Softball Signs Three To National Letters of Intent

Two Infielders & A Pitcher Comprise CSU Class of 2014

Nov. 19, 2009

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Fresh off the first Horizon League Championship in school history, Cleveland State softball head coach Angie Nicholson took time out to look to the future on Thursday when she announced the signing of three Ohio high school student-athletes to national letters of intent to attend Cleveland State and play softball beginning in the fall of 2010.

Signing with Cleveland State are Hannah Kendrick (Middletown, OH/Madison), Brittani Newsome (Canton, OH/Glenoak) and Ashlee Stolarski (Elyria, OH). The trio took advantage of the early signing period, which ran from November 11-18. All three will enter school as freshmen and have four years of eligibility.

"This has all the signs of being another great recruiting class for Cleveland State," Nicholson said. "We only lose three players off our team this year and all three of these signees have the potential of stepping in right away and playing.

"The goal of this recruiting class was to improve our depth and versatility in the infield and find a pitcher capable of picking up for Amanda Macenko after she graduates. I think that we have accomplished both tasks."

Kendrick, a righthanded pitcher, is a two-time all-state selection and three-time league pitcher of the year after helping Madison to a 65-9 record and three straight league and sectional titles. She enters her senior year having thrown 15 perfect games, 22 no-hitters and striking out 705 batters.

Offensively, she has hit 10 career homeruns and driven in 116 runs in her career.

"Hannah is a hard-thrower who I believe will be a good replacement for Amanda Macenko in 2011," Nicholson said. "With some experience and fine-tuning, she is going to come along very well as a college pitcher. I have very high expectations for her and I know that she will be ready to meet them."

Newsome, a three-time all-league choice, plays both third base and shortstop in high school and is projected as an infielder at CSU. She hit .400 as a junior en route to earning honorable mention all-region and first team all-league honors.

"I look for Brittani to join our program and find a place for herself in the lineup almost immediately," Nicholson said. "She hits for power and plays with confidence and passion and I love that. She will be a very good addition to both our infield and offense."

Stolarski, who projects defensively as either an infielder or catcher, is the fourth Elyria High product to sign with the Vikings, joining junior Andrea Nagy, sophomore Megan Bashak and freshman Tess Sito.

A switch-hitter, Stolarski hit .275 with five doubles, a triple and two homeruns as a junior, driving in 22 runs with 19 runs scored in helping Elyria to a 30-1 record and the state title.

"Ashlee will add some speed to our lineup," Nicholson said. "She is your typical quick, athletic infielder who will hit for a high average and play solid defense."

The Vikings return five starters and 12 letterwinners from the 2009 team that went 35-18, won the Horizon League Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Championships for only the second time in school history. CSU opens the 2010 season by playing in the Troy Cox Invitational in Las Cruces, NM from Feb. 19-21.