marist's top 10 in career batting average, hits and stolen bases and owns the single-season stolen base record with 43, achieved in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.

In the Covid-19-impacted 2020 season, she was named to the Extra Innings All-Summer Team and is currently ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2021 by Extra Inning Softball.

As a member of the Beverly Bandits Skeens, she helped her team the 2019 16U PGF National Championship.

The multi-sport athlete also plays basketball.

Easton Lotus on Louisville
"I love the Louisville coaching staff. Coach Holly, Coach Griffin, and Coach Ashley were so instrumental in why I chose Louisville. I feel that they will push and develop me to be the best person and player I can be. I also loved the beautiful campus and the family-oriented community they have."

Korbe Otis
Position: OF
B/T: R/R
Hometown: Littleton, Colo.
High School: Columbine
Travel Team: Corona Angels Tyson

Korbe Otis joins the Cardinals from Littleton, Colorado where she plays for Columbine High School where she is a three-time school Athlete of the Year and helped lead the Rebels to their first-ever state title in 2019.

The right-handed pitcher/outfielder was the 2019 Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) 5A Player of the Year after finishing the season with a .695 batting average with 25 RBIs and 39 stolen bases and carrying a 24-2 record in the circle with 315 strikeouts and a 0.91 ERA while. She was a MaxPreps Player of the Game 16 times.

During her time at Columbine, the two-time all-state selection has helped the Rebels to a pair of league championships (2018, 2019) and the 2019 regional and state titles and was an all-conference honoree in each of her seasons. She is also a first team academic all-state selection.

Entering her senior season, she carries a .610 career batting average with 105 runs and 53 stolen bases. In the circle, she has tallied 52 wins with a 1.87 ERA and 660 strikeouts.

While playing for the Corona Angels Tyson, Otis was named to the Extra Inning 18U All-Summer Team after she posted a .400 batting average with seven RBIs to lead her team to a third-place finish in the 2020 Gold Nationals. Before that, she was named to the 2019 PGF 16U all-tournament team and earned MVP honors at the 2018 Louisville Slugger Independence Day Tournament.

In addition to her stellar softball career, Otis is a member of the Columbine track and field team and owns the school record for the 100m and 200m dash.

Korbe Otis on Louisville
"I chose UofL because the unique atmosphere provides a foundation on which my academic and athletic goals can flourish, and the people manifest a family away from mine back at home."

University of Louisville Athletics

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