NEW CASTLE, DE -- Wilmington University Softball Coach Erin Harvey and her staff are pleased to announce that Brook Ash (Indian River HS/Frankford, DE) and Emily Nowell (St. Mark's HS/Wilmington, DE)) have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their softball careers at Wilmington University during the 2012-2013 season.

Ash, an outfielder from Frankford, Delaware, is a three-time All-State and All-Henlopen Conference selection for the Indians.  She has played travel ball for the Delaware Magic and Delaware Team Starfire organizations. 

Nowell, also an outfielder, hails from Wilmington, Delaware.  An All-Catholic Conference award winner, she was a state-champion with the Caravel Academy Buccaneers in 2010, before transferring to St. Mark's in 2011.  Nowell has played travel ball for the Delaware Cobras and Delaware Sabres organizations.

"We are ecstatic to have Brook and Emily join us and look forward to their arrival next fall", stated Coach Harvey.   "They will fit in nicely with our returning players, and each brings something different to the table." 

Ash and Nowell join a Wildcat squad that finished the 2011 season with an overall record of 29-21 (17-9 in the CACC) and qualified for the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference playoffs, where they placed fourth.

"Brook brings a great deal of speed and aggressiveness to our lineup, along with the ability to play all three outfield positions.  She has a strong arm and great range, but her biggest asset is her bat.  She can bunt, slap, and swing away from both sides of the plate, and has power in all facets of her offensive game."

"Emily also brings a wealth of speed and an extremely strong set of fundamentals to our program.  She is versatile and can play the outfield positions, along with the middle infield.  Emily does a great job of reading defenses offensively with her slapping abilities, and can also hit away from the right side of the plate.  She brings a great work ethic and a level of energy that should rub off on her teammates."

"Both girls should challenge for significant playing time, and it will make for some very competitive softball here at Wilmington.  I look forward to the impact Brook and Emily will have on the program, as we expect them to make an immediate contribution. "

Wilmington University is an NCAA Division II institution located in New Castle, Delaware, that competes in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.  The Conference is comprised of 14 schools throughout Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut.