Softball 1/28/2020 10:13:00 AM

SB | Gaels To Add Six Signees For 2021

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's softball will welcome six freshmen to their team next fall as announced today by the coaching staff. Five of the six come from California while one hails from Hawai'i.

"We are excited to announce our 2020 recruiting class," said Gaels' head coach Sonja Garnett. "Each of these young women will be pivotal to the future of our program. They are talented, hard workers who share our core values. We can't wait to take the field with them."

Angelina Franco
Position: Catcher
High School: John F. Kennedy (Granada Hills, Calif.)
Height: 5'5"

Franco was twice named All-League during her time with the varsity squad heading into her senior season. As a sophomore, she was named First Team in the Mission Valley League and followed that up with a Second Team selection as a junior. Franco plans to study biology and hopes to attend medical school after graduation to become an orthopedic surgeon.

"I chose to attend Saint Mary's College not only because of the amazing coaching staff but to compete at the Division I level while receiving a great education," said Franco.

Elena Barragan
Position: Utility
High School: Woodcreek (Roseville, Calif.)
Height: 5'3"

Barragan played varsity all four years at Woodcreek High and also appeared on the junior varsity soccer team for a season. As a freshman, Barragan started at shortstop but she's since played at the hot corner and most recently, behind the dish. While in Moraga, Barragan will study allied health and would like to be a nurse or athletic trainer post graduation.

Marissa Montelongo
Position: Utility
High School: Kingsburg (Kingsburg, Calif.)
Height: 5'3"

Montelongo was a multi-sport varsity athlete at Kingsburg, having lettered all four years in both softball and soccer. As a junior and sophomore, she was voted Team MVP while also being named First Team All-Central Sequoia League. In 2018, Montelongo was chosen as the MVP of her league and a year later, helped lead her school to win the CIF Central Section D2 Championship. As a junior, she batted .380, scored 39 runs, and ripped four homers as well as 10 doubles.

"I chose Saint Mary's College because of their outstanding academics and fell in love with the campus from the very first time I visited. The coaching staff has always made me feel important and their dedication has never wavered," said Montelongo.

Holly Lusk
Position: Outfielder
High School: Clovis North (Fresno, Calif)
Height: 5'5"

Lusk will have played all four prep years with the varsity team at Clovis North by the time she comes to Moraga. After receiving an All-Conference honorable mention her sophomore season, Lusk was named Second Team last year in addition to receiving an award for her character from her school. She plans to study biochemistry at SMC and is aiming to attend medical school after graduation.

Marissa Nishihara
Position: Outfielder
High School: Mid-Pacific Institute (Manoa, Hawai'i)
Height: 5'3"

Nishihara hails from Hawai'i and brings four years of varsity experience under her belt while serving as her team's captain both in her junior and seniors seasons. She led her team in hits, runs, triples, batting average and stolen bases while helping her school claim second place in their league. Nishihara was recently named an All-State Honorable Mention and also won four state championships with her junior club team. She will be studying allied health sciences in college.

"Saint Mary's was a perfect fit for me in many ways. Some of these being that it's one flight away from home, I'd be able to get a great education while competing at the Division 1 level, and the campus is beautiful," explained Nishihara.

Sasa Koria
Position: Infielder
High School: Temecula Valley (Temecula, Calif.)
Height: 5'8"

Koria lettered all four years at high school and was her team's captain during her junior season. She's batted .652 at Temecula Valley and was also among her team's leaders in on-base percentage. While at Saint Mary's, she plans to study allied health sciences.

Print Friendly Version