Kirkwood softball coach Joe Yegge has attracted several strong recruiting classes during his years with the Eagles.

He thinks this could be the best yet.

Yegge has signed 14 new players for the 2014 campaign, including a dozen players from Iowa and two from the Illinois side of the Quad Cities.

"I think it's going to be a real good class," Yegge said last week. "I think it has the potential to be, in the long run, maybe our best recruiting class.

"Speed, power, very good defensive players. I'm pretty excited about the players who are coming."

Kirkwood finished 57-5 this season and reached the semifinals of the NJCAA Division II national tournament. Ten freshmen are scheduled to return from that club.

Jenna Schulte, a slick-fielding first baseman from Xavier High School, has signed with Kirkwood. The other area players include Erin Weno (Iowa City High), Tara Walls (Clear Creek Amana), Miranda Hochstetler (Solon) and Erica Sutton (Maquoketa).

Madison Keysor of Treynor was the Class 2A Pitcher of the Year in 2012 after helping her team win the state title. She tossed a five-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts in a 4-0 victory over Des Moines Christian in the championship game.

Schulte was named third team all-state in Class 4A last year as a junior. Lexi Quandt, a catcher from Davenport West, was third team all-state in Class 5A. Walls, a third baseman, was third team all-state in Class 4A.

Here are the 12 Iowans who have signed with Kirkwood, with their current statistics in parenthesis:

• Natalie Clark, SS, Des Moines Hoover (.338, 1 HR, 17 RBI)
• Alicia Crivaro, SS, Dowling Catholic (.360, 1 HR, 19 RBI)
• Keirstyn Davis, Utility, Clinton (.541, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
• Brianna Farley, 3B, Waterloo Columbus (.500, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
• Alex Finn, OF, Davenport West (.530, 0 HR, 10 RBI)
• Miranda Hochstetler, P, Solon (1-1, 2.52)
• Madison Keysor, P, Treynor (15-3, 1.20)
• Lexi Quandt, C, Davenport West (.356, 4 HR, 17 RBI)
• Jenna Schulte, 1B, Xavier (.257, 3 HR, 15 RBI)
• Erica Sutton, C, Maquoketa (.400, 3 HR, 26 RBI)
• Tara Walls, 3B, Clear Creek Amana (.350, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
• Erin Weno, 3B, Iowa City High (.339, 4 HR, 17 RBI)

Kirkwood also has signed Chasney Jenkins, an outfielder from Alleman Catholic High School in Rock Island, Ill., and Brooke Prior, a pitcher/shortstop from United Township High School in East Moline, Ill.

Yegge thinks it's a balanced class with good overall speed. "They're all pretty good athletes from good programs," he said.