Softball Inks Five During Early Signing Period

Nov. 15, 2005

AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts head softball coach Elaine Sortino announced that Bailey Sanders (Durham, Conn.), Jessica Serio (Barrington, R.I.), Michelle Libby (Porter, Maine), Sarah Reeves (Elkton, Md.) and Whitney Williams (Kingsley, Pa.) have all signed national letters of intent during the early signing period.

Sanders is a pitcher and infielder from Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Conn. As a pitcher, she was 11-2 with a 0.50 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched. She averaged 14 punch-outs per game. Sanders batted .630 with a 1.296 slugging percentage and a .742 on-base percentage. She had 30 RBI and eight home runs. Voted a captain as a junior and this coming senior season, Sanders' team has been two-time New England Prep Class A Champions and three-time Founder's League champions. Sanders has also been a three-time varsity MVP and New England Prep All-Star. She is also a letterwinner on the volleyball and swimming teams while excelling in the classroom.

Jessica Serio

Sanders is a National Merit Scholar semi-finalist and waiting to her hear about the finals. In addition, she is in the Cum Laude Society, Math League MVP, Princeton Book Award winner, Student Head of Athletics and Student Council member.

"At 6-3, Bailey has great athleticism and the opportunity to excel," said Sortino. "She is a very strong hitter at the plate and has the abilityto dominate on the mound."

Serio is a third baseman from Barrington (R.I.) High School. As a junior, she batted .455 with 15 RBI, a .675 slugging percentage and a .571 on-base percentage. She was a Providence Journal first-team All-State pick as well as a first-team All-Division selection. Serio was named a second-team All-Division pick her freshman and sophomore seasons. Serio also plays field hockey and basketball. In field hockey, she is the starting goalkeeper and was a Providence Journal second-team All-State pick in 2003.

"Jess is very strong and aggressive," said Sortino. "She is a very powerful hitter and also solid defensively."

Libby is a pitcher and infielder out of Sacopee Valley (Maine) High School. As a junior last year, she was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Maine as well as a first-team All-State pick. Libby batted .518 with 28 RBI. In the circle, she allowed no earned runs and just 27 hits in 84 innings. She had eight shutouts and 148 strikeouts.

Sarah Reeves

Libby has been a three-time, first-team All-State pick and been the recipient of the coaches MVP award three-times. As a sophomore, Libby led her team to the state championship while batting .545 with 27 RBI. She also had a 0.56 ERA and seven shutouts as a sophomore while fanning 137 in 100 innings. Libby's team also won the state title her freshman year as she batted .386 with 14 RBI. Libby had a 0.15 ERA as a freshman with 10 shutouts and 166 strikeouts in 95 innings. She was also a Spotlight Player Athlete by the Portland Press Herald.

Michelle Libby

"Michelle demonstrates a lot of versatility," said Sortino. "She will be a contributor in pitching, hitting and defense."

Reeves is a first baseman from Caravel Academy in Bear, Del. She was a honorable mention All-State pick as a junior, first-team All-State as a sophomore and second-team All-State as a freshman. Reeves was named among the "Who's Who In High School Sports" while also receiving honorable mention All-State accolades in a basketball as a sophomore and junior. In the classroom, Reeves in a member of the National Honor Society.

"Sarah has a great glove and a very strong arm," said Sortino. "She is also a very powerful hitter."

Whitney Williams

Williams is a shortstop and third baseman out of Mt. View High School in Kingsley, Pa. Williams was a two-time MVP and All-Conference pick. Her She also lettered in basketball and soccer. Was a two-time All-Conference pick in basketball while being named team MVP in 2005 and eclipsing the 1,000-point plateau. Williams played Little League baseball for Susquehanna County East from when she was seven years old to 14. She was a pitcher, catcher and shortstop. Participated in the Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament for three years and went into the "Baseball Youth Hall of Fame" for hitting a three-run home run.

"Whitney has a lot of speed," said Sortino. "She is a very strong hitter from the left side and has a lot of quickness defensively."

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