Softball Signs Five All-Conference Players

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse University softball coach Leigh Ross announced the signing of five players who have completed and signed in their National Letters of Intent (NLI). Joining the squad in 2014 will be Madeline Doane, Rachel Burkhardt, Sammy Fernandez, Anna Marie Gatti and Annie Toczynski.

"This is a very well rounded class with two infielders, two outfielders and a pitcher," said Ross. "These are players from successful summer programs and will bring a lot of experience against top competition across the country. I think they will make a great impact not only on the softball field, but as all around student-athletes to Syracuse University."

Doane, a native of Bolingbrook, Ill., will enter her senior season at Naperville Central as a team captain following a successful junior campaign which saw the outfielder collect All-State First Team and Naperville Sun Player of the Year honors. She batted .492 with three home runs, 21 doubles and 32 runs batted in. It also marked the second straight season Doane was a unanimous all-conference selection after earning honorable mention her freshman year. For her career, she is batting .405 with seven homers and 65 RBI. Doane also played on the Beverly Bandits' Team Conroy which placed fifth at the Premier Girls Fastpitch Nationals.

As the only four-year varsity player this year at Foothill High School, Burkhardt, of Santa Ana, Calif., will return to lead the Knights as a senior captain in the spring. Burkhardt was named First Team-All League in the Century League after finishing tops on the team with a .406 batting average, 33 hits and 19 RBI. Her team has advanced to the CIF each year, including a spot in the quarterfinals in 2012.

Fernandez has been with the varsity team at Carmel High School in Carmel, N.Y. since eighth grade, when she led the club with a .414 batting average. She has garnered All-League in each of the past three seasons and was a First Team All-Section and All- Mid-Hudson Valley Second Team honoree as a junior. Last season, upon posting a .498 batting average with four homers, 11 doubles, 17 stolen bases and 27 runs, Fernandez helped Carmel to the school's first Section 1-AA Championship. After a four year stint playing for Lunachicks Softball, Fernandez has been Team Long Island Gold shortstop since 2011.

The only pitcher in this year's class, Gatti comes to SU from Scottdale, Pa. In her first two years, which she spent at Greensburg Central Catholic, Gatti led the team to runner-up in District 7 of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL). Greensburg qualified for the state playoffs both seasons and advanced to the quarterfinals in 2011. As a freshman on that 2011 team, Gatti racked up All-State and All-Conference honors. She followed up a stellar rookie campaign with another All-Conference award in 2012. Gatti transferred to Southmoreland last year and will begin her second season with the Scotties this spring.

An outfielder from Simi Valley High School in Simi Valley, Calif., Toczynski is coming off a junior year in which she received Second Team All-Conference recognition. She was named to the All-Tournament team in the Suzanne Maniet Invitational in each of the past two seasons and was Simi Valley's defensive Player of the Year in 2011. Toczynski helped the Pioneers to the Marmonte League championship during her sophomore season. She also was a member of the Batbusters McNee 14U squad which won the Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championship.

Syracuse University Athletics

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