BALTIMORE—UMBC softball coach Joe French announced today that two players signed National Letters of Intent this spring and will join the Retrievers for the 2010 season.

Outfielder/pitcher Alyssa Corvino from Staten Island, N.Y., led Tottenville High School to a perfect 29-0 season and the league title. An All-State selection in 2009, Corvino won the Al Smith Cup, given to the best softball player on Staten Island. The southpaw recorded an 8-0 record against PSAL opponents with a 0.33 ERA and 68 strikeouts against just nine walks in 43.0 innings, and she threw two no-hitters during the regular season.

“Alyssa is a crafty left-handed pitcher who gets people out and changes speeds,” French said. “She also has outstanding speed hitting from the left side and can run the ball down in center field.”

Pitcher/shortstop Shari Beavers from Cumberland, Md., led Fort Hill High School to a 20-2 record and the state finals in 2009 after winning the state title in 2008. The All-City selection did not allow an earned run in 16 innings against City opponents, striking out 32 of 54 batters faced and allowing just three hits. She also batted .400 with three extra-base hits against City competition.

“Shari Beavers is a combo player with an outstanding arm and line drive power,” French said. “She can hit to all fields, is a good base runner and is very athletic.”

Corvino and Beavers join incoming freshmen Heather Brown, Katie Trotter and Ashley Scroggin, who committed to UMBC in the fall. Trotter was named New Jersey Player of the Year by the Newark Star-Ledger in June.

Miller Inducted: UMBC assistant coach Wayne Miller was inducted into the Maryland Modified/Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in Easton, Md., earlier this year.

Miller began playing ASA men’s fast pitch and modified fast pitch softball in 1979 and competed in four ASA men’s national tournaments with three top-10 finishes. In 1984, his team won the class “A” national championship, and Miller hit .545 as the center fielder. A year later, his team won the Major Division Maryland state championship and placed seventh at nationals, where he hit .478. Miller also attended two additional Major Nationals as a guest player and designated hitter.

There are 148 members of the Maryland Modified/Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1994.

Fall Schedule Announced: French recently announced the Retrievers’ fall schedule, which includes four tournaments and an alumni game.

UMBC hosts Georgetown, Morgan State and Chesapeake Community College in a tournament to kick off the fall season on Saturday, Sept. 19. A week later, the Retrievers will travel down the road to nearby Community College of Baltimore County for a three-team tournament that also includes Catholic University on Sept. 26.

On Sunday, Oct. 4, the Retrievers will face Maryland, Delaware and the host Colonials at the George Washington Tournament in Washington, D.C., before a three-team round robin against Georgetown (11 a.m.) and George Mason (3 p.m.) in Fairfax, Va., on Oct. 10

UMBC closes out the fall schedule with an alumni game on Saturday, Oct. 17 as part of UMBC’s Homecoming weekend.

UMBC’s Fall Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 19 at UMBC

12 p.m. UMBC vs. Morgan State

4 p.m. UMBC vs. Georgetown

Saturday, Sept. 26 at CCBC

10:30 a.m. UMBC vs. CCBC

12:30 p.m. UMBC vs. Catholic

Sunday, Oct. 4 at George Washington

11 a.m. UMBC vs. Delaware

3 p.m. UMBC vs. George Washington

Saturday, Oct. 10 at George Mason

TBA UMBC vs. Georgetown

TBA UMBC vs. George Mason

Saturday, Oct. 17 at UMBC

2:30 p.m. Alumni Game

2009 Fall Clinic: French and the Retrievers will host the Fifth Annual UMBC Fall Clinic for girls ages 10-18 on Sunday, Sept. 27, at UMBC Softball Stadium from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The schedule will include skill sessions in the morning and scrimmages in the afternoon. The cost of the clinic is and $60.

UMBC Fall Scholastic Retriever Classic: French and the Retrievers will also host the First Annual UMBC Fall Scholastic Retriever Classic Oct. 23-25 at UMBC Softball Stadium. The entry fee is $280 per team, plus $25 per game for the umpire with a four-game guarantee. Due to limited space, the showcase will accommodate the first 10 teams that register. The tournament is open to all travel ball teams in the 14, 16, 18 and Gold divisions. Local collegiate coaches will be invited.

Retrievers to Host Open Tryouts: French will hold tryouts for the 2010 softball team Sept. 14-16. Any full-time student with NCAA eligibility is invited to audition with current Retrievers. Contact Coach French at 410-455-1325 or jfrench@umbc.edu as soon as possible for paperwork.