ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University head softball coach Christy Connoyer has announced the addition of four student-athletes to the Billikens' program. Each player will have five years of eligibility beginning in the 2027-28 academic year.
 
The new Billikens are infielder/utility Beau Belz (Oakville, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy), infielder/utility Haley Clark (Spring Hill, Kan./Spring Hill H.S.), pitcher/utility Taylor DeSmith (Mount Vernon, Ill./Mount Vernon H.S.) and outfielder/pitcher/utility Abi Monroe (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East H.S.).
 
 

Beau Belz
First-team All-State as a senior … second-team All-State as a sophomore … conference Player of the Year as a freshman, sophomore and senior … first-team All-Region, first-team All-District and first-team All-Conference in each of her first three seasons … as a senior, batted .543 with a .626 on-base percentage, a 1.049 slugging percentage, eight home runs and 39 RBIs … set Cor Jesu records for career hits, home runs, doubles and RBIs, and tied the school's single-season home run mark … played travel ball with Select Fastpitch 18U – McManus … hit .356 with a 1.156 OPS, eight home runs and 36 RBIs in the summer of 2026 … in the three previous summers, posted a batting average over .400 each year and hit 28 home runs over that span … high-honors student … AP Scholar Award recipient.
 
Coach Connoyer: "Beau is a competitor on the field and in the classroom. She is a solid hitter, driving gaps with power and executing in the clutch. She is solid on defense as well, showing much versatility on the infield. Her passion and attention to detail on and off the field will continue to enhance her game and our team's success. We are excited to welcome Beau to the Billiken family."
 
 

Haley Clark
Earned Frontier League honorable-mention recognition as a first baseman, batting .430 with 13 doubles, one home run and a .519 on-base percentage … played travel ball with Kansas City Rebels 18U National … posted a .419 batting average with nine home runs and a .475 OBP … National Honor Society member … Principal's Honor Roll student.
 
Coach Connoyer: "Haley's excitement for the game is evident not only in her vocal leadership on the field, but also in the way she attacks the game. She has tremendous power at the plate, giving us RBI potential in every at-bat. Her drive on the field is the same in the classroom, always looking to elevate her skills. Haley's contagious energy and passion will help drive our team's success, and we're thrilled to welcome her to the Billiken family."
 
 

Taylor DeSmith
All-State selection … three-time All-Conference performer … batted .321 … in the circle, posted a 1.68 ERA and 310 strikeouts … played travel ball with Unity Pirillo … student body president … National Honor Society member with a 4.07 grade point average … recipient of the Rams Leadership Award … SI Select nominee.
 
Coach Connoyer: "Taylor is a true student of the game, working consistently to enhance her skills and finding ways to challenge an opponent. She puts quality focus on the intricacies of pitching mechanics, going after hitters with a mix of speed and movement. She competes in the circle, while also competing at the plate as a solid offensive threat. Taylor is focused and driven, which serves her well on the field and in the classroom. We are happy for her to be a Billiken."
 
 

Abi Monroe
All-State choice as a junior (first team), sophomore (second team) and freshman (honorable mention) … earned All-Conference first-team honors three times … made the All-Metro first team twice … turned in a .504 batting average, a .920 slugging percentage and five home runs at the plate, and a 1.54 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, 142 strikeouts and a .173 opponents' batting average in the circle … played travel ball with Midland Magic Burris … batted .477, slugged .982 and posted a 2.64 ERA … also excelled in volleyball, garnering All-State accolades twice and All-Conference plaudits three times, setting the school record for career assists and making the IVCA Academic All-State team … three-time Academic All-Conference selection and a member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and Science National Honor Society.

Coach Connoyer: "Abi is an outstanding student-athlete with incredible ability on and off the field. Her speed, power and finesse, coupled with her passion and toughness, will not only uplift our team but also will challenge opponents. Abi is a threat in the outfield with great range and a strong arm, a threat in the circle as a left-handed pitcher, and a threat at the plate with power and gap-to-gap consistency. She is a student of the game, and the future looks exceptionally bright for her in our Billiken softball program. We're excited to welcome Abi to the family."