Softball inks seven future Sun Devils

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State University Softball program is proud to announce the 2008 graduates who have signed National Letters of Intent to attend ASU.  This class is very athletic and will continue our efforts towards maintaining a national presence in softball.  We are looking forward to these student athletes arriving on our campus and believe they possess the qualities that embody what it means to be a Sun Devil.

Nikole Afusia

Nikole is a catcher from Midway City, Calif.  She has been selected for various awards including: 2005- 2nd team all-league for 3rd base, 2006- 1st team all-league, 2007- 1st team all-league (catcher), 1st team all-CIF (catcher), MVP of the League(catcher).  She is currently playing for the California Cruisers travel team.  Last year Nikole led her league in hitting when she hit a phenomenal .534 while showing her tremendous power at the plate.

Lexi Anderson

Lexi is a middle infielder from Upland, Calif.  She is from Upland High School and plays for the American Pastime travel program which has produced several of ASU's softball alumni.  Lexi is a versatile infielder who hits for average and power. 

Hillary Bach

Hillary is a pitcher from Holland Hall High in Tulsa Okla.  Hillary has been all conference in Volleyball and Softball for the past three years as well as garnering Southwest Preparatory All-District Selections in those sports.  She has also been an all-conference basketball selection the past two seasons.  Bach was honored with the Tulsa Girls Softball Vonda Murrah Player of the Year award last year where she had a .10 ERA and averaged 15.8 strikeouts a game.  She plays for the Tulsa Eagles Gold who are coached by Dave Simmons.  She also excels off the field as well and has made the Headmaster Honor Roll the past two years. 

Katelyn Boyd

Katelyn is a local product who attends Horizon High School and plays for the AZ HotShots Gold.  She plays infield and can also catch.  She is an honor roll student and is a member of the Society of Women Scholars.  Her athletic honors include 2007 1st team all-region, and 2005 1st  She also broke the least strikeouts record with (1) when she batted .625 with 55 hits and had a slugging percentage of .966.  team all-region MVP.

Talor Haro

Talor is local product from Highland High and plays for Blaize Gatti's AZ HotShots Gold.  Talor was the Fiesta Region "Player of the Year" in 2007.  She was named first-team all State by the AZ Republic and Tribune.  Last year Talor hit .699 at Highland.  Talor is a speedy player with great versatility who will also develop power.  She can play the infield and the outfield.  Talor also was 24-5 with 270 K's in 181 innings as a high school pitcher. 

Annie Lockwood

Annie is from Paradise Valley and plays for the AZ HotShots Gold.  She was also a member of the 16U Killer Bee's who finished 5th at Nationals.  She has been recognized with All-City, All-Region, and All-State honors.  In 2007 she finished with a .510 BA, 11 HR's, and 37 RBI's.  Annie is also in the top 10% of her class.  She achieved the Paradise Valley High School Academic Excellence Award in 2005, 2006, and 2007.  She is a member of the Society of Women Scholars and National Honor Society.  She was also voted Most Athletic Female and Homecoming Queen for her high school.

Christina Zambrana

Christina is from Garden Grove Calif. and attends Pacifica High School who won the CIF championship last year.  She has been named all league, county, and state during her high school career.   Christina plays for the California Cruisers who finished ninth at last years Gold Nationals.  She hit .529 at ASA Gold Nationals.  National Elite Futures named her as an "emerging hitter destined to be one of the best in the country".

The Sun Devils will open their 2008 home season February 14 against Western Kentucky followed with the Kajikawa Classic February 15-17 in Tempe, Ariz.