ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF softball team signed five top tier recruits on National Signing Day, making a strong case for one of the best 2022 signing classes.
The Black and Gold will welcome Katelyn Cochran, Nehanda Lewis, Michelle DiPuma, Aubrey Evans and Olivia Grace for the 2022-23 season. Among the five signees are three middle infielders, a pitcher and an outfielder.
"This is a very competitive class both in the classroom and on the field," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "This group brings confidence, field presence, and high-level experience stemming from the elite talent they play with and against throughout the year. This group will be an integral part of our transition to the Big XII and we are extremely happy to welcome them into the UCF Softball program."
Katelyn Cochran | P | R/R | 5'8 | North Augusta, S.C.
Cochran is heading into her senior season as one of the top pitchers in the nation, ranked as the 40th overall prospect on Extra Innings Elite 100 and the 18th ranked pitcher. She was lights out from the circle in in her junior year, leading the state of South Carolina in strikeouts with 254, breaking the North Augusta High School single season strikeouts record, all while posting an ERA of 0.70. It was the second year of her career that she led the state in punchouts, as she did the same during her freshman season, fanning 194 batters and posting a 0.94 ERA. Cochran has also played for the Georgia Impact club softball team.
The North Augusta native has won multiple honors through her first few seasons of high school softball, being named to an All-State and All-Region team, was team MVP twice, a two-time Aiken Standard Softball Player of the Year, South Carolina Region 4 Player of the year and Athlete of Distinction of North Augusta Hall-of-Fame.
Off the field, Cochran has been named to the honor roll and is a member of National Honors Society and Beta Club. She also played volleyball for three seasons.
"I chose UCF because of the incredible softball program and location of the university."
Ball-Malone on Cochran
"Katelyn comes to us from South Carolina where she has earned the reputation of a big game pitcher. She has beat many of the top club teams in the country and has cemented herself as one of the best pitchers in the state. Katelyn's ability to create vertical break and mix speeds with her pitches allows her to generate a ton of swings and misses. She is a workhorse and a competitor who always wants the ball. We are excited to welcome Katelyn to our staff and continue our school tradition of dominant pitching."
Nehanda Lewis | MIF | R/R | 5'4 | Land O' Lakes, Fla.
Lewis is coming off a highly successful junior campaign at Land O'Lakes High School in which she hit .477, knocking in 40 runs and swiping 20 bases. She had an on-base percentage of .549 and an OPS of 1.375. Her performance earned her nods to the FAHSA First Team All-State, NFCA All-Region Team, Sunshine Athletic Conference First Team, Miracle Sports First Team All-State and Miracle Sports Player of the Year. Lewis has also played for the Impact Gold club team.
A three-year varsity member, Lewis is the 12th ranked middle infield prospect in the 2022 signing class, checking in at 19th overall.
Lewis has also been a part of the track and field team, participating in the 100m and 200m dashes as well as the 4 by 1 and long jump. She earned a First Team All-Region nod while with the team.
Lewis intends on majoring in business during her time at UCF.
"I chose UCF because of the staff, location and students, who make me feel like I'm at my home away from home."
Ball-Malone on Lewis
"Nene brings great energy, speed, and power to the game. She is a dynamic athlete who can make plays all over the field. Nehanda is an extremely tough out who irritates pitchers with her ability to make in-at-bat adjustments. She is a high motor player both verbally and physically. She has a fun-loving, infectious personality that unites her teammates both on the field and in the dugout."
Michelle DiPuma | MIF/Utility | R/R | 5'4 | Sarasota, Fla.
DiPuma is another recruit ranked in the top 100 of the '22 class, hitting an even .400 in her junior season with Riverview High School, stealing 17 bases, homering four times and driving in 16 runs. She was Riverview's captain during her junior season and will be again when she suits up for her senior year this spring. Plenty of awards and honors have come DiPuma's way, being named to the HT Preps Tri-County First Team twice, earning two Scholar Athlete Awards and was named the Riverview Player of the year for her performance last season. She has also been a part of the Tampa Mustangs 18U club team.
DiPuma is heavily involved in her high school community off the field. She has earned a 3.96 unweighted GPA, landing on the Dean's List and earning a Scholar Athlete Award. She is the director of Riverview Rams Junior Sluggers Softball Camp and the President of the Riverview Softball Club. DiPuma intends to major in business and pre-accounting upon her arrival to UCF.
"I chose UCF because the second I stepped on campus, I felt at home. It has everything I was looking for in a school and more. The campus is modern and has great academic and athletic facilities. Academics and softball were both very important to me, and UCF was the perfect fit. I'm so excited to be a Knight!"
Ball-Malone on DiPuma
"Shelli is the consummate teammate. She is a constant voice in the infield and is always selling out to make a play for her pitcher. She has the ability to play every position in the infield and the softball IQ to match. Offensively, Shelli is a great baserunner and exhibits tremendous raw power at the plate. We are very excited to have Shelli become a Knight and we look forward to the impact she will have on our program."
Aubrey Evans | MIF | R/R | 5'5 | Apopka, Fla.
Evans is coming off a wildly successful junior campaign which saw her hit .531, slugging eight homers and knocking in 39 in just 24 games. The soon to be four-year varsity starter earned First Team All-Metro Conference honors and was named as the Apopka High School MVP. Like Cochran, Evans has also played for the Georgia Impact club softball squad.
Before softball, Evans played baseball for nine years, pitching and also playing infield. Her freshman season, a year in which she was named First Team All-State, was the first time she had stepped on a softball diamond.
Off the field, Evans has earned a 4.6 weighted GPA, is the secretary of the Student Government Association and an FCA member. Upon her arrival to UCF, Evans looks to earn a degree in sports broadcasting.
"I chose UCF because of the coaching staff and the tradition and culture that Coach Bear has developed with the team. The campus is beautiful, and I'll be close to home."
Ball-Malone on Evans
"Aubrey is a former baseball player who has high level skills and amazing feel for the game that allows her to make dynamic plays all over the field. Aubrey has an extremely high softball IQ and the unique ability to stay calm during big time moments. Offensively, Aubrey has plus power and the ability to drive the ball to all parts of the field. She is one of the best local talents and we couldn't be more pumped that she chose to be a part of Knight Nation."
Olivia Elliott | OF | L/L | 5'5 | Tampa, Fla.
It seemed as if Elliott was on base every time she stepped to the plate in her previous campaign, batting an incredible .812 while recording a .839 on-base percentage and a 2.964 OPS. She mashed 13 homers, driving in 42 runs and stole 21 bases. She has earned the highest career batting average at Cambridge Christian school, a lifetime .714 hitter through 269 at-bats. The records continue, as she holds a top four single season batting average record, third in career hits, doubles and top two in triples. She is the career leader in home runs and RBIs, with 34 and 180 respectively. Elliott plays club softball for the Tampa Mustangs, the same squad as DiPuma.
Elliott was named as class president for the current school year and is a four-year member of student council and key club. She intends to spend her time at UCF earning a degree in sports psychology.
"I chose UCF because the school has a lot of great opportunities for my education. UCF has a great campus; it's within three hours from my house. UCF is the perfect distance from where I grew up and when I visited, it fielt like home. I also chose UCF for their softball program; I love the coaching staff and believe that they will push me to be my best on and off the field. I believe that UCF is the perfect fit for me."
Ball-Malone on Elliott
"Olivia is like silent thunder. She is humble, she is a hard worker, and she is a great teammate. Olivia doesn't need to be in the spotlight, but she routinely has spotlight worthy performances. She is another former baseball player who exhibits speed, a power arm, and a great glove. She is a consistent offensive threat from the left side and we could not be more excited add another Florida athlete to Knight Nation!"
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