Softball Announces 2020 Signing Class
12/10/2019 1:02:00 PM | Softball
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo softball head coach Mike Ruechel announced on Tuesday the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2020-21 season. The class includes five New York athletes, a Canadian and one each from Virginia and Idaho.
"This upcoming class is a nice variety of student-athletes that will add depth to the pitching circle as well as replacing some key bats in the lineup," said Ruechel. "We've got a handful of athletes coming in from the Empire State and we value keeping local talent as well as getting their families involved with the program and creating an electric atmosphere at Nan Harvey Field. I look forward to watching these student-athletes help take our program to the next level."
Martha Balthasar – Lancaster, NY – Buffalo Academy of Sacred Heart – Pitcher
Balthasar comes to Buffalo from nearby Lancaster, NY where she attends Buffalo Academy of Sacred Heart. She is a four-year letter-winner under head coach Karen Conway and most recently completed a stellar junior season in which she was named first team All-Catholic league after recording a 2.24 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 75.0 innings pitched. She plays her club ball for the USSSA NY Pride where she recorded a 1.64 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 42.2 innings pitched last season. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Carina Catalano – Fairport, NY – Fairport High School – 1B
Catalano comes to Buffalo from Fairport, NY where she is a three-year letter winner for the Red Raiders. As a sophomore she hit eight home runs and recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage while earning the Golden Glove Award. As a junior, Catalano was named second team All-County and was named to the Section V All-Tournament team. Off the field, Catalano is a member of the National Honor and Spanish National Honor Societies and was the recipient of the Olde English F Award.
Madison Fernimen – Hayden, Idaho – Coeur D'Alene High School – IF/UTL
Fernimen comes to Buffalo from Hayden, Idaho where she currently plays under Steve Daily at Coeur D'Alene High School. Fernimen is the first Buffalo recruit from the Gem State. She is coming off a standout junior season in which she broke the school record for batting average (.516) and stolen bases (28), while also recording 33 hits, a .529 slugging percentage, .575 on base percentage and a .972 fielding percentage. The four-year varsity starter is a two-time IEL 5A All-League Infield of the Year, a Golden Glove Defender of the Year and was also named IEL 5A All-League Outfielder of the Year as a freshman. Off the field, Fernimen is a Region 1 Idaho Top Scholar, honor roll member and has received several scholastic awards.
Jada Gowanlock – Mississauga, ON, Canada – St. Aloysius Gonzaga S.S. – OF/1B
Gowanlock comes to Buffalo from Mississauga, ON, Canada. She is coming off a strong junior season in which she recorded a .395 batting average, 38 RBI, .837 slugging percentage and a 1.301 on base percentage in 34 games with the Oakville Angels. She helped lead the Angels to a second place finish at the 2019 U19 Provincials as well as a runner-up finish at the 2018 U16 Canadian Championships and a fourth place finish at the 2018 U19 Canadian Championships. This past summer, Gowanlock helped lead the 2019 U19 Canadian Junior Women's National Team to its first bronze medal in team history. Off the field, she is a member of the 2015 VEX IQ Robotics Team that finished second place at the World Championships and is a three-year member of the award-winning First Lego League Robotics Team as well as a four-year member of the concert band.
Sara Kelly – Ashburn, VA – Broad Run High School – OF/UTL
Kelly comes to Buffalo from Ashburn, Virginia where she is a three-year letter winner at Broad Run High School. She is coming off a stellar junior season in which was named first team All-Conference and Team MVP after recording a .508 batting average, 32 hits and a .554 on base percentage. She was also named All-Loco honorable mention and was the Sports Plus Softball Tournament MVP after leading Broad Run to a championship victory. Kelly plays her club ball for the Ashburn Shooting Stars and was a 2016 Select All-American.
Ally Sobaszek – Rochester, NY – Rush Henrietta High School – IF
Sobaszek comes to Buffalo from Rochester, NY where she starred at Rush Henrietta High School, recording a .433 batting average to go along with 21 RBI, six home runs, 21 walks and an .883 slugging percentage. Sobaszek was named First Team All-Conference three times and was a two-time All Greater Rochester selection. She excelled of the field as well as she was named an NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete as a junior.
Julia Tarantino – North Bellmore, NY – Kellenberg Memorial High School – Pitcher
Tarantino comes to Buffalo from North Bellmore, NY where she competes for the Kellenberg Memorial Firebirds and is a two-time NSCHSGAA league finalist. She was named the 2019 NSCHSGAA Pitcher of the Year and is a two-time NSCHSGAA All-League selection. Tarantino was also named to the 2019 NSCHSGAA All-State Second Team and the 2019 NFCA All-East Region Second Team. In 2017, she was named the 2017 USSSA Most Outstanding Pitcher as a member of Team Long Island who won the National Championship that year. Off the field, Tarantino is a member of the National Honor Society and is a two-time NFCA Scholar Athlete.
Keren Hodulick – Islip, NY – Islip High School – C/1B
Hodulick comes to Buffalo from Islip, NY where she competes for Islip High School. She led all of Suffolk County in home runs (9) and RBI (41), including 22 extra base hits and a .600 batting average, while helping to lead her team to a second place finish in the county in 2019. Hodulick was named Section 11 Class A Player of the Year and an All-State First Team Member in addition to League Player of the Year and was also an All-County selection. Off the field she is a member of the National World Language Honor Society.
The Bulls open the 2020 season February 7-9 at the Lion Classic, hosted by Southeastern Louisiana University.
"This upcoming class is a nice variety of student-athletes that will add depth to the pitching circle as well as replacing some key bats in the lineup," said Ruechel. "We've got a handful of athletes coming in from the Empire State and we value keeping local talent as well as getting their families involved with the program and creating an electric atmosphere at Nan Harvey Field. I look forward to watching these student-athletes help take our program to the next level."
Martha Balthasar – Lancaster, NY – Buffalo Academy of Sacred Heart – Pitcher
Balthasar comes to Buffalo from nearby Lancaster, NY where she attends Buffalo Academy of Sacred Heart. She is a four-year letter-winner under head coach Karen Conway and most recently completed a stellar junior season in which she was named first team All-Catholic league after recording a 2.24 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 75.0 innings pitched. She plays her club ball for the USSSA NY Pride where she recorded a 1.64 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 42.2 innings pitched last season. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Carina Catalano – Fairport, NY – Fairport High School – 1B
Catalano comes to Buffalo from Fairport, NY where she is a three-year letter winner for the Red Raiders. As a sophomore she hit eight home runs and recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage while earning the Golden Glove Award. As a junior, Catalano was named second team All-County and was named to the Section V All-Tournament team. Off the field, Catalano is a member of the National Honor and Spanish National Honor Societies and was the recipient of the Olde English F Award.
Madison Fernimen – Hayden, Idaho – Coeur D'Alene High School – IF/UTL
Fernimen comes to Buffalo from Hayden, Idaho where she currently plays under Steve Daily at Coeur D'Alene High School. Fernimen is the first Buffalo recruit from the Gem State. She is coming off a standout junior season in which she broke the school record for batting average (.516) and stolen bases (28), while also recording 33 hits, a .529 slugging percentage, .575 on base percentage and a .972 fielding percentage. The four-year varsity starter is a two-time IEL 5A All-League Infield of the Year, a Golden Glove Defender of the Year and was also named IEL 5A All-League Outfielder of the Year as a freshman. Off the field, Fernimen is a Region 1 Idaho Top Scholar, honor roll member and has received several scholastic awards.
Jada Gowanlock – Mississauga, ON, Canada – St. Aloysius Gonzaga S.S. – OF/1B
Gowanlock comes to Buffalo from Mississauga, ON, Canada. She is coming off a strong junior season in which she recorded a .395 batting average, 38 RBI, .837 slugging percentage and a 1.301 on base percentage in 34 games with the Oakville Angels. She helped lead the Angels to a second place finish at the 2019 U19 Provincials as well as a runner-up finish at the 2018 U16 Canadian Championships and a fourth place finish at the 2018 U19 Canadian Championships. This past summer, Gowanlock helped lead the 2019 U19 Canadian Junior Women's National Team to its first bronze medal in team history. Off the field, she is a member of the 2015 VEX IQ Robotics Team that finished second place at the World Championships and is a three-year member of the award-winning First Lego League Robotics Team as well as a four-year member of the concert band.
Sara Kelly – Ashburn, VA – Broad Run High School – OF/UTL
Kelly comes to Buffalo from Ashburn, Virginia where she is a three-year letter winner at Broad Run High School. She is coming off a stellar junior season in which was named first team All-Conference and Team MVP after recording a .508 batting average, 32 hits and a .554 on base percentage. She was also named All-Loco honorable mention and was the Sports Plus Softball Tournament MVP after leading Broad Run to a championship victory. Kelly plays her club ball for the Ashburn Shooting Stars and was a 2016 Select All-American.
Ally Sobaszek – Rochester, NY – Rush Henrietta High School – IF
Sobaszek comes to Buffalo from Rochester, NY where she starred at Rush Henrietta High School, recording a .433 batting average to go along with 21 RBI, six home runs, 21 walks and an .883 slugging percentage. Sobaszek was named First Team All-Conference three times and was a two-time All Greater Rochester selection. She excelled of the field as well as she was named an NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete as a junior.
Julia Tarantino – North Bellmore, NY – Kellenberg Memorial High School – Pitcher
Tarantino comes to Buffalo from North Bellmore, NY where she competes for the Kellenberg Memorial Firebirds and is a two-time NSCHSGAA league finalist. She was named the 2019 NSCHSGAA Pitcher of the Year and is a two-time NSCHSGAA All-League selection. Tarantino was also named to the 2019 NSCHSGAA All-State Second Team and the 2019 NFCA All-East Region Second Team. In 2017, she was named the 2017 USSSA Most Outstanding Pitcher as a member of Team Long Island who won the National Championship that year. Off the field, Tarantino is a member of the National Honor Society and is a two-time NFCA Scholar Athlete.
Keren Hodulick – Islip, NY – Islip High School – C/1B
Hodulick comes to Buffalo from Islip, NY where she competes for Islip High School. She led all of Suffolk County in home runs (9) and RBI (41), including 22 extra base hits and a .600 batting average, while helping to lead her team to a second place finish in the county in 2019. Hodulick was named Section 11 Class A Player of the Year and an All-State First Team Member in addition to League Player of the Year and was also an All-County selection. Off the field she is a member of the National World Language Honor Society.
The Bulls open the 2020 season February 7-9 at the Lion Classic, hosted by Southeastern Louisiana University.
UB Softball vs. Akron Double Header (4/30) @ 1pm
Thursday, April 24
UB Softball vs. Canisius Double Header (4/23) @ 1pm
Tuesday, April 22
UB Softball vs. Toledo (4/20) @ 12pm
Monday, April 14
UB Softball vs. Northern Illinois doubleheader (4/12) @ 1pm
Thursday, April 10
