Foster, Simmons, Griep sign to play on collegiate level

Senior leaders for Ruston High’s baseball and softball programs made their dreams come true Wednesday morning on National Signing Day in front of friends and family at RHS.

Morgan Foster signed to further her softball journey at McNeese State, while baseball players Jake Simmons (East Mississippi Community College) and David Griep ( South Arkansas) signed with some of the top junior colleges in the region.

Each of their respective signings were part of a packed house at Ruston High on Wednesday, as four football players signed with colleges as well on a busy NSD. RHS athletic director Jerrod Baugh said the fact that seven student athletes signed, including the three in spring sports, to continue their educational and athletic dreams at the next level shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“I think it says a lot for our athletic programs, a lot about their parents, a lot about our teachers here, our administration,” Baugh said. “You always want to prepare kids for what they want to do next, and for all these kids using their athletic ability to give them an opportunity to further their education is a really big thing. There are lot of people involved but at the end of the day it’s a lot of hard work from the student athletes.”

For Foster, playing college softball was always the dream. Staying in-state to do it makes it that much sweeter.

“It means a lot. We worked so hard for this. My parents have done so much for me. This has been a dream since I was six or seven when I first started playing. I always knew I wanted to play college softball, but it was just a matter of how I was going to get there,” Foster said. “I want to thank my parents. I’m very thankful for all that they’ve done for me – the money they’ve spent, the time. I’m thankful for my sisters and how they tagged along with everything. We’re all just excited.”

Foster helped Ruston softball finish 17-13 last season thanks to her .412 batting average, 13 RBIs, 6 doubles, and 3 home runs but she hopes her impact goes well beyond what she does with the bat in her hands, especially after signing to play DI softball.

“I hope it shows them that you can do anything as long as you put your mind to it, and you work towards it,” Foster said. “You’re not going to get what you want unless you work for it. You gotta be dedicated.”

On the baseball front, Griep has proven to be one of Ruston’s best pitchers in recent years, including last season with a 3.40 ERA with 28 strikeouts, and just 12 earned runs, with opposing batters just .185 against him.

Now, he’s on his way to joining one of the best JUCO programs in the area, with the Stars among the best in the NJCAA. Like Foster, he hopes his signing gives younger Bearcats a model to follow and a dream to chase.

“It feels great. It just feels like I’m actually a part of it now. Glad to be a part of it,” Griep said. “It shows them that if they put in the work and they do things the right way, they can go somewhere.”

Griep’s teammate, Jake Simmons, committed to East Central Community College in Mississippi, another well-respected JUCO in the South. A first team all-district selection last season, Simmons hit .300 with 2 home runs, 3 triples, 18 RBIs, and 18 runs scored in 2024. He also struck out just 11 times in 106 plate appearances.

“It means a lot. It’s been a lot of years or hard work and dedication and it’s all coming together,” Simmons said of his signing.

Simmons likes the fit at ECC based on the program’s history of winning and the coaches’ transparency in their messaging. As he gets ready to join ECC next year, Simmons knows the program fits his playing style and values perfectly.

“The coaches there when I went on my visit, they really spoke to me and we talked about values that we both share and how they run things and that really attracted me to be there,” Simmons said. “They’ve had a lot of years of success there too.”