NEWARK, Del. - - Coming off its first run into the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament, the Wilmington University softball team announces the signing of five graduating high school student-athletes.
With his first recruiting class, head coach Mike Shehorn announces the signing of Danielle Bradley, Shannon Brantley, Caitlin Grecz, Keara McCarthy, and Monique Rojas.
Bradley earned five varsity letters at Delmar High School in Delmar, Delaware, bringing the team to a DIAA State Tournament appearance as an eighth grader. Most recently, Bradley was named a Third Team All-State utility performer, helping the Wildcats to a DIAA State Tournament Semifinal game as a senior.
Outside of Delmar, Bradley plays for East Coast Xplosion, reaching the 2010 and 2012 World Series. Bradley received the Outstanding Pitcher Award in leading her team to the 2010 World Series Championship while also leading the team to a 2012 World Series Runner-Up position.
Brantley also earned five varsity letters, pitching for Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, Delaware, since the eighth grade. She was a three-year varsity captain, leading the team to the second round of the DIAA State Tournament this past spring. She was named a First Team All-State pitcher as a senior.
Outside of Red Lion Christian Academy, Brantley has played for travel teams Magic, Dynamite, and Cobras Gold during the summers. She also earned the Athlete of Promise Award as a freshman, and was inducted into the National Honor Society.
The rest of the 2014 recruiting class will be joining the Wildcats from outside the state of Delaware, with Grecz coming to Wilmington from Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton, Florida.
Grecz led Palm Beach County in both batting average and earned run average as a sophomore in 10th grade, leading to a First Team All-League, and Honorable Mention All-County appearance. She was also named Second Team All-League as a freshman and again as a junior.
Grecz also earned five varsity letters at Saint Andrew's School, earning Honorable Mention All-League honors as an eighth grader. Grecz plays for the Team Florida 18U Gold squad during the summer.
McCarthy and Rojas will join the Wildcats this fall coming from across the country, both playing high school ball in California. The Wildcats had a pair of student-athletes from California on this past season's squad in Miranda Pedersen (El Segundo, Calif.) and Stephanie Sarris (Rohnert Park, Calif.).
McCarthy joins the Wildcats after playing at Steele Canyon High School in Spring Valley, California, outside of San Diego. She was named Best Defensive student-athlete during her time at Steele Canyon, while also playing on Strike Force during the summer.
Rojas joins the Wildcats after playing at Jurupa Hills High School in Fontana, California, outside of Los Angeles. Rojas has been named Second Team All-Mountain Valley the past three seasons, leading the Spartans to the CIF Southern Section Division 5 Softball Championship this past Saturday. The Spartans defeated Citrus Valley, 4-0, to win the Southern Section Division 5 Championship.
During the summer, Rojas plays for the American Pastime club team. She also received a silver medal for an outstanding grade point average during her sophomore season.
The Wildcats are coming off a 29-26 season in which they captured their first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship and automatic bid into the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament. The team won its first ever game in the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament, 2-1, against New Haven. The Wildcats went 1-2 in their first appearance at the NCAA's.