Softball Signs Five Players

Nov. 12, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville softball coach Sandy Pearsall has announced that five players have signed National Letters-of-Intent to continue their softball careers at the University of Louisville. Caralisa Connell, Taner Fowler, Katie Keller, Hannah Kiyohara and Maggie Ruckenbrod will join the Cardinals in the fall of 2010.

"We are very excited about this 2010 class," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "They hail from all over the country and will bring a wealth of talent to our program - all of them are very good athletes and play for top-level programs. They all have had successful high school and travel ball careers and have earned numerous accolades including player of the year."

The 2009-10 University of Louisville softball team is coming off of its sixth-consecutive NCAA regional appearance and a record-setting season in 2009, finishing at 48-11, setting a new mark for wins and tying the record for fewest losses. The Cards were a mainstay in the top 25 rankings, reaching a program-high of 14th in both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and USA Softball polls. U of L closed the season at No. 24 in the NFCA poll.

Eleven letterwinners and seven starters are back from last year's team including All-Americans Melissa Roth and Kristen Wadwelll. U of L will open the 2010 season at the Marriott Tournament in Houston Feb. 12-14.

2010 Louisville Softball Recruiting Class

Player	Pos.	Bats/Throws	Hometown (Previous School)	Travel Team
Caralisa Connell	RHP/1B, OF	R/R	Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Siegel High School)	Team Worth Gold
Taner Fowler	INF/Catcher	R/R	Morganfield, Ky. (Union County High School)	Louisville Lady Sluggers
Katie Keller	INF	R/R	Livermore, Calif. (Livermore High School)	Sorcerer Gold
Hannah Kiyohara	INF/OF	R/R	Auburn, Wash. (Thomas Jefferson High School)	Washington Sidewinders Gold
Maggie Ruckenbrod	C/INF	R/R	St. Louis, Mo. (Oakville Senior High)	St. Louis Chaos

2010 Softball Recruiting Class Profiles


2010 Softball Recruiting Class Profiles

		Caralisa Connell Position: RHP/1B, OF Bats/Throws: R/R Hometown/HS: Murfreesboro, Tenn./Siegel High School Travel Team: Team Worth Gold Connell hails from Murfreesboro, Tenn.'s Siegel High School, where she played several positions, including pitcher, first base, second base and outfield. She was the District 7AAA Pitcher of the Year after posting a 31-5 record in 2009. She was an all Middle Tennessee first team member, was named to the Tennessean All-Mid-State and earned the Daily News Journal MVP Award. The Mid-State Amateur All-State team member was also a four-time all-district and all-district tournament team selection. Connell played summer ball for Team Worth Gold and posted a 21-2 record in 2009. She helped lead her team to five World Series and national titles and eight top ten finishes since 2000. She is also an all-region and two-time all-district selection in basketball. Coach Sandy Pearsall on Caralisa Connell "It's great to have another Tennessee player coming into this program. Caralisa is an excellent athlete who will be strong asset to our pitching staff. She throws with great power and brings other assets such as strong fielding skills and a great bat." Connell on U of L "I chose Louisville because I knew that this was an excellent program with outstanding coaches. I wanted to play for a team with a legitimate shot at making it to the Women's College World Series and the ability to make a serious run for the national championship. The facilities were absolutely beautiful and it was an instant fit. I felt close to Coach Marr the first time we met at camp and fell in love with the school and coaching staff from the moment I walked on campus."

		Taner Fowler Position: INF/Catcher Bats/Throws: R/R Hometown/HS: Morganfield, Ky./Union County High School Travel Team: Louisville Lady Sluggers Fowler is a utility infielder/catcher for Morganfield, Ky.'s Union County High School where she is a six-year varsity team member. She was an all-district selection from 2006-09 and was named to the all-region team in 2006 and 2009. As a junior, she was named 2009 Second Region Player of the Year and earned an all-state honorable mention. Fowler was the team MVP in 2008 and 2009 and is a three-time Golden Glove Award winner. She registered a school-record .615 batting average which also ranks among the top ten in the state. Fowler also plays basketball and was a 2009 all-district selection. Coach Sandy Pearsall on Taner Fowler "We always look hard in state for the best athletes and softball players. Taner definitely fits this mold. She is a very good athlete, possesses a strong bat and is capable of playing multiple positions in our game. She has gained a great deal of experience in the last few years playing travel ball and it will help her to contribute immediately on our team." Taner Fowler on Louisville "Louisville has been my number one choice for a few years. I was familiar with the campus because I had attended games and camps and knew early on that this was the school I wanted to attend. The coaches are great and we share the same goal of playing in the Women's College World Series. In addition to the beautiful campus and exceptional athletic facilities, U of L is an academically sound school. My greatest memory is the day I told my parents that I had been offered a scholarship to play softball at U of L. I love being a Cardinal!"

		Katie Keller Position: INF Bats/Throws: R/R Hometown/HS: Livermore, Calif./Livermore HS Travel Team: Sorcerer Gold Keller, an infielder from Livermore, Calif., is a three-year starter at shortstop for Livermore High School which is ranked fifth in California and tenth nationally by ESPN/Rise.com. Keller was a two-time team MVP after leading her team and league offensively. The two-time East Bay Athletic League first team member was named All-State Infield California by ESPNRise.com. In addition to her high school team, Keller also played for the Sorcerer Gold travel team, which won the Louisville Slugger Boulder Championship and advanced to the 2009 Gold Nationals in Oklahoma City. She is also a three-year letterwinner and starter for the Livermore High School soccer team. Keller also considered Washington and Fresno State before signing with Louisville. Coach Sandy Pearsall on Katie Keller "Katie Keller comes to us from Northern California and has a wealth of experience from playing on one of the top teams in the country. She is a very talented middle infielder with a great glove. Katie is also an accomplished hitter and will bring power to our lineup which is something we are looking for in this class." Katie Keller on Louisville "I chose Louisville because everything about my visit was more than perfect! I felt that Louisville was the best fit for me. The facilities were great and the coaches and players were amazing. I love the whole atmosphere of the school and town. I cannot wait to be a part of the Cardinal family."

		Hannah Kiyohara Position: INF/OF Bats/Throws: R/R Hometown/HS: Auburn, Washington/Thomas Jefferson High School Travel Team: Washington Sidewinders Gold Kiyohara, an infield/outfielder from Auburn, Washington, played for Thomas Jefferson High School. The 2009 captain led the team in batting average, hits and RBI en route to being named Federal Way Mirror Player of the Year. She is a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, a two-time All-South Puget Sound League and All-City selection. She also played for the Washington Sidewinders Gold team. Kiyohara also plays basketball for Thomas Jefferson High School was the team's leading scorer in 2008 and a two-time all-city team member. Coach Sandy Pearsall on Hannah Kiyohara "Hannah is a gifted athlete who has great hands, which makes her a very talented fielder. She continues to become better and better offensively and will bring a great deal of speed to the team. She has a great attitude and clearly loves playing the game." Kiyohara on Louisville "After my first visit in Louisville, my mind was totally set on becoming a Cardinal. I absolutely fell in love with the coaches, the facilities and the support system on campus. The coaching staff at Louisville has granted me with this wonderful opportunity and I am excited to become a part of the Cardinal family."

		Maggie Ruckenbrod Position: C/INF Bats/Throws: R/R Hometown/HS: St. Louis, Mo./Oakville Senior High Travel Team: St. Louis Chaos Ruckenbrod, a St. Louis, Mo., native joins the Cardinals from Oakville Senior High where she helped lead her team to a runner-up finish in the state tournament and was named the 2009 St. Louis Player of the Year. The four-time all-state selection and two-time conference player of the year owns the state's record for career hits (186) finished with a .500 batting average. She also plays for the St. Louis Chaos travel team. Ruckenbrod also considered Iowa, Missouri, Southern Illinois and Oklahoma State before signing with Louisville. Coach Sandy Pearsall on Maggie Ruckenbrod "We are excited to get another player from Missouri, especially one from the St. Louis Chaos program. She was named Player of the Year this fall and set the state high school record for hits. Maggie is a strong catcher and has great experience behind the plate, but is also capable of playing other positions. We are excited about her offensive potential." Maggie Ruckenbrod on Louisville "I absolutely love the city and also how much fun the girls and coaches have together."

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