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News Release

UMBC Softball Signs Four to National Letters of Intent

11/30/2007

BALTIMORE—UMBC head softball coach Joe French announced today that four players have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Retrievers in the fall of 2008.

“This class will provide speed, defense, power and high-average hitters, but most of all leadership and winning attitudes,” the seventh-year coach said. “We feel that this class has great character and work ethic both in the classroom and on the field. They are quality student-athletes in every way.”

Headlining the group is catcher/first baseman Amanda Page, a junior college transfer from two-time national champion Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y. A second-team NJCAA All-American last season, Page led the Tribunes to a 52-2 record last season while hitting .481 with 89 hits, 62 RBI and four home runs. The native of Batavia, N.Y., is a former teammate of current Retriever junior Alison Duff at Monroe.

“Amanda Page is one of the finest junior college catchers in the country,” French said. “She has line drive power to all fields and will provide defense, leadership and a winning attitude. She will be an impact player in the America East.”

Also joining the Retrievers next season is corner infielder Kaela Mason from Harford Tech High School. The native of Bel Air, Md., has hit better than .600 in each of her last two seasons for the Cobras with a combined five doubles, 12 triples and 13 home runs. A two-time first-team Upper Chesapeake Bay Conference All-Star, Mason has also played for the Churchville Lightning since she was 10 years old and helped lead the team to berths in regional and national tournaments.

“Kaela Mason is a slick-fielding corner infielder with an above-average arm,” French said. “She is one of the most feared hitters in the state of Maryland, as she has outstanding power to all fields.”

Angela Yannone from Chesapeake High School is a catcher with the versatility to play almost anywhere on the field. The native of Pasadena, Md., was a first-team All-Metro selection by the Baltimore Sun and a first-team All-County pick by the Capital/Gazette as a shortstop last season after playing primarily catcher and first base during her first two years. She plays summer ball for the Riveria Beach Spirit and has competed in regional and national tournaments.

“Angela is one of the best hitters in the state of Maryland, and she has power to all fields,” French said. “She brings versatility, speed, defense and power, and she has proven she can hit all types of pitching.”

Finally, Amanda Damiano is a speedy outfielder from Tamaqua, Pa. She has hit a combined .396 with an on-base average that is better than .450 in her first three years at Marian High School, and she was named an All-County all-star. Damiano plays summer ball for the Harleysville Thunderbirds.

“Amanda Damiano is a top-of-the-order hitter with a good short game and line drive power,” French said. “She will be a threat on the bases with 2.9 speed to first base from the right side. In the field, she has an above-average arm and a nose for the ball.”

The four recruits will help to replace UMBC’s four current seniors in second baseman Dana Shepherd, pitcher Ashley Gray and outfielders Kali Shirk and Carla O’Rourke.

“We lose four key seniors this year who have been instrumental in our long history of success,” French said. “It was very important to find a recruiting class that had versatility and a high skill level, and we believe we have accomplished that.”

The Retrievers finished the 2007 season with a 32-18 record and advanced to the America East Conference title game as the No. 2 seed before falling to three-time champion Albany.

French is the program’s all-time winningest coach with 214 victories in his first six seasons at UMBC, and he has a career mark of 432-255 in 14 years.

The Retrievers open the 2008 season at the UNC-Greensboro Spartan Classic Feb. 16-17. The home opener is a Feb. 23 doubleheader against Bucknell.