Junior college catcher Tia Durst signs with Washington

The Washington Huskies added a promising catcher to their 2024 roster.

Heather Tarr needed some reinforcements behind the plate and appears to have found what she was looking for in Tia Durst. The product of Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois has a chance to become Washington’s primary catcher in 2024 after being extremely productive at the junior college level last season.

Durst posted a .378 batting average with 18 home runs, 57 runs batted in, 28 stolen bases, and a whopping 1.268 OPS. She was also an incredibly versatile defender, playing all over the infield but should move strictly to catcher at Washington.

She’s also spending her summer playing in the Northwoods League, a summer collegiate league, and has accrued a .263 batting average with a home run and 10 runs batted in.

Tarr is replacing both NFCA All-Pacific Region honoree Sydney Stewart, who took her talents to Arizona, and Olivia Johnson, who returned to her home state to spend her at Texas A&M.

Washington’s only other catcher on the roster is former Bellevue College transfer Haley Winckler, who played in just two games last season. Winckler is an elite defender who could push Durst for playing time, as she won an NWAC Rawlings Gold Glove during the 2023 season at the junior college level.