Softball Inks Six in Class of 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville softball coach Holly Aprile has announced that six prospective student-athletes have signed National Letters-of-Intent to continue their education and softball careers at the University of Louisville. Brooke Gray, Jac Hasty, Char Lorenz, Lindsey Mullen, Katie Thatcher and Ava Venturelli will join the Cardinals in the fall of 2023.

Coach Holly Aprile on the 2023 Signing Class
"Signing Day is the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication but also just the beginning of an exciting journey. Every class is both unique and incredibly important to us and the 2023 class is no different as they will add significant talent and depth to our roster but more importantly, they share our values and standards.

Lindsey Mullen and Brooke Gray are both outstanding pitchers who will complement our current staff and give us options from both the right and left side. Ava Venturelli and Katie Thatcher will add power at the plate in addition to depth in the outfield, and Char Lorenz and Jac Hasty both play multiple infield positions as well as catcher. They all bring their own brand of enthusiasm and fun to the game, and I know they are ready to give all of their effort toward making Louisville Softball great.

There is a lot of work to do be done between now and when they officially arrive on campus, but we know that the class of 2023 is up to the task."

Brooke Gray
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
High School: Ballard High School
Travel Team: Louisville Lady Sluggers 18U-Huecker

Louisville native, Brooke Gray will stay in her hometown for her collegiate softball career. The left-handed pitcher helped lead Ballard High School to an undefeated season and the state championship in the 2022 season. As a junior, she posted a 28-0 record in the circle with a 0.82 ERA in 186 innings and ranked second in the state with 380 strikeouts.

Following the season, Gray earned numerous honors including Max Preps Kentucky Softball Player of the Year, All-district, All-Region, and All-State honors, as well as being named the MVP of the 2022 state tournament and Kentuckiana ESPY's Female High School Athlete of the Year.

Gray enters her senior campaign ranked among the top 10 players in the nation for the class of 2023 by Extra Inning Softball. She also is a member of the Louisville Lady Sluggers 18U-Huecker travel team.

Staying in the 5?0?2? Brooke is officially a Cardinal!!#GoCards | #NSD23 pic.twitter.com/9wbvLHn4Be
— Louisville Softball (@LouisvilleSB) November 11, 2022

Jac Hasty
Position: Catcher/Utility
Hometown: Chesapeake, Va.
High School: Western Branch
Travel Team: Hanover Lady Hornets

Jac Hasty comes to Louisville from Chesapeake, Va., where she plays for Western Branch High School and the Hanover Lady Hornets travel team.

As a junior, she helped lead her team to a runner-up finish in the regional tournament. The two-time All-Tidewater second team selection was also honored as Western Branch's offensive player of the year in the spring.

Virginia ?? The Ville Welcome home, Jac!#GoCards | #NSD23 pic.twitter.com/fREcHnER2p
— Louisville Softball (@LouisvilleSB) November 11, 2022

Char Lorenz
Position: Infield/Outfield
Hometown: Munster, Ind.
High School: Munster
Travel Team: Indiana Magic Gold Bay

Char Lorenz joins the Cardinals from Munster, Ind. where she plays for Munster High School and Indiana Magic Gold Bay travel team.

As a junior, the team MVP earned IHSAA first-team all-state honors after posting a .437 batting average along with a .451 on-base percentage, a .954 fielding percentage, and five home runs. Lorenz was recognized as third-team all-state after her sophomore season saw her hit .422 at the plate and record 20 stolen bases to go with a .953 fielding percentage and three home runs. She is also a two-time all-Northwest Crossroads selection, earning the honor in 2021 and 2022.

Another one is in?? Welcome to the Ville, Char!#GoCards | #NSD23 pic.twitter.com/3fCtQFU9Dz
— Louisville Softball (@LouisvilleSB) November 10, 2022

Lindsey Mullen
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Leesburg, Va.
High School: Tuscarora High School
Travel Team: Georgia Impact

Lindsey Mullen comes to Louisville from Leesburg, Virginia, where she plays for Tuscarora High School and the Georgia Impact travel team.

The right-handed pitcher helped lead her team to an undefeated regular season, finishing with a 25-1 record with their only loss coming in the Virginia High School League Class 4 State championship game. In her junior season, Mullen registered 237 strikeouts in 111.2 innings pitched and was named the VHSL Region 4C Player of the Year. She was also selected as the Burg Female Athlete of the Year, and earned all-metro, all-state, all-region, and all-district honors. She is ranked No. 27 in the Extra Inning Softball's 2023 Extra Elite 100.

As a sophomore, the two-time all-district selection led Tuscarora to a state semifinal, earning team MVP, honors after delivering 181 strikeouts in 86 innings while also hitting five home runs on the season and registering 19 RBIs.

SIGNED?? Welcome to the squad, Lindsey!#GoCards | #NSD23 pic.twitter.com/EZhJtj18lc
— Louisville Softball (@LouisvilleSB) November 11, 2022

Katie Thatcher
Position: First Base / Outfielder
Hometown: Rock Falls, Ill.
High School: Rock Falls High School
Travel Team: Heartland Havoc

Katie Thatcher comes to Louisville from Rock Falls, Illinois, where she plays for Rock Falls High School and the Heartland Havoc travel team.

As a junior, the team captain helped lead the Rockets to a 22-12 overall record and a 14-4 mark in conference play. The Big Northern Conference first team selection registered 40 hits with nine home runs and 31 RBIs. Thatcher pitched a total of 16 games, posting an 11-5 record, striking out 175 batters through 134 innings

The two-sport athlete has also lettered in basketball.

Signed, sealed, delivered ??? Welcome to the family, Katie!! #GoCards | #NSD23 pic.twitter.com/Loar8OHFKd
— Louisville Softball (@LouisvilleSB) November 9, 2022

Ava Venturelli
Position: Outfield
Hometown: Taunton, Mass.
High School: Taunton
Travel Team: Louisville Lady Sluggers

Ava Venturelli comes to Louisville from Taunton, Mass. where she plays for Taunton High School.

The outfielder helped lead the Tigers to their second straight state title - and third in the last four seasons. Following an impressive junior campaign in which she registered a .457 batting average with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs, Venturelli was named to the HockomockSports All Star team and was a nominee for the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year. The 2023 team captain was recognized by Extra Innings as the 20^th-overall recruit and the 12^th-rated outfielder in the class of 2023 and at No. 71 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100. .

Venturelli also plays for the Louisville Lady Sluggers where she helped the squad to a third-place finish at the 2022 Alliance National Championship. She also was a key member of the Rhode Island Thunder Gold squad that placed at Premier Girls Fastpitch Nationals in 2021. She was named to the Extra Innings 2021 All Summer Team.

It's official ?? Welcome to the Ville, Ava!#GoCards | #NSD23 pic.twitter.com/zpVmoO1oiu
— Louisville Softball (@LouisvilleSB) November 9, 2022

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