BROOKINGS – South Dakota State softball coach Krista Wood announced Tuesday the signing of pitcher Taylor Compton out of Baxter Springs, Kan., for the 2017-18 school year. Compton, a 2017 graduate of Riverton High School, will join the Jackrabbits as an incoming freshman.

"Taylor is a very well-rounded student-athlete who excels in the classroom and on the field," Wood said. "She has a strong presence and great mindset in the circle with a proven track record of success.

"She's a pitcher with great leadership and character skills and the program is better with her wearing the blue and yellow. I'm excited to work with Taylor to see what she can accomplish here."

Compton graduated from Riverton High School in May 2017 as the school's valedictorian, posting a perfect 4.0 grade point average

She was a four-year letterwinner in softball and holds the Kansas state records for career strikeouts (886), career wins (80), single-season wins (24) and season wins without a loss (24).

Compton had a career ERA of 0.95.

At the plate, she hit .409 with 112 RBIs and 14 home runs over four seasons. Compton was a four-time Kansas All-State 3A selection. She was also a four-time All-CNC Conference honoree and the four-time team MVP.

As a senior, she was named a MaxPreps Small Schools All-American and was a first-team NFCA All-South Central region selection. Compton was honored as the Joplin Globe’s Softball Athlete of the Year.

Riverton won the 2017 Class 3A Kansas State Tournament title, as she served as team captain. Her squad won four consecutive conference titles.

Among her many other accolades, Compton was a four-time President’s Education Award winner and a four-time Superintendent’s Honor Roll member.