UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State softball head coach Amanda Lehotak announced the signing of eight student-athletes from six different states for the 2019 signing class on Wednesday.
The incoming class includes Maggie Finnigan (McHenry, Ill.), Michelle Leone (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.), Grace Marsalo (Morgantown, Pa.), Leanne Matthews (Concord, N.C.), Kaitlyn Morrison (South Park, Pa.), Vanessa Oatley (South Kingstown, R.I.), Kathryn Rex (Toledo, Ohio), and CJ Wright (Apex, N.C.).
Lehotak's 2019 signing class is ranked as the 11th-best recruiting class by Extra Inning Softball. Five recruits are ranked in Extra Inning Softball's "Extra Elite 100" list and three on FloSoftball's "2019 Hot 100" final rankings list. The five 2019 recruits on the "Extra Elite 100" list are the most in comparison to other Big Ten softball programs.
"I would like to welcome the Penn State Softball Class of 2023," said head coach Amanda Lehotak. "We couldn't be more excited to have such high quality student-athletes and individuals joining our program next season. The Nittany Lion faithful will find that they represent everything great about the university and Penn State Softball. We look forward to this class making an immediate impact on the program and continuing our pursuit to have Penn State Softball recognized on a national level."
Finnegan, a right-handed middle infielder and outfielder, comes to Happy Valley from McHenry, Illinois, where she's played three seasons at Marian Central Catholic High School. In her first three seasons, Finnegan batted in the leadoff position and holds a .486 career batting average and a career 1.328 OPS average. She earned Second Team All-Area honors as a freshman in 2016. In 2017 Finnegan led Marian Central to a regional championship while earning Third Team All-State and Third Team All-Area honors. Last season Finnegan helped Marian Catholic to the regional semifinals and was named to the East Suburban Catholic Conference All-Conference Team while also earning First Team All-Area accolades. Finnegan comes in ranked at 158 on Extra Inning Softball's list.
Leone hails from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., where she's played three seasons at Ponte Vedra High School. The middle infielder received honorable mention honors from the Times-Union's All-Coast 2018 team.
Marsalo is one of two in-state recruits in the 2019 class, traveling west to Happy Valley from Morgantown, Pa. The pitcher and utility player has prepped for three seasons at Twin Valley High School where earned first team all-division honors all three seasons and was named all-state in 2016 and 2017. Marsalo comes in ranked in FloSoftball's top-100 (94) and at 135 on Extra Inning Softball's list.
Matthews is one of two North Carolinians to join the Nittany Lions next season, making the trip to Happy Valley from Concord, N.C. She prepped for a year at Cannon School, helping the team to a regular season conference title and a third place state finish while raking in first team all-state and all-conference awards. Matthews is Coach Lehotak's highest-ranked recruit, coming in at 59 on Extra Inning Softball's "Extra Elite 100" list.
Morrison is the second in-state recruit, coming from South Park, Pa. The right-handed middle infielder played three seasons at South Park High School, helping the team to a AAA PA State Championship title in 2017. Morrison is ranked at 96 on Extra Inning Softball's "Extra Elite 100" list.
Oatley, a left-handed pitcher from South Kingstown, Rhode Island, spent her first two seasons at Chariho High School and is now attending The Prout School. In 2018 she struck out 213 batters and held an earned run average of just 0.19, leading her school to a Division II State Championship title. She earned first team all-state and first-team all-division in both 2018 and 2016. Oatley ranks in both Extra Inning Softball and FloSoftball's top-100 lists, coming in at 73 and 74, respectively.
Rex, from Toledo, Ohio, spent the last three seasons with Notre Dame Academy where she was a three-time team captain and team MVP. The catcher and infielder earned First Team All-State, All-League and All-District honors in 2018 while leading her team to a conference championship and setting the record for home runs in a season with 11. She also excels in the classroom, earning all-academic accolades in 2017 and 2018 and being named the Wendy's High School Heisman school winner in 2018. Rex comes in ranked at 68 on Extra Inning Softball's "Extra Elite 100" list.
Wright is the second North Carolinian in the 2019 signing class, coming to Happy Valley from Apex, N.C. The outfielder spent the last three seasons at Apex High School where she's been a team captain while earning first team all-district and all-conference honors. Wright also ranks in both Extra Inning Softball and FloSoftball's top-100 lists, coming in at 83 and 69, respectively.
