Nov. 20, 2006
NOTRE DAME, IND.- The University of Notre Dame softball team has announced the signing of six players Katie Fleury (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty), Shannon Kelly (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Hollywood Christian), Brianna Jorgensborg (Thousand Oaks, Calif./La Reina), Erin Marrone (Alexandria, Va./Bishop O’Connell), Sadie Pitzenberger (Tomball, Texas/Tomball) and Jody Valdivia (Anaheim, Calif./Canyon) to national letters of intent to enroll at Notre Dame and play softball for head coach Deanna Gumpf in 2007-08.
“As a class,” an excited Gumpf explained. “I’m very pleased with the group of student-athletes we are bringing to Notre Dame. They all belong at Notre Dame. They have all excelled on the field and academically. They will be a fun group to watch over the next four years.”
Fleury is a power hitting shortstop who will provide excellent speed and versatility to the Notre Dame lineup. During her prep career, she has led Archbishop Mitty to Western Catholic League (WCAL) championships every season with a combined record of 73-19. Over the summer playing for the Sorcerer 18U Gold team; she hit .425 with four home runs, five triples, nine doubles and 40 runs batted in (RBI). Fleury, a standout field hockey player, has led her team to the WCAL Championship in each of the last two seasons.
“The first time I saw Katie play, I knew I wanted her to play at Notre Dame,” Gumpf commented. “She is a leadoff hitter with great power who has all the necessary skills to be a great success in the middle infield at Notre Dame.”
Kelly is expected to be a power hitter and lethal producer in the class. As a junior, Kelly had a tremendous spring as she hit .647 with seven home runs, 40 runs scored and 78 runs batted in at the plate. From the mound the Florida native went 16-3 and had an earned-run average of 0.50.
“Shannon is a talented hitter who has great power to all fields,” Gumpf said. “She has the ability to excel here at Notre Dame in all areas. As a coach, I love her power, intensity and passion for the game.”
Jorgensborg, an outfielder, set three school records last season at La Reina with a batting average of .571, 49 RBIs and a sizzling on-base percentage of .652. She also had a slugging percentage of 1.114 to go along with 30 runs scored, eight home runs, and eight doubles. As a junior, she earned First Team all-Ventura County and MVP of the Tri-Valley League, as well as MVP of her high school team.
“Brianna is a very fun athlete to watch because she is so fluid in her movements,” Gumpf stated. “She has excellent quickness and acceleration. She is a great hitter with a good compliment of power and speed. Brianna is definitely a Notre Dame-type athlete as she has a great understanding and appreciation for what makes the university so special.”
Marrone comes from a long lineage of former Notre Dame students as both her grandfathers (Paul Marrone and Frank Tighe) as well as her parents (Nicolas Marrone and Stephanie [Tighe] Marrone), along with five aunts and uncles graduated from the university. The Virginia native is a middle infielder who hit .469 with 46 hits in 98 at bats as a junior.
“Erin is a middle infielder that will fill a utility role for us,” Gumpf continued, “She is capable of playing anywhere in the infield or the outfield. She will give us great defensive flexibility and a solid bat.”
Pitzenberger also is a very versatile player that was voted best catcher in 2004 and best shortstop in ’05 by her teammates. She has helped lead her Tomball High School team to three consecutive conference, regional and national rankings (11th-`04, 6th-`05, and 9th-’06). As a senior, the three-time team MVP has been voted the team captain. Pitzenberger has seen her batting average rise in each of her first three years with a high mark of .462 last season. She hails from the same area as former Irish softball player Sara Schoonert. Pitzenberger won four Texas State championships while playing for her club team the Texas Peppers. She currently plays for the Sudden Impact Gold.
“Sadie is a strong competitor and a real fighter. I love to watch her play. She is extremely versatile; as I’ve seen her catch, play the outfield and every position in the infield except first base. I can’t wait to see what she is capable of doing when she puts on a Notre Dame uniform.”
Valdivia is an accomplished pitcher that played club softball with current Irish freshman Heather Johnson (Los Alamitos, Calif. Mater Dei) on the California Cruisers. The hurler pitched the Cruisers to a third-place national finish in 2006. The future freshman was named the Century League Pitcher of the Year as she led the entire Orange County area in strikeouts last season with 302. She has also been voted team MVP for Canyon High School in each of her last two campaigns.
“I knew from the first time I saw her pitching with her 16U team that she was a player that had what it takes to play at this level. Jody not only has great velocity but the movement on her ball is excellent as well. She is a fierce competitor that has the ability and confidence to go beat anyone she faces.”
Notre Dame Freshman Class of 2008
Katie Fleury San Jose, Calif. Archbishop Mitty 5-5 * R/R Shortstop/Infield
Fleury on signing at Notre Dame: ” I am very proud and honored to be part of the Notre Dame family. From the moment I stepped on campus, I knew Notre Dame was the perfect place for me. I am excited to be spending the next four years of my life here and I look forward to being challenged to be the best student-athlete I can be.”
Shannon Kelly Pembroke Pines, Fla. Hollywood Christian 5-7 * R/R Pitcher/Catcher/Infield
Kelly on signing at Notre Dame: “It’s a dream come true. This is where I wanted to be, playing for Coach Gumpf and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.”
Brianna Jorgensborg Thousand Oaks, Calif. La Reina 5-10 * R/R Outfield
Brianna on her future at Notre Dame: “Playing for Notre Dame is a dream come true. I’ve always been a Notre Dame football fan for some reason, although most of my family are diehard USC followers, but I never even thought that I could be given the chance to be a member of the Fighting Irish.”
Erin Marrone Alexandria, Va. Bishop O’Connell 5-9 * R/R Infield/Outfield
Erin on attending Notre Dame: “Ever since I was a little kid I’ve known about Notre Dame and have wanted to go there, but it wasn’t until I went on my official visit and met Coach Gumpf and the team that I fell in love with the school. Now I just can’t wait to arrive on campus and start my career with the Fighting Irish.”
Sadie Pitzenberger ¬Tomball, Texas Tomball 5-7 * R/L Infield/Outfield
Sadie on signing with Notre Dame: “I feel blessed to have such an amazing opportunity; and a little nervous at the same time. However, I can’t wait to experience the people and traditions of Notre Dame.”
Jody Valdivia Anaheim, Calif. Canyon 5-8 * R/R Pitcher
Jody on signing at Notre Dame: “I am extremely excited about attending Notre Dame next year and can’t put into words my feelings about being part of the Irish family. From the moment I visited the campus, I could not have pictured a better school or program that would suit me than Notre Dame. I can’t wait to put on an Irish jersey.”