OAKLEAF - Two hard-hitting, hard-running Oakleaf High softball players; Khloe Banks and Jaeda McFarland, are hammering away at college pitchers with explosive plays for their respective college teams; Purdue for Banks, Maryland for McFarland.

Banks, a sophomore for the Boilermakers, has been a major hitter in the lineup with a .875 batting average with three runs, three hits and three stolen bases in an 8-1 Purdue win over South Dakota in early February. Banks also executed a spectacular diving catch in left field to leave baserunners stranded for South Dakota.
In Purdue's season-opening weekend in February, Banks led the team in every offensive category with four stolen bases, a .583 batting average that was seventh in the Big Ten, and six runs scored.
For McFarland, a graduate student player at Maryland, the highlight of her early season for the Terrapins was a 53rd career stolen base in an 11-4 loss to Syracuse that was McFarland's 53rd career stolen base. The steal put her fourth in Maryland history.
Against Syracuse, Maryland got a 1-0 lead with McFarland reaching on a hit by pitch, then stealing second. A single by teammate Diamond Williams scored McFarlane.
The steal for McFarlane was her 53rd and put her fourth on Maryland career records list.
McFarland, who started all 57 games last season, finished with a perfect 100 percent field percentage. was an All-Big Ten second-team selection and on the All-Big Ten defensive team as well as the NFCA Midwest All region second team.