Five Sign With Syracuse Softball

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The early national intent signing period has ended for softball and Syracuse will welcome five high school standouts to its roster during the 2009 season. Head coach Leigh Ross announced that Emily Casey (Woodlands, Texas), Leah Porter (Syracuse, N.Y.), Kelly Saco (Miami, Fla.), Gabriella Torzilli (South Salem, N.Y.) and Stephanie Watts (Clovis, Calif.) have signed national letters of intent.

"I am very pleased with the 2008 class of signees and look forward to the positive momentum they will add to the program," Ross said. "They are all very versatile athletes who are dedicated to not only be the best they can be, but to help make Syracuse Softball a top contender. They all possess many of the same characteristics – a love for the game, diligence towards their academics, a driving work ethic and a true desire to win."

Casey is entering her fourth varsity season and third as starting catcher for Woodlands High School. Last season she helped lead the school to the Texas District 14-5A Championship and into the region quarterfinals by batting .362 with a .511 on base percentage, .410 slugging percentage and 15 RBIs. She has earned Academic All-District and Second Team All-District accolades in 2007 along with another Academic All-District honor, All-District Honorable Mention and team most valuable player in 2006. Her travel team experience includes the Houston Power and the Texas Hawks. In 2006 she was ranked 30th –best fast-pitch player in the country.

"Emily is a gamer," Ross said. "What struck us while recruiting her was her competitiveness and her desire to win. We will be graduating two senior outfielders that are responsible for driving in a lot of our runs. I see Emily as a player that will be able to pick up many of those RBI’s. She has great offensive potential and will be playing outfield as well as possibly catching."

Porter remains local, as she is entering her fifth varsity season at Jamesville Dewitt High School. She has been a member of three sectional championship teams and several summer travel teams, including the Syracuse Stingers, Syracuse Renegades and the New York Bad Apples.

"Leah is our first local recruit to play softball here at Syracuse," Ross said. "She plays for the well recognized travel team, the NY Bad Apples. She'll give us much needed depth at the catcher’s position and she is very eager to represent her hometown university."

Saco is a versatile softball player, who can play first base, outfield and pitch. While playing for Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Saco has posted a .486 batting average, while posting a 14-1 record on the mound with 95 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.42. She is a standout on the Miami Stingrays summer team with a .439 batting average, 48 RBIs in 164 at bats. During the Sunshine State Games she nailed a three run homerun to win the state championship. Her honors including being a 2006-07 Herald First Team All-Dade and Florida All-State First Team selections. She was named the 2007 Miami Herald Hitter of the Year and the South Dade News Leader MVP. She earned the 2007 Palmetto Outstanding Junior Physical Education Award and was selected to the Palmetto Athletic Hall of Fame.

"Kelly is a tremendous athlete with a lot of power," Ross said. "She played with current SU player, Rachel Helman at both Palmetto and with the Miami Stingrays – both are very successful programs. Palmetto has been in the Florida State Softball Championships for the past three years and the Stingrays have finished third in the nation at the ASA level. Kelly’s offensive power and leadership on the field defensively has been a huge part of that success. She's a winner and carries that attitude with her at all times."

Torzilli holds the New York state record for more strikeouts in a game by sitting down 23 batters in 11 innings. She was also the Westchester Section I strikeout leader in 2006 (288) and in 2007 (241). The past two seasons she was named to the Westchester Section I All-League and All-Section teams. Torzilli, who was team MVP in '06 and '07, earned Westchester Journal News Second Team-All Star accolades in '06 and Westchester Journal News First Team All-Star in '07.

"Gaby is the true definition of a ballplayer," Ross said. "She loves to play the game and is a tremendous competitor. She enjoys the challenge of hard work and has the confidence to go up against anybody. On the field, look for her to pitch, play outfield and drive in runs for us. During training and conditioning, she will be that relentless workaholic that will inspire her teammates."

Rounding out the early commitments is Watts, who has competed at the national level. In 2005 her travel team, the Fresno Force, finished ninth at nationals and in 2007 her team, the Valley Breeze, took home 25th. She helped Clovis High win the Valley Title in 2007 by batting .555 and earning Second Team All-League and Offensive Player of the Year accolades. Her sophomore year she batted .444 and was a Second Team All-League selection.

"Stephanie is a defensive gem from the well known summer program, California Valley Breeze Gold," Ross said. "She possesses all the tools necessary for a solid shortstop – great range, soft hands and a strong arm. Along with those tools, she has great game sense and the ability to lead her teammates on the field. Middle infield is so important and I am happy to know Steph will be a part of ours for the next four years."

Syracuse University Athletics

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