May 18, 2006

DAYTON, OHIO - Head coach Jodi Eickemeyer announced the signing of 5 players for next year's University of Dayton softball team. The Flyers add Megan Lee (catcher/utility player), Anne Maci (utility), Molly Meyer (OF/Pitcher), Katie O'Brien (Catcher/utility) and Eva Rappe (pitcher) for the 2007 season.

"We're really excited about this freshmen class.," said Eickemeyer. "Each player has the potential to add a lot to our program both athletically as well as academically. They are fierce competitors who want to win and be successful. They could help the returnees take our program to where we need to be."

Lee played her high school softball at Centerville High School (OH) where she hit .364 last season. Her list of accolades includes being first or second team all-conference three times and being named the All-Ohio Second Team Catcher. In the classroom, Lee carries a 3.4 GPA and was given the Scholar Athlete Award. She plays her summer softball for the Miami Valley XPress.

"Megan also has the potential to be a great offensive player here," Eickemeyer added. "Megan has been a participant in our summer camps since she was about 12 years old. We are excited about adding another Centerville high school player to our roster. She played two years with junior Christine Eggers"

Maci, an infielder, played her high school softball at Cathedral High School (IN) where she batted .409 with 8 HR and 38 RBI last season. She was a three-time varsity letter-winner at Cathedral, and was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2003 and 2005. She was named to the Indiana All-State Softball Team in 2005, the All North Team in 2005, and was named to the Indianapolis All City Team from 2003-05. Her high school team won three sectional titles and one regional title while she attended. In the classroom, Maci received high honors every semester, was a member of the National Honor Society, and accumulated a 3.9 GPA.

"Anne has the potential to be one of the best offensive players to come out of this program. She is a competitor. She is versatile enough to be able to play every position on the field with the exception of pitcher."

The lefty-hitting Meyer played outfield and pitcher at Elk Grove High School in the Chicago-area Elk Grove Village. Elk Grove finished first in its conference and was the regional champion as Meyer hit .379 with a .438 on-base percentage and 33 steals. She was named All-Conference and All-Area in back-to-back seasons.

"Molly is a late addition to our freshmen class. We have recruited her as an outfielder, but she has established herself in the Chicago area as one of the best pitchers and hitters," Eickemeyer added. "I really think Molly will add a nice solid bat to our line-up as well as more speed. We could use her as a pitcher as well as an outfielder. She will give us some much needed depth to the pitching staff."

O'Brien is a utility player from Jacobs High School in Algonquin, Illinois. O'Brien, who is likely to be the starting catcher for Jacobs in her senior year, had a batting average of .320 in 2005 and hit five doubles and two triples. She also had 17 RBI and only 11 strike outs. Off the field, O'Brien maintains a 4.0 GPA and plans to major in education.

Eickemeyer added "Katie is an extremely athletic kid, who could be called on not just to catch but potentially to play the outfield as well. I was extremely impressed with Katie's demeanor and presence on the field."

Eva Rappe is a pitcher from Latta High School in Little Rock, South Carolina. Rappe has led her team to three straight Class A lower state titles. Her pitching record so far is 61-12-1, and she will begin her last season at Latta with a .816 ERA. Off the field, Rappe boasts a GPA of 3.9 and plans on majoring in communication studies at UD.

"Eva will add so much to our pitching rotation. She is an established pitcher that we were lucky to find. She has really made a name for herself in her little town of Little Rock, SC and we will be looking for her to do the same here in Dayton, Ohio. Eva is also a threat at the plate. I really think that Eva will establish herself here at UD as one of the best pitchers to come out of our program."

These five will join 16 players scheduled to return for the Flyers, who finished the 2006 season 18-30 overall and 8-12 in the Atlantic 10. Three players - Melissa Myher, Tami Roudebush and Christina Vetter - depart the program due to graduation.