Softball Welcomes Eight Newcomers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville softball coach Sandy Pearsall has announced that eight newcomers will join the Cardinals in the fall of 2017.

"We are excited to welcome this great recruiting class to our program," said Pearsall. "They are top players both regionally and nationally and will bring with them experience, speed, power and game knowledge. This will be a fun class to coach as they help propel our program forward."

Catie Barber
Position: OF
Bats/Throws: R/R
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
High School: Ballard
Travel Team: Louisville Lady Sluggers

Catie Barber will join her hometown Cardinals after playing at Louisville's Ballard High School where she is a three-year starter and helped lead her team to two district championships and one runner-up finish. The outfielder earned 2016 all-district and all-region honors and was selected to play in the 2016 East/West Kentucky All-Star game. Barber is also successful in the classroom as a first team academic all-state selection.

Barber also plays for the Louisville Lady Sluggers club team.

Sandy Pearsall on Catie Barber
"We are excited to have Catie Barber join us. She grew up around Louisville athletics and has great passion for our program. She is a good outfielder and a nice offensive player who will continue to grow. She's got a lot of the tools we are looking for in terms of her speed and determination."

Catie Barber on UofL
"After my first visit to the university, I was amazed with the facilities and the coaching staff. Growing up around the campus, I knew from a young age that I wanted to experience being a Cardinal both academically and athletically. I have always been a UofL fan and I'm extremely grateful to have the opportunity to play softball at my dream school."

Madison Ciaccio
Position: 3B
Bats/Throws: R/R
Hometown: New Orleans, La.
High School: Mt. Carmel Academy
Travel Team: Louisiana Voodoo

Madison Ciaccio comes to Louisville from New Orleans where she is a three-year starter for Mt. Carmel Academy. She helped her team to the state playoffs twice and three undefeated district championships. The third baseman was named 2016 Times Picayune All-Metro Team honorable mention

Ciaccio also plays for the Louisiana Voodoo Gold which competed in the ASA/USA Class A Fast Pitch National Championship.

Sandy Pearsall on Madison Ciaccio
"We were impressed by Madison's great defensive skills. She has also has tremendous power and we look forward to her help propelling our offense. Madison is a hard worker and backs it up with her play on the field."

Madison Ciacco on UofL
"I chose Louisville because of the coaches. I felt very welcomed and at home on my unofficial visit last year. The coaches treated me like an adult and showed great enthusiasm to have me as a Cardinal. The hospitality was amazing. Louisville feels like home and I cannot wait to be there."

Maddy Newman
Position: 2B
Bats/Throws: R/L
Hometown: Osceola, Ind.
High School: Penn HS
Travel Team: Indiana Magic Gold

Maddy Newman joins the Cardinals from Osceola, Ind., where she is a three-year starter for Penn High School and has helped her team to three sectional and regional championships and a state runner-up showing in 2016. The second baseman is two-time first team all-conference selection and was voted best infielder by her team. As a freshman, she was named a Northern Indiana Conference honorable mention.

Newman also plays for the Indiana Magic Gold travel team which posted a runner-up finish in the Independence Day Tournament Colorado and the Triple Crown National Tournament.

Coach Sandy Pearsall on Maddy Newman: "Maddy brings tremendous speed to the game. She is a jack-of-all-trades; she can play infield or outfield and is a tenacious slapper. She is the kind of player who will get out on the dirt and play hard all the time."

Maddy Newman on UofL
"I chose the University of Louisville because of the many attributes the academic and athletic programs have to offer. There is a positive, supporting environment throughout the entire campus. The school spirit and passion I observed on some of my visits really impacted my decision. I felt like I could be successful in all aspects of life at Louisville. I'm confident that my peers, coaches, teammates and teachers will provide me with the encouragement and tools I will need in order to be the best me that I can be on and off of the softball field."

Paige Schindler
Position: Pitcher/OF
Bats/Throws: R/R
Hometown: Borden, Ind.
High School: Borden High School
Travel Team: OC Elite (Orange County, Calif.)

Paige Schindler is a pitcher/shortstop from Borden, Ind., where she is a three-year starter for 2016 Indiana State Champion Borden High School. She was named the 2016 Courier-Journal Southern Indiana Softball Player of the Year after registering nine no-hitters and a 0.14 ERA and earning State Championship Player of the Game honors. Throughout her career, she has also helped lead her team to three sectional and two regional titles. Schindler is a two-time Southern Athletic Conference (SAC) Player of the Year, a three-time all-conference and all-area first team selection. She is a three-time Borden team MVP, two-time Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, 2014 News and Tribune Freshman of the Year runner-up.

Schindler also lettered three years in basketball while earning all-sectional honors and was a letter winner in volleyball and cross country and is a member of the National Honor Society.

While playing for the OC Elite club team, Schindler was named Championship MVP after leading her team to the 2014 USSSA World Series championship. She went on to help the team to second-place finishes in the 2015 USSSA and ASA nationals.

Sandy Pearsall on Paige Schindler
"Paige has had an outstanding career throughout her high school and club ball after helping her teams to state and national championships. She has certainly accomplished a lot already and will be a welcome addition to our pitching staff."

Paige Schindler on UofL
"I chose University of Louisville primarily because of their softball program. I knew I wanted to play softball for the Lady Cards from a young age. I have attended numerous camps over the years. The coaches demand a high level of performance from all of their players. The team trains hard and competes at a high level, which is what I was looking for. The players are like a family and have a great time together while taking softball seriously, which is a great fit for me. The facilities are unbelievable, along with the coaching staff. I love how the school treats their athletes and how they make sure you get every opportunity to get your education. The school spirit at UofL is hard to beat."

Riley Schindler
Position: OF/SS
Bats/Throws: R/R
Hometown: Borden, Ind.
High School: Borden High School
Travel Team: OC Elite (Orange County, Calif.)

Riley Schindler joins the Cardinals from Borden, Ind., and is a three-year starter for 2016 Indiana State Champion Borden High School. The outfielder/shortstop helped her team capture three sectional and two regionals titles and is a three-time all-conference and all-area selection. As a freshman, she won the award for most stolen bases and was also chosen for the 2014 North/South All-Stars.

The multi-sport athlete is a three-year letter winner for the two-time sectional basketball champions and was an all-sectional honoree. She also earned a varsity letter in volleyball. Her success extends to the classroom as a member of the National Honor Society.

Schindler played travel ball for the 2014 USSSA World Series champion. OC Elite and helped the team to second-place finishes in the 2015 USSSA and ASA nationals. She was a 2014 Colorado Sparkler All-Star.

Sandy Pearsall on Riley Schindler
"Riley brings an impressive high school and club resume with a state high school championship and national club title. Overall she is a great athlete with tremendous speed and offensive power."

Riley Schindler on UofL
"It has been a dream of mine to play softball for the University of Louisville for a long time. I have been attending softball camps there since I was young. After my first visit, I knew I wanted to be a part of the Lady Cards family. The coaches and players had a special bond and a competitiveness which I was looking for in a college team. The players were so welcoming and the entire staff was focused on hard work and commitment from their players. I loved how hard they pushed their players and the high expectations they had for them. Academically, the University of Louisville offers me the opportunity to earn a top notch education in the field I would like to study."

Kyra Snyder
Position: Pitcher/1B
Bats/Throws: L/R
Hometown: Mission Viejo, Calif.
High School: Mission Viejo, HS
Travel Team: OC Batbusters Lastrapes

Kyra Snyder comes to Louisville from Mission Viejo, Calif., and is a three-year starter for perineal power Mission Viejo, High School. The first baseman/pitcher has helped her team to three straight California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finals, winning the titles in 2014 and 2016. Snyder is an all-state second team selection and has been named to the All-Orange County, South Coast League and All-CIF Division 2 first teams. She was also tabbed a first team All-State selection by CalHiSports.com. Entering her junior season, Snyder was named one of FloSoftball.com's top 100 class of 2017.

Snyder also plays for the OC Batbusters 18ULastrapes. While playing for the 16U team, she helped win the USSSA World Fast Pitch Championship and was named tournament MVP.

Sandy Pearsall on Kyra Snyder:
"Kyra is an exciting offensive player. She not only has power, but she is also a savvy hitter. She plays first base and will also be able to help us out in the circle where brings great movement and a strong changeup."

Kyra Snyder on UofL:
"I chose to attend the University of Louisville because of the promising opportunities that were presented before me. Not only were the facilities overwhelmingly modern and stunning, but the coaches were some of the nicest people I've ever met. The team was so welcoming and it felt like home on my first visit."

Danielle Watson
Position: RHP
Bats/Throws: R/R
Hometown: Osceola, Ind.
High School: Penn HS
Travel Team: Indiana Magic Gold

Danielle Watson comes to Louisville from Osceola, Ind., where she led Penn High School to the Indiana State Championship game in 2016. The right-handed pitcher tossed a pair of no-hitters in the sectional and regional games en route to her team's state runner-up finish. She also helped her high school team to three sectional and regional championships. Watson is a two-time all-state first team selection and has registered 11 career no-hitters while carrying a stingy 0.35 ERA and batted .442 as a junior.

Watson also plays for the Indiana Magic Gold travel team which finished runner-up in the Independence Day Tournament Colorado and the Triple Crown National Tournament.
Sandy Pearsall on Danielle Watson
"Danielle is a power pitcher who not only has great club experience, but has also led her high school team to the state championship game. She is a steady hitter and a competitor who carries a great persona on the mound."

Danielle Watson on UofL
"I chose the University of Louisville because of the beautiful campus and the incredible facilities and opportunities the university provides. I look forward to the powerful competition of the ACC and can't wait to be challenged on a daily basis. Louisville provided the best opportunity to reach my maximum potential as a student, as an athlete and as a person."

Jordyn Wolfe
Position: OF
Bats/Throws: L/R
Hometown: South Elgin, Ill.
High School: St. Charles North
Travel Team: Beverly Bandits

Jordyn Wolfe joins the Cardinals from South Elgin, Ill., and is a three-year starter for 2016 Class 4A champion St. Charles North. The All-Conference and All-Region outfielder helped lead her team regional titles in each of her seasons. She was also named one of the top 20 area players entering the 2016 softball season by the Elgin Courier-News.

Wolfe also plays for the Beverly Bandits travel team which captured the 2015 IDT Boulder Tournament in its first season competing as an Under 16 team.

Sandy Pearsall on Jordyn Wolfe:
"Jordan is a great outfielder with considerable speed. She is a hard-nosed player with substantial defensive skill and is an exciting outfielder to watch."

Jordyn Wolfe on UofL
"After visiting Louisville, learning about their teaching program, meeting so many great people and seeing the awesome facilities I just knew I wanted to spend my college years here!"

University of Louisville Athletics

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