By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
MONT ALTO, Pa. – Penn State Mont Alto softball head coach Heath Newell has announced the addition of eight freshman who will be apart of the team this spring for the 2020 season.
"The 2019 signing class is a talented and versatile group," said Newell.
"This is a very capable group that I believe will have the ability to take our program to the next level. This group excels academically and will be up to the task of growing and shaping the culture of the Mont Alto softball program," added Newell.
The talented and versatile class includes Leah Blount, Corrine Custer-Grassmyer, Hailey Kuhn, Emily Ridge, Summer Sellers, Karli Snyder, Payton Watkins and Yvanna Ruano. These eight are set to join the Nittany Lions ahead of the 2020 season, which begins on March 7 in a doubleheader at Corning Community College.
2019 Penn State Mont Alto Softball Recruits:
Leah Blount
1st Base | 5-5
Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro Area High School
Major: Physical Therapy Assistant
Coach Newell's Take: Leah comes from a competitive division in high school and she should transition seamlessly to the collegiate game. She shows great determination on and off the field and is going to be very successful on the diamond and in the classroom. She will provide sound defense and a solid bat in our offense while providing great leadership to our team through her constant positivity.
Corrine Custer-Grassmyer
Catcher/Infield | 5-5
Johnstown, Pa. / Ferndale Area High School
Major: Human Development and Family Studies
Coach Newell's Take: Corrine is a high character student-athlete and was one of the premiere softball players coming out of her high school. She will instantly provide us depth with the ability to play multiple positions both on offense and defense. She is very determined to do her best wherever she plays, and we are happy to have her apart of the program here at Mont Alto.
Hailey Kuhn
Infield | 5-1
New Oxford, Pa. / New Oxford Senior High School
Major: Agricultural Business
Coach Newell's Take: Hailey is another local athlete that comes from a highly competitive high school program. She is a tremendous learner with a lot of talent and is expected to fill a much-needed void in our middle infield and outfield. Hailey is very competitive and a calm athlete that doesn't panic when things go wrong. We can't wait to see her produce later this spring.
Emily Ridge
Outfield | 5-5
Fairfield, Pa. / Fairfield Area High School
Major: Communication Science and Disorders
Coach Newell's Take: Emily will instantly fill the loss that we had with one of our All-Americans graduating last spring after a great four-year career. She is an extremely hard worker and brings solid defense to the outfield. The coaching staff is excited to work with her and watch her grow both as an athlete and a student.
Summer Sellers
Utility | 5-5
Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg Area Career Magnet
Major: Nursing
Coach Newell's Take: Summer is the definition of a gamer. She is very competitive and can play nearly anywhere across the diamond. She is a very gifted student-athlete that I've already seen adjust to what we do here at Mont Alto and works hard to do her best in everything we do. I look forward to watching Summer blossom as a leader and player that those around her look up to.
Karli Snyder
Pitcher/Infield | 5-6
Leetown, W.Va. / Jefferson High School
Major: Nursing
Coach Newell's Take: Karli will help fill a void both on the mound and at the second base. She was once told that she would never pitch again after a car accident in which she was involved in a few years ago. She was determined to prove people wrong and worked very hard to get back on the field. She earned one of the captain roles here in her first season and I am excited to watch her compete and lead by example.
Payton Watkins
Catcher/Infield | 5-0
Robertsdale, Pa. / Forbes Road High School
Major: Business
Coach Newell's Take: Payton, like many of her classmates is a high character student-athlete with a strong work ethic. She fills a big spot in our lineup and behind the plate where she will serve as one of the vocal leaders. I am looking forward to the opportunity to coach her at this level as she will be an asset to our program for years to come.
Yvanna Ruano
Utility | 5-4
Gaithersburg, Md. / Quince Orchard
Major: International Studies
Coach Newell's Take: Yvanna, is a two-sport athlete here at Mont Alto that works very hard on getting better at both sports. She will help us on the base paths with great speed and is willing to learn more at this level. She is a quick learner and we look forward to working with her more during the spring season.
Be sure to stay up to date on all your Penn State Mont Alto news, scores, and awards by following @PSUMAathletics on Twitter and by liking the "Penn State Mont Alto Athletics" Facebook page.