Nov. 8, 2006
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - With the early signing period underway, the UCF softball team announced Wednesday that shortstop Brittany Hipple (Venice, Fla./Venice), catcher Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa/West) and pitcher Diana Rojas (Miami, Fla./Our Lady of Lourdes Academy) signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Golden Knights beginning next fall.
"This is one of the top recruiting classes that we have had at UCF," said head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie, who has been at the helm of the softball program since its inception in 2002. "Our first year was really good, but this is by far one of the best. We are excited about what they all bring to this team. They are all multi-sport athletes that bring strength and versatility to the program.
"Diana Rojas and Brittany Hipple, I believe, are two of the top players in the state of Florida at their positions. Florida has a great base of talent and we are thrilled to have these two student-athletes join our team. Even though we are a relatively young program, our facility was key in demonstrating the commitment that UCF has in developing the softball program, and that has given us the ability to bring in top recruits from this state.
"Abby McClain has a strong bat and will bring a lot of offense to the plate. She goes to high school in Iowa where they play during the summer months, so instead she competes for the Minnesota Irish Gold travel team. She understood she had to be seen by college coaches and even though Iowa has strong programs, they don't travel. In order to be seen, you have to be on a team that plays in some of the top tournaments in the nation. That shows how much dedication to the sport she has."
Brittany Hipple - SS
Venice, Fla./Venice
Hipple enters her senior season at Venice High School as the team captain after lettering her first three years. As a junior, she was named first team all-area, first team all-state and the team MVP. Hipple also came in third place in the Florida Dairy Farmers 5A Player of the Year ranking. For the Tampa Wildcats, she helped her club team win the Sunshine State Games title in 2004-05 and the Southern National Games championship in 2003. Hipple also played on the varsity volleyball team as a sophomore. Outside of sports, she is a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Literacy Council and has spent time in an internship program to begin her quest being a pre-med major at UCF.
Abby McClain - C
Waterloo, Iowa/West
McClain participated in four sports at West High School, lettering in softball and basketball while also playing volleyball and competing on the swim team. Since Iowa plays high school softball during the summer, she only suited up her freshman season and was quickly named all-metro, all-district, second team all-conference and honorable mention all-state. McClain then decided to travel north to compete for the Minnesota Irish Gold of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA). She posted batting averages of .333 and .374, respectively, her first two years, and plans on playing a third season during the summer of 2007.
Diana Rojas - P/1B
Miami, Fla./Our Lady of Lourdes Academy
Rojas has lettered in three different sports at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami, starring in softball, basketball and volleyball. As a pitcher on the softball team, she will enter her senior season with a 0.89 ERA and has struck out 160 batters while walking just 38. Rojas also has a .437 batting average. She has been named first team All-Dade County every year, while earning third-team all-state honors as a freshman. Academically, she is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and the National Honor Society.
UCF currently has four seniors on its roster for the 2007 campaign, which will get underway in early February. The full schedule will be released at a later date. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.