Softball Signs Four for 2005
Thursday, November 20, 2003 | Softball
University of Florida Head Softball Coach Karen Johns announced the signing of four athletes in the early signing period. Lisa Hasson, Savana Kelly, Stacie Pestrak and Mary Ratliff signed national letters of intent to play with the Gators for the 2004-05 season.
Hasson (Seminole, Fla.) is a 5-8 pitcher at Seminole High School. Her team earned back-to-back district championships. She was her high school team's MVP and was named second team all-county. She suffered a shoulder injury and spent last spring recovering from surgery. Hasson is a member of the French Honor Society, the Letterman's Club and the newspaper and yearbook staff. She also plays soccer. She plays travel ball for Dave Hazzard's Team Florida. Her parents are Rob and Susie Hasson. She chose Florida over Havard, Yale, Brown and Alabama-Birmingham.
Kelly (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) is a 5-5 utility player for Hollywood Hills High School in Hollywood, Fla. She holds the school record for the highest batting average and has earned several team awards. She is a National Honor Roll recipient who has also played soccer and Volleyball. Kelly plays travel ball for Marty Cooper's Gold Coast Hurricanes. She is the daughter of Brian and Renee Kelly. Her mother, then Renee Laravie was a 10-time All-American swimmer for the Gators and competed for the United States in the 1976 Olympic Games. She plans to major in science or criminology at Florida.
Pestrak (Gainesville, Fla.) will transfer from Santa Fe Commuinty College. In her first season at Santa Fe, the middle infielder led all Florida junior college players in triples, was second in stolen bases and earned first-team all-conference honors. A teammate of current Gators Shelley and Stacey Stevens at Buchholz, Pestrak was a member of two Buchholz teams that reached the state final four and was the state runner up in 2002. She also was a four-year varsity starter for the basketball team and was nominated for McDonalds All-America honors. She played travel ball for Gainesville Gold. Pestrak also considered Georgia Tech and Jacksonville University. She plans to major in mathematics at Florida.
Ratliff (Mount Sterling, Ky.) is a 5-8 catcher/outfielder for Montgomery County High School. She has been a three-time all-state selection and is on pace to break several Kentucky state high school records. She has hit .445 the last two seasons with 62 RBI on 97 hits. She has been named to numerous all-tournament teams. Ratliff also plays soccer and basketball and has earned several awards in both sports. She is also a gifted student and has been the president of the National Honors Society for two years. She is the daughter of Byram and Jennifer Ratliff. Her brother, Will is a swimmer at Florida. She choose Florida over Auburn, Kentucky and South Carolina. She plans to major in biology at Florida.
"We are very excited about this recruiting class. They are all great kids," Johns said. "Stacie Pestrak is a great athlete. She can play anywhere on the field except for pitcher. She is a five tool player. She can hit for power, has tremendous speed and great arm strength. Her explosiveness is incredible on the field. Lisa Hasson was injured, so a lot of people didn't get the chance to see her, but she will come in and help us out pitching-wise. She will contribute to our pitching staff right away. Mary Ratliff and Savana Kelly are both utility players. Mary will probably be playing in the outfield for us. Savana can play infield or outfield. Both come from really good programs."
