Talented Rookie Class to Join Crimson in 2010

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Three catchers, two outfielders, an infielder and a pitcher join the Harvard softball team for the 2009-10 season. Head coach Jenny Allard welcomes seven freshmen, hailing from California, Texas and Massachusetts, who look to make an impact on a team that finished 27-17 last season.

Megan Fazio – Catcher, Clovis, Calif./Floyd B. Buchanan
Named Most Valuable Offensive Player of Floyd B. Buchanan softball team in 2006 … Played on the Clovis Rockets and Central California Krush travel softball teams … Valedictorian … Recipient of Presidential Award for Academic Excellence … AP Scholar with Distinction … Taught Sunday School … Interests include listening to classic rock and watching movies.

Jessica Ferri – Pitcher/Infield, Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
Lettered four years in softball and two years in water polo at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy … Captained softball team junior and senior seasons … Named first-team All-State California by CIF and CalHiSports-ESPN … Named 2008 and 2009 All-Area Team, Player and Pitcher of the Year by the Los Angeles Dailey News, Pasadena Star News, Glendale News Press, and the Mission League … Played for the Valley Breeze 18U Gold travel softball team … Elected as student body president … Served as yearbook editor-in-chief … College Board AP Scholar ... California Scholastic Federation Scholar … Enjoys listening to music, singing, drawing and photography.

Ashley Heritage – Outfield, College Station, Texas/A&M Consolidated
Named A&M Consolidated High School’s Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2009 … Named first-team All-State Academic … First-team all-district 2007-2009 … Member of Student Council and helped plan community service projects for the school … Volunteered at the Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley summer camp … Interests include playing the guitar and piano.

Olivia Piccione – Catcher, Weston, Mass./Weston
Played four years of softball and three years of field hockey at Weston High School … Captained softball team senior year … Recipient of the ICE Award, given to the senior that shows intelligence, commitment and excellence in athletics and academics … Named to Dual County All-Star team in softball and field hockey … Awarded the Rensselaer Medal for outstanding achievement in math and science … Organized a pitching and catching clinic for Weston Youth softball … Played the trumpet with the Boston Civic Symphony … Interests include skiing, photography and music.

Stephanie Regan – Outfield/First Base, Humble, Texas/Atascocita
Captained Atascocita High School softball team sophomore through senior years … Named Most Valuable Player and first-team all-state senior year ... Led team in batting average, stolen bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage throughout high school … Member of National Honor Society … Head of the Christian Student Union and Fellowship of Christian Athletes junior and senior years … Also participated in marching band, ultimate frisbee club and debate team … Enjoys music and ultimate frisbee.

Mariel Sena – Catcher/Outfield, Escondido, Calif./Escondito
A three-year letterwinner and senior captain for the Escondido High school softball team as well as two-year letterwinner in volleyball … Recipient of the Most Inspirational Award and All-Academic Team honors for both sports … Received Female Scholar Athlete of the Year from EHS as well as from the U.S. Army/Navy … Helped softball and volleyball teams reach the city playoffs … Member of National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation … President of Best Buddies ... Hobbies include singing in her father’s wedding band and mixed media design.

Kassy Shiotani – Infield/Outfield, Poway, Calif./Poway
Captained softball team at Poway High School sophomore year … Named Defensive MVP freshman year … Team set school win record in 2009 … Served as the historian and commissioner of staff relations for the Associated Student Body for two years … AP Scholar with Distinction … Volunteered with the Special Olympics preliminaries in San Diego and at a local soup kitchen … Enjoys going to church and dancing.