Softball Signs Seven
Wednesday, November 8, 2006 | Softball
University of Florida head softball coach Tim Walton announces the signing of seven student-athletes to national letters of intent. Kristen Adkins, Stephanie Brombacher, Megan Bush, Tiffany DeFelice, Shaunice Harris, Aja Paculba and Kristine Priebe will all play for the Gators beginning in the 2008 season.
Kristen Adkins is a right-handed pitcher/utility from McKinney Texas. She plays for McKinney North High School coached by Deborah Evans. She currently holds the McKinney North records for doubles, triples, home runs and walks. Her 0.13 ERA is the lowest in team history. A two-time team captain, Adkins earned first-team all-district honors, as her team reached the 4A Region II finals. She is a two-time All-Collin County honoree and has made the all-academic team two years. In 2004, Adkins was named Dallas-Fort-Worth's Newcomer of the Year and made the Texas Girls Association all-state team. Adkins plays travel ball for the Texas Glory Gold coached by Dan Adkins. In addition to playing softball, she has played volleyball and is very active in other activities, including student council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, yearbook and Student Advisory Council.
Stephanie Brombacher is a right-handed pitcher/first baseman from Pembroke Pines, Fla. She plays for American Heritage High School and is coached by Marty Cooper. American Heritage won the Class 3A state title in 2004 and 2005. Brombacher earned all-state honors each of those years, leading the team in the pitching circle and from the plate. In 2005 she was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 3A Pitcher of the Year. In her three seasons, has recorded an ERA of under 0.25 and a batting average over .400. She compiled a 40-5 record with 38 shutouts in three seasons. Brombacher plays travel ball for the Gold Coast Hurricanes also coached by Cooper. This fall she was invited to the USA Junior National Team tryouts in Chula Vista, Calif. Brombacher also excels in the classroom, as she is ranked in the top 10 percent of her class.
Megan Bush is a right-handed short stop from Anaheim Hills, Calif. She attends Canyon High School and is coached by Lance Eddy. The team won the Century League in 2004 and has qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation tournament each of the last three years. Bush is a team captain and was named all-Century League two seasons. In 2006, she earned second-team All-California Interscholastic League accolades. Bush plays travel ball for the So Cal Explosion Gold coached by Joe Weddle. This summer she played for the Firecrackers at the ASA Gold nationals and the team took second. She also played for the Explosion 16 and under team that took the ASA "A" National title in 2004. Bush is also a talented student, earning academic honors each year of high school. During the 2005-06 school years she was a nominee for the Congressional Youth Leadership Council Conference. She is also active in her church and Key Club.
Tiffany DeFelice is a right-handed catcher from Coral Springs, Fla. She is Florida's second signee from American Hertiage High School and the Gold Coast Hurricanes Gold travel team, both coached by Marty Cooper. DeFelice is a three-time all-state honoree, earning a spot on the second team last season and on the first team in 2004 and 2005. Last season she was named the Miami Herald Player of the Year. DeFelice was a member of the Class 3A State Champion teams in both 2004 and 2005 and was named the team MVP in 2006, offensive player of the year in 2005 and defensive player of the year in 2004. She was playing for the Gold Coast Hurricanes in 2005 when they took seventh at gold nationals. DeFelice also excels in the classroom. She has earned excellence awards from her high school in both computers and pre-calculus.
Shaunice Harris is a right-handed third baseman from Moreno Valley, Calif. She attends Canyon Springs High School and is coached by Janine Monahan. She has been a three-year starter at third base and has earned all-Ivy League and all-county honors three seasons. She is an honor roll student and has been a member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars. Harris currently is a teammate of Megan Bush on the So Cal Explosion Gold. She has played Gold level travel ball with her team qualifying for nationals for the last two years.
Aja Paculba is a right-handed second baseman from Wildomar, Calif. She plays for Elsinore High School coached by Donn Brown. She earned All-Sunbelt League honors all three years. She was named all-valley and all-county in both 2005 and 2006. Paculba plays travel ball for the Orange County Batbusters coached by Gary Haning. The team is the 2006 ASA Gold National Champions. She also played for the Batbusters 16 & under team that won the national title in 2005. The team was named Softball Today Magazine's 2005 team of the year. In addition to her athletic accolades, Paculba has also won all-academic honors the last two seasons.
Kristine Priebe is a right-handed utility/catcher from Moorpark, Calif. She plays for Moorpark High School and is coached by Meaghan Stotts. In 2006 Priebe earned all-state second-team honors and All-California Interscholastic Federation honors. She is also a three-time All-Marmonte League selection. Priebe currently plays travel ball for the So Cal Pumas, coached by Gary Keohohou. This past summer she went to ASA gold nationals with the So Cal Diamonds. In 2005, she helped the 18 & under Orange County Batbusters to the So Cal state title and qualified for ASA nationals. Priebe also played volleyball for three seasons and was her school's nominee for the Wendy's High School Heisman. She is a member of National Honor Society and also is involved in Teens for Humanity Service Club and the Tools for Tolerance service learning project.
"This is the best class my staff has signed in my four seasons as a head coach," Walton said. "Assistant coaches Jennifer Jaime, Jenny Gladding and I worked very hard to put together a class of talented student-athletes who could be the measuring stick for the future of this program. We are excited about the immediate impact these seven young women are going to make on our program. With this class we have every infield position covered, and with our current team, have great depth at every position. Not only do these players have the tools necessary to succeed on the field, they also have the tools to succeed in the classroom, and in their lives beyond the University of Florida. The softball program being able to bring in such highly touted student-athletes, is not just a credit to the standard of excellence in athletics that has been built here, but also to the excellence in academics, the variety of programs the school offers and the support in all areas that is available at the University of Florida."
