Nov. 26, 2003
VILLANOVA, PA. - Villanova softball head coach Maria DiBernardi announced the signing of seven players during the early recruiting period. The diverse group includes four players from the west coast and two pitchers.
Among those from the west coast are a pair of infielders: Lisa Curran from The Meadows School in Las Vegas, and Jessica Curtis from Esperanza High School in Anaheim, Calif.
Curran is primarily a third baseman, but can also be used as a catcher. She was an All-State selection in 2003 after hitting .560 with 12 home runs and 62 RBI. Curran was a member of the Las Vegas Blast summer team.
Curtis is a versatile player with good speed and good slapping ability. She plays both second base and outfield, and last summer was a member of the OC Batbusters.
Jackie Dempsey, from Lexington High School in Lexington, Mass., plays both infield and outfield, and also possesses good speed. She played for the Concord Raiders during the summer.
DiBernardi also signed two local players. Kayla Felty, an outfielder from Schuylkill Haven, Pa. and the Schuylkill Starz, has great power, a strong arm and good speed. In addition to earning First Team All-County honors in softball, she received accolades for track and field and cross country.
Somerdale, N.J. native Greta Holmgren gives DiBernardi's class more depth in the infield. Holmgren played for Triton High School and the South Jersey Bandits, where she hit .412 last summer. She is a power hitter who can be used as a utility player.
Rounding out the group is a pair of pitchers. Amy Walters, a pitcher and outfielder from Portland Oregon, played for the top 16-U ASA team in the nation in 2002, the Oregon Sun Supply. During her ASA career, she recorded 22 wins against just two losses with 166 strikeouts. At Westview High School, Walters was 51-5 during her two varsity seasons.
And Kat Walsh, a pitcher and third basemen from Granada Hills High School in Northridge, Calif. is the other hurler. During her senior season, Walsh had an impressive streak of five consecutive no-hitters. Her summer team was the Southern California Diamonds.
