VILLANOVA, Pa. — The Villanova softball team signed five future Wildcats during National Signing Week to join its 2031 class next season. 

Incoming Wildcats Leah English, Lauren Richardson, Ava Rumsey, Emma Brotherton and Katie Scavone highlight a diverse class by head coach Bridget Orchard and her staff. The class showcased five different positions, including pitcher, catcher, infield, and the outfield. 

Leah English - Third Base | Lodi, NJ

Leah English joins the 'Cats after a two-sport career at Immaculate Heart Academy. The two-time Second Team All-State recipient collected a .391 batting average throughout her career with 106 total hits, 20 home runs and 115 RBIs. In addition to her All-State honors, the third baseman was a three-time First Team All-County Selection and a two-time Second-Team All-Region Selection. English also had an extensive 12-year career with her club team, Unity McHale/Torres, in which she tallied a .407 batting average as well as being named an All-Tournament Player three separate times during her career.

Orchard on English, "I think she can step in and make an immediate impact. She's a power hitter, and she'll lock down the third base/shortstop area. She's been playing at the highest level with Unity, which many of our girls have played on, since we started recruiting her. She's a hard-nosed third baseman, talent-wise."

Lauren Richardson - Pitcher | Mechanicsburg, Pa. 

Lauren Richardson comes to Villanova following a three-sport career at Cumberland Valley High School. During her senior season, she earned All-State Second Team along with several first-team nods, including All-Commonwealth and All-Sentinel. She finished her high school career as a two-time All-Commonwealth selection and a two-time Penn-Live team selection. Outside of her individual success, she was a pivotal piece in helping Cumberland Valley to collect the District Championship in 2025 and a Mid-Penn Championship in 2024. In addition to her high school success, she competed with the TNT National team for four years. 

Orchard on Richardson, "She has a great mound presence with her spin and movement. She came to our camps so we got to see her and evaluate her. We are really excited about having her, and she'll add depth to our program. She's going to come in and learn from our older pitchers and be able to contribute."

Ava Rumsey - Outfielder | Manhattan Beach, Calif.

A native of Manhattan Beach, California, Ava Rumsey heads across the country to Villanova as the lone outfield recruit for the 'Cats. A two-sport athlete at Marymount, she was a four-year varsity player as an outfielder and Utility player under Coach Wes Terry while competing in Cross Country. During her high school career, she was voted a two-time team captain and earned first-team All-League in 2026 after a .739 batting average and a perfect stolen base percentage on 24 attempts. Rumsey also had an extensive club career with Wildcats DK Premier Softball Club, where she helped the team win the Colorado Sparkler Junior U14 Championship in 2024 while also making the Athletics Marinakis/Schimmell 18U Softball Club this past year.

Orchard on Rumsey, "She's fast on the bases. She'll add a lot of speed, and she'll see a lot of pinch-running opportunities. Great culture kid, great teammate, works hard, hustles, passionate, and shows love for the game. That's what really stood out to us; this kid really loves playing and gets after it."

Emma Brotherton - Catcher | Spring City, Pa.

A Pennsylvania Native, Emma Brotherton comes to the mainline after a four-year varsity career at Owen J. Roberts High School. A two-time team captain, she helped lead her team to be the runner-up in the state tournament while being voted her school's player of the year. She finished her four years with a .480 career batting average and a .870 slugging percentage. Brotherton also spent two years with the PA Choas Club Softball team, in which she led the team in home runs in both years she played.

Orchard on Brotherton, "She's a smart kid that adapts and is loyal and committed. It's awesome to have her commit here and catch. Right now we have some of our positional players that are having to catch, so having her come in is going to be great. Her commitment, her loyalty, and her passion to play for Villanova were a big thing for us."

Katie Scavone - Infield - Clayton, NC.

Katie Scavone rounds out the 2027 recruiting class after spending four years on the varsity softball team at Cardinal Gibbons High School. During her high school career, she played both corner infield positions while being a power bat at the plate with a career-high 25 home runs in 2025. She heads into her senior season as a two-time All-Conference Selection and a 2024 All-District Selection. Scavone also competed with the travel team, Starz Gold Ellis, throughout her time in High School. 

Orchard on Scavone, "She's a power hitter, and she's somebody who is going to come in and help with the leadership qualities that she has. She is a player who came to our camps, was a hard worker, and can play the corners. She has high academics, and she's a person who can come in and immediately add to the culture."

Orchard expressed her excitement with the 2031 class while also showcasing the excitement of the incoming Wildcats themselves. 

"They're all really excited about Villanova and really excited a lot about softball," said head coach Bridget Orchard. "We touched on all the positions that we were looking for, added depth, and have players that can be in every category of our lineup. Hitting with our power hitters, we have speed, and we have all the positions we wanted covered. They're going to grow and develop, and they're all really excited to be here."