RENO, Nev. The University of Nevada softball team has signed four prep stars to join program next season, first-year head coach Matt Meuchel announced Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.
The class is composed one local recruit in Reno High School standout Sam Puzey, and three Southern California products Stephanie Aguirre, Chelsea Barilli, and Lauren Lastrapes. Additional information about each recruit is below.
“We could not be happier with our 2009 class,” Meuchel said. “We are losing a large and decorated senior class and we feel that we filled all of areas that we needed to address. Additionally, we made a real effort to upgrade our team speed and we feel that is reflected in each of our four signees. All four will be expected to come in and play a large role in winning a WAC Championship and they are each capable of doing just that. Each player has a lot of experience playing at the highest level and has played for championship level club programs. We feel that we have continued to upgrade our level of talent and athleticism and that bodes well for the future of our program.”
Nevada is coming off the best year in program history after going 44-18 and winning the Western Athletic Conference championship. The Wolf Pack received its first-ever at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament and reached the championship game at the Loa Angeles Regional before falling to UCLA.
The Wolf Pack opens the 2009 season Feb. 6-8 at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State. Nevada will play 18 home games this season at Christina Hixson Park.
2008 Wolf Pack Softball Recruiting Class
Stephanie Aguirre (Carson, Calif.)
Position: OF
High School: Banning Phineas High School
High School Coach: Jesse Espinosa
Club Team: Orange County Batbusters Gold
Club Coach: Gary Haning
More on Aguirre: Is a three-time all-league selection who earned all-area and all-city honors last season as a junior ... Also plays soccer and was named the league Offensive Player of the Year ... Is involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and also coaches Little League and volunteers in her free time.
Nevada coach Matt Meuchel on Aguirre: “Steph is an exciting player that we look to have a great career at Nevada. She has the ability create a lot of havoc on defenses with her speed on the bases and we expect her to be a great run producer. Defensively she is one of the best outfielders we have recruited at Nevada.”
Chelsea Barilli (Poway, Calif)
Position: SS/2B
High School: Poway High School
High School Coach: Jim Bennet
Club Team: Orange County Batbusters Gold
Club Coach: Gary Haning
More on Barilli: Earned Scholar-Athlete honors as a junior ... Is a two-time all-league honoree who won a Gold Glove honor last season a junior ... Part of a travel team that finished 13th at the 1008 18U Gold Nationals.
Nevada coach Matt Meuchel on Barilli: “Chelsea is a very strong defensive middle infielder and really has the ability to play multiple positions in the infield. We are excited about the amount of speed that she brings to table. She will be another player who will be a threat every time she is on offense because of her power and speed.”
Lauren Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, CA)
Position: 1B/OF
High School: Laguna Hills High School
High School Coach: Cary Crouch
Club Team: Orange County Batbusters Gold
Club Coach: Gary Haning
More on Lastrapes: Will be a four-year letterwinner at Laguna Hills ... Was named 2008 Pacific Coast League Player of the Year and was second-team all-county ... Is a two-time all-league honoree ... Older sister Dominique played softball at the University of Washington and currently an assistant coach at UC-Davis ... Older sister Brittany is a sophomore outfielder at the University of Arizona.
Nevada coach Matt Meuchel on Lastrapes: ”Lauren brings a ton of experience and talent to our program. We expect Lauren to have a breakout career and think she is capable of driving in a lot of runs for the Wolf Pack. She posses a lot of power at the plate and we think that she will flourish in the thin air of Reno. Defensively, she is versatile with the ability to excel both at first base and in the outfield.”
Sam Puzey (Reno, NV)
Position: OF/1B/P
High School: Reno High School
High School Coach: Jim Pace
Club Team: San Jose Lady Sharks Gold
Club Team Coach: Tom Barrera
More on Puzey: Is a three-time first-team all-league selection and a two-time all-state honoree for Reno High coach Jim Pace ... Is on the honor roll and is a National Honor Society member ... Also earned all-league honors in basketball ... Sister Brittany is currently a senior on University of Nevada softball team ... Father played baseball at Nevada and mother played softball at Nevada.
Nevada coach Matt Meuchel on Puzey: “Sam is a rare athlete who posses great: size, power, speed and arm strength. It is rare that you see players who are 6-feet who move as quick as Sam does. We expect her to hit in the middle of our lineup and drive in a ton of runs during her career, but she also will have the ability to put pressure on defenses when she is on the bases. Defensively, she has the ability and arm strength to play just about anywhere on the field and could see time on the mound at Nevada.”
