WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - University of Hartford first-year softball coach Diana Consolmagno revealed the signing of six players to national letters of intent during the early signing period last month. Ana Alberti (New Port Richey, Fla./River Ridge), Margaret Betz (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run), Eve Clausen (Millston, N.J./Peddie School), Peyton Fisher (Kelowna, British Columbia/Kelowna Secondary), Jackie Kelly (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) and Maria Scopellito (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) will join the Hawks' roster for the 2012 season as Consolmagno's first-ever recruiting class.
“We are very excited to announce the latest additions to our Hawk softball family,” declared Consolmagno. “We are confident that they will have an immediate impact on our program. The incoming class will add more speed, versatility and power to our current line-up.”
Ana Alberti · New Port Richey, Fla. · Pitcher
Alberti is a pitcher who enters her senior season at River Ridge High School where she has been a member of the varsity softball squad for four seasons. During her career, she has been named all-county honorable mention twice and took home first team All-Sunshine Atlantic Conference honors last season. As a junior, the hurler not only sported an impressive ERA of 1.27; she also put up the team's best batting average, hitting at a clip of .432 which included three long balls.
During the summer season, Alberti throws for the Lady Bombers' team. An all-conference academic athlete in 2008 and 2009, Alberti will enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences and plans to major in biology/pre-med once arriving on campus.
Margaret Betz · Ashburn, Va. · Infielder
Betz attends Broad Run High School where she has been an infielder for the varsity softball team for the past three years. She was named first team All-Dulles District in 2010 as well as first team Region II and honorable mention AA all-state. A member of the 2008 and 2009 Broad Run AA Virginia state championship teams, the Ashburn, Va. native was deemed the Digital Sports Player of the Month in June of her sophomore year.
An honor roll student and member of the National Honors Society, Betz plans to enroll in the Barney School of Business upon arrival on campus next fall.
Eve Clausen · Millstone, N.J. · Pitcher
The Hawks will add another pitcher to the rotation with the signing of Clausen. Entering her fourth and final season on the varsity squad at Peddie School, Clausen helped the Falcons capture the Middle Atlantic Prep League title as well as the NJISAA Prep 'A' championship in 2008. As a sophomore in 2009, the Millstone, N.J. native garnered first team All-Prep pitching honors after leading the MAPL in strikeouts. A dangerous hitter who also plays both infield corners, Clausen topped the MAPL in home runs as a sophomore and junior while taking home All-Prep First Team honors both years.
An all-county pick who was named team captain for the upcoming 2011 season, Clausen will enroll in Hartford's College of Arts and Sciences and major in criminal justice.
Peyton Fisher · Kelowna, British Columbia · Catcher
Fisher comes to Hartford by way of Kelowna Secondary School in British Columbia. A catcher, Fisher has spent six seasons with the White Rock Renegades where she helped the squad to a BC Provincial championship in 2007 as well as a pair of fourth place finishes in 2006 and 2010. In addition, she was selected to play in the Queen of Diamonds Showcase twice and was deemed the game's most valuable player in 2009.
Fisher has been a consistent Principal's Honor Roll and Work Ethic member at Kelowna Secondary where she has produced a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the past three academic years. Once at Hartford, she will enroll in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions and major in pre-optometry.
The final additions to the class of 2015 are Kelly and Scopellito, a duo from Staten Island's St. Joseph by the Sea High School. The senior pair helped the Vikings to a historic 29-0 record last season including the team's first CHSAA state title since 2000.
Jackie Kelly · Staten Island, N.Y. · Infielder
A third baseman, Kelly comes to Hartford with a long list of accolades most recently receiving New York Post Staten Island Player of the Year and first team honors. A two-time Advance All-Star selection, she has been named first team Louisville Slugger All-East Region, second team all-state and first team Daily News All-City during her high school career. Kelly has proven to be a standout both in the field and at the plate for St. Joseph by the Sea, making just two errors in three seasons manning the hot corner while hitting .581 in league play last season. In addition, she scored 23 runs and collected 19 RBIs batting out of the Vikings' third spot.
During the summer, Kelly plays softball for the New Jersey Jaxx gold team. At Hartford, she will enroll in the Barney School of Business and major in business.
Maria Scopellito · Staten Island, N.Y. · Outfielder
Scopellito, the second place hitter and left fielder for St. Joseph by the Sea, has been a staple on the Vikings' outfield defense for the past three seasons. An All-Staten Island honorable mention pick and three-time Advance All-Star, Scopellito batted .469 with 17 runs and nine RBIs en route to St. Joseph by the Sea's historic championship run in 2010.
Additionally, Scopellito also played summer ball for the New Jersey Jaxx gold squad and has been selected to captain her high school team for the upcoming 2011 season. Once at Hartford, Scopellito, a consistent high school honor roll member, will enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences and major in pre-law.
“This group's diligence on the field and in the classroom is one of the reasons they will fit in with our current squad,” concluded Consolmagno. “This will greatly contribute to our program's on-going strive for success.”
Hartford, who closed out the 2010 campaign with a mark of 16-24, kicks off its 2011 campaign on Sunday, March 6 with a twinbill at Manhattan.
