UDM softball head coach Sunny Jones has been busy this off season, signing a number of freshmen, including the announcing of her four latest acquisitions today.

Alyssa Gietl (Plymouth, MI/Ladywood), Julia Maksym (Manistee, MI/Manistee), Erin Huddleston (Normal, IL/Normal West), and Emily Wares (Okmulgee, OK/Morris) have all signed Titan Letters of Intent to join the team as freshmen for the upcoming season.

Gietl, who is listed as a 1B/OF, earned four varsity letters in softball at Ladywood High School. As a senior, she earned All-Catholic League, All-District, All- Region, All-State, and All-Area First Team honors. She was also selected to the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association (MHSSCA) Senior All-Star Game. On the year, Gietl had a .421 batting average with 61 hits, including 15 doubles and 52 RBI. Throughout her high school career, she hit at a .406 clip with 195 hits 54 doubles and 173 RBI.

“Alyssa possesses some nice pop in her bat and the ability to hit in pressure situations,” said Jones. “She hit in the middle of the line-up at Ladywood, so I'm confident with her experience and the opponents she has faced she will contribute to our offense.”

Maksym, a pitcher, is the Michigan High School Athletic Association MHSAA record holder in strikeouts (1,126), career wins (94), and season wins (34). She was named All-Conference in 2007 and 2008 and named to the MHSSCA All-District team in 2008, 2009, and 2010. She was also on the 2009 and 2010 MHSSCA All-Region team. She was on the 2010 MHSSCA All-State First Team and helped her squad to the 2008, 2009, and 2010 MHSAA District Softball Championships. Additionally, she earned the MHSSCA Academic All-State Team Award in 2009 and 2010.

She also holds many of her high school records including the top three single-season marks for strikeouts, throwing 11 no-hitters, including four in each 2009 and 2010, and from 2007-2010, she was named her team MVP at Manistee.

“Julia will have the opportunity to come in and contribute right away in the circle. As an overall athlete she has the ability to hit for herself and play other positions when she is not pitching,” said Jones.

Maksym also earned varsity letters in four different sports at Manistee High School, capturing one in swimming, two in cross country, three in basketball and four in softball.

Corner infielder Huddleston comes in as a four-year varsity softball player from Normal Community West High School where she played for former All-American second baseman April Schermann (Illinois State University).

“Erin will come in and challenge for a corner spot immediately. We are looking for her to add some home run power and added experience after playing on successful high school and travel teams. We are really excited about what Erin will provide the program,” commented Jones.

She was the Pantagraph All-Area Hits Leader in 2008 while helping her 2010 squad to a 33-1 record including a Big 12 Conference and a Regional Championship. She was also named to the All-State second team as a senior and to the third team as a junior in 2009. She was named to the Big 12 All-Conference First Team in 2008, 2009, and 2010 while receiving Honorable Mention status in 2007.

From Morris High School in Oklahoma, Wares was a four-year varsity letter winner in fast pitch, slow pitch, and basketball. Her team reached the 2010 State Tournament for fast pitch and she also earned All-Conference and All-District accolades in all four of her prep years.

“Emily comes to us from Oklahoma after playing summer ball for the Tulsa Outlaws Elite,” said Jones. "She is an aggressive corner with the ability to play both first and third base. Along with her glove skills, she also will bring power to our line-up.”

With these last four signings, Jones now has nine players from Michigan, one from Ohio, and one each from Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, and Oklahoma on her roster.