Dec. 8, 2008

Garden City, N.Y. - Adelphi University head softball coach Paige Smith announced the signing of seven high school seniors and one junior college graduate to National Letters of Intent on Tuesday. The eight players, who will join the Panthers for the 2009-2010 season, all signed during the early signing period, which runs from Nov. 12-19. The regular signing period begins in April and runs through August. The newcomers include infielders: Shay Craig (Boise, ID), Jeanine Leo (Staten Island, NY), Heather Salerno (Staten Island, NY), Amanda Dolan (Hope Valley, RI), outfielders: Emily Dorko (Matamoras, PA), Amy Ogden (Waterford, CT) catcher: Liz Linder (Shohola, PA) and pitcher/outfielder: Paige Rhodes (Corona, CA).

Shay Craig started in over 140 games for NJCAA Division I North Idaho College. She currently holds the records for runs batted in (63) and home runs (19) in a season, a feat that placed her 4th in the 2007 national ranking.

"Experience is something that our 2010 team is going to be short on. Adding Shay to our team means bringing in a player with two years of collegiate experience," said Smith.

Coach Smith is right. The 2009 class marks the end of an era for the Panthers as the highly decorated senior starters: Jessica Vogt (SS), Kristin Brennan (2B), Angela Martin (C), Diana DiPiano (3B) Christina O'Hara (1B), and Samantha Johnston (OF) will all lace up their cleats for their last collegiate games this spring.

"Shay has been in the big games... only one hit away from a national title (2007). Her maturity and leadership will be a welcomed addition," said Smith.

Jeanine Leo is one half of a dynamic duo from a local high school softball powerhouse in Staten Island, Tottenville. Last season, Leo hit an impressive .422 for the Pirates chipping in 38 hits in 90 at bats and driving in 32.

"We see Jeanine making a transition from the 3rd base that she loves to the short stop she is meant to be. Jeanine has a tremendous amount of range and the natural aggression that a coach needs in a middle infielder. Panther fans are going to enjoy her `in-your-face' style of play and explosive bat."

"Adelphi has been one of my top choices throughout my whole college search," Leo said. "Several friends, coaches and my guidance counselor told me about the school... so I decided to look into it. Once on the campus, I immediately felt that I found the right college. With the beginning of my collegiate career just around the corner... I am looking forward to experiencing college life in general and I feel that Adelphi will fulfill this desire."

Heather Salerno embodies the other half of the Staten Island duo. Heather and Leo have been teammates for the past four years at Tottenville and recently started spending the summers together competing with the New York Panthers under Head Coach, Bill Bennett. Heather has been a mainstay in the Tottenville line-up hitting .342 last season with only 4 strikeouts in 79 attempts.

"Seeing the diligence and intensity of the softball team and its coaches made me realize [being a part of the softball team] was a challenge I [can] look forward to," said Heather. Although she admits that the softball team is a perk of attending Adelphi, Salerno spent most of her interview discussing the academic prowess of the university. When asked why she chose Adelphi it was clear she had done her research, "Adelphi University is a prestigious institution that has allowed students to thrive... for over a hundred years. It has high safety guidelines along with a convenient suburban location."

"Heather is a player that I couldn't be more excited to have next season," said Head Coach, Paige Smith. "She is that `coach's dream' sort of player who leaves it all on the field. Look for her to see immediate time in either of the middle infield positions. She has great speed on the bases and some of the softest hands I've ever seen. I'm glad that she is on our team because an infield with Heather Salerno in it has very few holes."

Amanda Dolan is a versatile infielder with unlimited power potential at the plate. A three-year starter and All-Division selection at Charino Regional High School in Rhode Island, Dolan hit .420 last season. Amanda is an honor roll student and plays for the New England Pheonix Gold club team.

"I noticed her at a camp I was working. During a free-time period, players had the option of asking for extra help at different positions. I normally take this time to pound balls at the infield. By day two, it is rare that anyone returns to my station out of sheer fear. Amanda and one of her teammates came back bruised and bleeding four days straight and soon it became a challenge just to get a ball past her. I think I got two," joked Smith.

"I chose Adelphi because it had everything I'm looking for in a school. One of the first things I learned about Adelphi was [that] it has a very good softball program. When I went to visit... I felt as though I could really fit in with the other students and the girls on the softball team. Adelphi also has an excellent business program," commented Dolan.

Emily Dorko is one of the most highly decorated female athletes in the history of Delaware Valley High School. Dorko's .400 batting average, 2 HRs and 5 stolen bases in only 14 games played were more than enough to earn her the title of Offensive Player of the Year and a spot on the Lackawanna League's 1st-Team All-Star Roster.

"Emily has great size at 5' 9" and flies down the line. She is a three-part lefty with homerun power and at 2.7, she has the speed to beat out any ball in the dirt. A player with Dorko's offensive skillset is nearly impossible to defend. She is going to give Panther fans a great deal to cheer about as she electrifies our offense with the foot-speed to bring the triple back to the game of softball."

Emily was also an All-State volleyball selection and the current record-holder at her high school for blocks in one season with 105 last year. Dorko will be a two-sport athlete next year sharing time between the softball and volleyball teams.

"After visiting a couple of times and just seeing what the campus is like, Adelphi seems to be the best place I can call home for the next four years," said Emily. "Twenty-five minutes from Manhattan is good enough for me!"

Dorko has a funny way of finding herself on teams that win. With multiple trips to the Pennsylvania State Championships in more than one sport, it is no wonder Emily has developed that expect-to-win mentality that all coaches look for in future talent. "I am looking to help the team in any way I can. People say to live one day at a time, but for me... I am looking at the bigger picture. [The] first day of the season I am already thinking about a championship game," said Emily when asked about what she was looking forward to most at Adelphi.

Adding even more speed to the 2009 lineup will be Amy Ogden. Ogden has played every position on the field during her softball career from the infield to the outfield and has even spent time within the pitcher's circle for her high school team in Connecticut. With her 2.24 ERA and .333 batting average, Ogden helped her Waterford team to state title game last season where they fell just short of the "W," losing 5-4 in extra innings.

"She lives, sleeps and bleeds softball," said Coach Smith. "Amy is a great example of what an athlete can do when they are willing to push their limits. She will never be the biggest kid on the field, but she gets the most out of what she has. Put simply... when Ogden is in the game, good things happen."

Ogden admits that Adelphi wasn't the first school she had thought of when considering her collegiate choices. In fact, when Coach Smith approached Amy she admits, "it was the first time [she] had heard of the school." After her visit, Ogden sites meeting the team as her largest influence in choosing Adelphi. "...the coach seemed very friendly and upbeat- the type of person I would love to work with on the field. I liked that all the girls got along with each other." Ogden will work toward a degree in education during her four-year tenure at Adelphi.

Catcher, Liz Linder is a three-sport athlete and softball teammate of other 2009 signee, Emily Dorko. Like Dorko, Liz is no stranger to success on a variety of athletic stages (softball, basketball and field hockey). In 2008, with a batting average of .578 and slugging percentage of .837, Liz was named the Lackawanna Batting Champion on a team that finished the year with a 5th place Pennsylvania state ranking. Also in 2008, Linder was voted onto the Lackawanna AAAA All-Stars First Team as well as the Scranton Times All-Regional Team. In addition to her catching duties, Liz Linder also plays the outfield for her Tri State Angels travel team.

"Liz will most likely see time both behind the plate and in the outfield throughout her career at Adelphi," said Coach Smith. "Defensively, she has the ability to take away the threat of opposing team's speed on the bases while offensively, Liz can account for productivity in a variety of ways. She was a highly sought-after high school player and I'm delighted... and relieved, to have her on my roster rather than a competitor's."

Rounding out the early signing period for the Panthers is California native and lefty pitcher/outfielder, Paige Rhodes. Although currently hitting in the power-part of the Filly's Gold Team, Paige has graced the rosters of many of California's top ASA teams including the: So-Cal Wicked, American Athletics, TNL, Rock Steady and the Corona Angels. Paige made a name for herself as one of Southern California's rising pitching talents but has recently broken away from the pack of talent into California's outfield elite.

"Paige's speed could allow her to contribute to our lineup immediately and she has the ability work her way into our [pitching] rotation. It's amazing that pitching has kept Paige from hitting for much of her career because I see it to be her biggest asset," said Smith. "If this is how far she has come in only a year or so of work... imagine her future.

Rhodes isn't worried about being so far from home. In fact, it was one of the deciding factors that ultimately compelled her to verbal and finally sign with the Panthers. "I am looking forward to my out-of-state experience next year. I am so excited to meet new people and to compete at the collegiate level in softball. [It] has been my goal... that I finally get the chance to achieve. I also chose Adelphi because I know that I will receive a great education while getting to play the sport I love with coaches and teammates that I really enjoy being around," said Rhodes.

With next year's recruiting class sewed up, Head Coach Paige Smith is looking forward to focusing on her task at hand. "Our team talks a lot about what kind of team they want to be known as. We talk about creating a legacy and I constantly tell them that this is their team and their year. Although I am overjoyed at the early commitments for the 2010 season, we have a clear set of goals to accomplish THIS year."

The 2009 Panthers will open their season in Florida at the Rebel Games on March 13.