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EDWARDSVILLE – SIUE softball coach Ben Sorden has announced five commitments for the program.
The newest Cougars are Shelby Buffington (Franklin, Tennessee), Joy Cashoek (Haarlem, the Netherlands), Kyana Lipardo (San Antonio, Texas), Sadie Mitchell (Lake Forest, California), and Montse Reyes-Cardenas (Whittier, California).
All five will join the Cougars this fall as well as the beginning of the spring 2027 season.
Shelby Buffington
Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee
High School: Fred J. Page HS
Position: Pitcher
Club Team: Epic National
Club Coach: Scotty Smith
Projected Major at SIUE: Civil Engineering
Coach Sorden on Shelby: "We are excited about Shelby. She's a strong presence in the circle, exemplifies great leadership and is a dedicated teammate. She brings experience and leadership to our program. We look forward to seeing Shelby in the circle and her leadership."
Accolades: Previously played at North Texas and Chattanooga State Community College … Posted a 7-0 record with a 3.36 earned run average last season for Chattanooga State … Made 16 appearances, including eight starts … Appeared in three games two seasons ago for North Texas, earning a win against UTSA … Played club softball for Epic National … Recorded more than 600 career strikeouts at Page High School … Led Patriots to 2023 Region 4-AAA championship finals … First team All-Region and District 8 AAA Pitcher of the Year in 2023 … Four-time All-District honoree … Parents are Denise and Jason Buffington.
Joy Cashoek
Hometown: Haarlem, the Netherlands
High School: Atheneum College Hageveld
Position: Utility
Club Team: Olympia Haarlem
Club Coach: Thomas Maas
Projected Major at SIUE: Mathematics
Coach Sorden on Joy: "Joy possesses a maturity beyond her years, and we are excited for her to join the team this fall. Her international experience will provide an added element to the team. Joy is a great competitor and plays with a lot of passion. We are excited Joy is a Cougar and look forward to her leadership."
Accolades: Member of the Dutch Junior National Team … Played in the U-18 Women's Euro Softball Championships in 2025 and 2026 … Plays for Olympic Haarlem, which has won multiple national championships and Europa Cup championships … Previously played 10 seasons for Kinheim Haarlem … Part of the U-15 team that won the Dutch national championship in 2021, the U21 championship team in 2022 and the Dame 2nd Division championship in 2024 … Parents are Mark Cashoek and Leonie Mooijekind.
Kyana "Keke" Lipardo
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
High School: East Central HS
Position: Outfield
Club Team: Athletics Mercado
Club Coach: Jim Bonola
Projected Major at SIUE: Exercise Science
Coach Sorden on Kyana: "Keke reunites with former teammates Aidyn Barrera and Teeni Torres from Jim Bonola's Atheltics Mercado team out of San Antonio. Her speed game will be an addition to our offense as well as in the outfield. Keke plays with a lot of passion, and we look forward to seeing her flying around out on the field."
Accolades: Played in 43 games, mostly in the outfield, for Abilene Christian last season … Academic All-WAC performer and NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete … Batted .242 and drove in a season-high three runs against North Texas … Standout at East Central High School where her team was a 2025 State 6A D1 state semifinalist … Honorable mention All-District in 2025 and a first team All-District pick in 2023 and 2024 … Four-time Academic All-District … Listed as a Player to Watch in 2024 by the San Antonio Express-News … Helped East Central to district championship in 2024 and State 6A Area finals … 2021 Texas Fastpitch League Player of the Month in October 2021 … 2020 USA Softball High Performance Program selectee … Member of National Honor Society … Parents are Abroadger Lipardo and Yvette Escobedo-Lipardo.
Sadie Mitchell
Hometown: Lake Forest, California
High School: El Toro High School
Position: Pitcher
Club Team: So Cal Athletics Richardson U18
Club Coach: Bruce Richardson
Projected Major at SIUE: Mass Communications
Coach Sorden on Sadie: "Quiet confidence is what resonates from Sadie. She will provide depth in the circle and swings a strong bat. She comes from a very strong SoCal A's program coached by longtime coach, Bruce Richardson; we are delighted she chose to be a Cougar."
Accolades: Offensive co-Most Valuable Player as a senior at El Toro High School … First team All-League honors as a senior and a sophomore … Second team All-League pick as a junior and a freshman … Bruce Hamlin Champion Award recipient as a junior … Part of Seaview League Championship as a freshman … Helped So Cal Athletics Richardson to Alliance Super Cup 16U championship in 2024 … Twice participated in Alliance Stars of Tomorrow … Honored multiple times for All-Tournament honors for So Cal Athletics Richardson … Parents are Jillian and Brian Mitchell.
Montse Reyes-Cardenas
Hometown: Whittier, California
High School: El Toro High School
Position: Pitcher
Club Team: Corona Angels
Club Coach: Marty Tyson
Projected Major at SIUE: Accounting
Coach Sorden on Montse: "Montse reunites with former teammate Ashley Duran from Marty Tyson's Corona Angels. She should have an immediate impact in the circle as she was highly recruited out of high school. Montse has the desire to lead and shows great individual determination. We are grateful she will be a Cougar."
Accolades: Appeared in three games and threw three innings for San Diego State last season … Helped Corona Angels to a top eight finish at the 2022-23 Alliance Nationals and a second-place finish during the 2023-24 campaign … Pitched three seasons for La Mirada High School, including first team all-Gateway League honors as a sophomore and junior … Posted a 1.04 earned run average as a sophomore and a 0.55 ERA as a junior … Recorded more than 300 strikeouts in prep career while earned first team All-League honors twice /// Threw for La Serna High School as a freshman … Also competed in wrestling at La Serna … Parents are Marisol and Angel Reyes.
