Softball Signs Six Players
November 13, 2008 | Softball
Nov. 13, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- - University of Louisville softball coach Sandy Pearsall has announced that six players have signed National Letters-of-Intent to continue their softball careers at the University of Louisville. Jennifer Esteban, Chelsea Jordan, Chelsea Leonard, Katelyn Mann, Jordan Trimble, Alicja Wolny will join the Cardinals in the fall of 2009.
"We are fortunate that we are signing six good athletes who will add a lot to our program over the next four years," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "This class of signees brings tremendous talent and will definitely help us achieve the goals we have set for our program."
Below is a list of the 2009 signees:
Jennifer Esteban
Hometown/HS: Brea, Calif./Brea Olinda HS
Travel Team: Orange County Elite Gold
Position: OF
Bats/Throws: L/L
Esteban, an outfielder from Brea, Calif., plays for Brea Olinda High School and the OC Elite travel team. She is a three-year letterwinner and earned second team All-League honors in Orange County .
Coach Sandy Pearsall on Jennifer Esteban
"Jennifer is a speedster and comes with a great deal of experience. She is a solid outfielder who isn't afraid to get dirty and I think she will be a force with her offensive skills both at the plate and on the bases."
Jennifer Esteban on Louisville
"Louisville was the greatest school I have ever visited. I love the environment and the people that live there. I am very excited to start my future in Louisville and to finally be a Cardinal!"
Chelsea Jordan
Hometown/HS: New Albany, Ind./New Albany HS
Travel Team: Louisville Lady Sluggers
osition: OF
Bats/Throws: L/R
Jordan joins the Cardinals from New Albany, Ind., where she attends New Albany Senior High School and plays for the Louisville Lady Sluggers. The outfielder garnered All-State and All-Conference first team honors and received the 2008 Offensive Award after leading her team in batting with a .419 average. Jordan was also a member of the Tribune Team of the Year as a shortstop. As a sophomore, she an All-Conference honorable mention.
Coach Sandy Pearsall on Chelsea Jordan
"We're looking forward to having another local player in Chelsea Jordan on our team. She is a tremendous athlete who possesses great speed and will continue to develop over the next four years. We are happy to have her as part of our team."
Chelsea Jordan on U of L
"I chose the University of Louisville because it was an instant fit. Within minutes of my official visit, I knew there was no other college that would impress me the way U of L did. With top-notch academics, fun teammates, amazing coaches and awesome facilities, I knew I had to be part of the fast growing, successful Cardinal Softball program. Go Cards!"
Chelsea Leonard
Hometown/HS: Lexington, N.C./Central Davidson HS
Travel Team: Saint Louis Chaos Gold
Position: RHP/INF
ats/Throws: L/R
Leonard is a right-handed pitcher/infielder from Lexington, N.C. where she plays for Central Davidson High School and the Saint Louis Chaos. As a junior she was named a 2008 Under Armour All-American and the 2008 North Carolina Gatorade Softball Player of the Year. She also earned All-Conference, All-County, All-District, All-Region and All-State honors in 2008. In addition, she is also an All-Conference swimmer. Leonard is also the senior class vice president and the president of the National Honors Society.
Coach Sandy Pearsall on Chelsea Leonard
"Chelsea Leonard is a tremendous pitching prospect - one of the top in 2009 class. Her honors and accolades speak for themselves. We are excited to have her coming to our pitching staff and feel she'll make a great impact not only on the mound, but also at the plate."
Chelsea Leonard on U of L
"After I had the opportunity to meet (pitching coach) Karen Marr, I realized that I had found someone who would continue to guide me in a positive direction and genuinely improve my pitching skills. Coach Pearsall and Coach Bruggeman added to my decision with their winning attitude and dedication to the Louisville softball program. The campus is also an added bonus, with its lively layout and academic success. I feel that with Louisville, I have the best of both worlds - academic and athletic opportunities! I look forward to being a part of the Cardinal winning tradition!"
Katelyn Mann
Hometown/HS: Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Los Osos HS
Travel Team: American Pastime Gold
Position: INF
Bats/Throws: R/R
Mann, an infielder from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., plays for Los Osos High School and American Pastime Gold travel team. She is a two-time first team All-League selection (2007 and 2008) and has been the Los Osos MVP for the past three years. As a sophomore, she was an All-Valley third team selection and the Inland Empire Female Athlete of the Year.
Coach Sandy Pearsall on Katelyn Mann
"Katelyn is an excellent athlete. She will bring quickness, mobility and a strong arm to the third base position. In addition, she can hit with power and drop the bunt effectively."
Katelyn Mann on Louisville
"I chose Louisville because on my first unofficial visit there, I instantly knew that U of L had everything I was ever looking for in a college. It has a great coaching staff, amazing facilities and was an all-around beautiful campus. I had worked so hard to get to this point and there was no doubt in my mind that Louisville was where I wanted to go."
Jordan Trimble
Hometown/HS: Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual High School
Travel Team: Louisville Lady Sluggers
Position: UT
Bats/Throws: R/R
Trimble, a utility player from Louisville, Ky., plays for DuPont Manual High School and the Louisville Lady Sluggers. At Manual, she is was a 2006 Class AAA All-State selection, a three-time team MVP and earned second team all-state honors in 2007. In addition to her softball honors, she also a successful basketball player.
Coach Sandy Pearsall on Jordan Trimble
"Like several other players in our past, Jordan comes from the Louisville area and has chosen to stay and play for her hometown Cardinals. She is a gifted athlete who is truly capable of playing any position on the field and possesses a great knowledge of the game. We fully expect her to be an impact player her first year."
Jordan Trimble on Louisville
"All my life, my parents told me that if I worked hard, I could play for any college in the nation. When the time came to choose which college I wanted to continue my softball career at, I knew that U of L was the school for me. U of L is an exceptional, educationally based school with amazing athletic teams. I knew that I could get a great education as well as improve my athletic abilities to new levels that even I couldn't imagine."
Alicja Wolny
Hometown/HS: El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge HS
Position: 1B
Bats/Throws: L/L
Wolny, a first baseman from El Dorado Hills, Calif., plays for Oak Ridge High School and the Mizuno All-American travel team. She is a three-time Sierra Valley All-League selection and was the 2008 Athlete of the Year. She helped her Oak Ridge win two Sierra Valley Conference and San Joaquin titles.
Coach Sandy Pearsall on Alicja Wolny
"Alicja is one of the few players we've had out of Northern California. She is an experienced first baseman who will do a great job anchoring the right side of the field. As a hitter, she will bring both average and power to our lineup."
Alicja Wolny on Louisville "I chose Louisville because of the team, coaches and facilities. Since I am coming from California, it was important to me that I found a school that made me feel at home. As soon as I walked on campus, I knew that Louisville was the place for me. It also has a great support system, both athletically and academically, along with a wonderful community. I am proud to be a Cardinal."
Louisville is coming off of its fifth-consecutive NCAA regional appearance with a team which fielded only three upperclassmen in the starting lineup. The Cards return seven starters and nine letterwinners from the 2008 team, including three seniors.
