FULLERTON, Calif. -- Cal State Fullerton first-year head softball coach Kelly Ford announced the signing of five high school standouts to National Letters of Intent on Tuesday to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Titans beginning with the 2014 season.
Catcher-infielder Sydney Colenzo (Calvary Chapel Christian School/Firecrackers - Gallegos), utility player Megan Estacio (Millikan HS/Firecrackers - Snyder), catcher Olivia Martinez (Corona HS/Minor's Gold), outfielder Delynn Rippy (Oceanside, Calif./TNL), and right-handed pitcher Kayla Silverstein (La Costa Canyon HS/Fury) have all committed to play for Fullerton next season.
"I am excited to announce the 2013 recruiting class for Cal State Fullerton softball," Ford said. "We have speed, power and outstanding athleticism with this group of five signees which will immediately elevate our standard of play. I appreciate their patience and commitment to our program through a time of change and they have all told me they are ready to hit the ground running."
2012 CAL STATE FULLERTON SOFTBALL EARLY SIGNEES
Name (POS / HT / Bats-Throws / Hometown / Previous School / Travel Team)
Sydney Colenzo (C-IF / L-R / Downey, Calif. / Calvary Chapel Christian School / Firecrackers - Gallegos)
Megan Estacio (IF-OF / L-R / Long Beach, Calif. / Millikan HS / Firecrackers - Snyder)
Olivia Martinez (C / 5-9 / R-R / Corona, Calif. / Corona HS / Minor's Gold)
Delynn Rippy (OF / 5-5 / L-R / Oceanside, Calif. / El Camino HS / TNL)
Kayla Silverstein (P / 6-0 / R-R / Carlsbad, Calif. / La Costa Canyon HS / Fury)
Brief bios on each of the signees are below...
SYDNEY COLENZO
Entering her senior season at Calvary Chapel Christian School in Downey… two-time first-team All-Alpha League selection… All-CIF Division VI selection as a junior after batting .591 with six home runs, 48 runs scored, 27 RBI, and 16 stolen bases, helping the Grizzlies to a league title and a berth in the CIF Division VI quarterfinals… named to the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Dream Team Second Team in 2012… hit .459 with five home runs, 33 RBI, and 22 steals as a sophomore helping Calvary Chapel to a CIF title in 2011… two-time honor roll selection in the classroom… played her freshman season at Downey High School, batting .473 with 13 RBI.
Associate Head Coach Dee Dee Kingsbury: "Sydney is not only a great athlete but has many intangibles as a person that you look for in a student-athlete. She works very hard at her craft and her energy and commitment to her team and teammates is something that every coach looks for in their players. Sydney is a talented catcher that can also play anywhere in the infield. Utility players like Sydney are valuable assets for teams at our level. We are so excited that Sydney will be a part of our 2013-14 squad."
MEGAN ESTACIO
Currently entering her senior season at Millikan High School in Long Beach… first-team All-Moore League selection as a junior, batting .410 with 15 RBI… shared team MVP honors and was named to the Woodbridge Classic All-Tournament Team last season.
Associate Head Coach Dee Dee Kingsbury: "Megan is a hard working and dynamic player that will fit in well in the Titans' middle infield. She is an exciting player to watch. Megan has had quite a bit of success playing in the Firecrackers organization and we have no doubt that success will continue for Megan as a Titan."
OLIVIA MARTINEZ
Entering her senior season at Corona High School after playing her first two seasons at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, Calif… team's offensive player of the year as a freshman… slugged seven home runs as a junior, including three in a single game.
Associate Head Coach Dee Dee Kingsbury: "Olivia is one of the first student-athletes to commit to the Titans in this class, and we are just as excited today as we were they day she committed. Olivia plays travel ball with a successful Minor's Gold team as a catcher. We are looking forward to having Olivia be a member of the Titan squad."
DELYNN RIPPY
Currently entering her senior season at El Camino High School… two-time first-team All-Avocado West League selection as a sophomore and junior… honorable mention All-Palomar League honoree as a freshman… helped the Wildcats to the CIF San Diego Section Division I title as a freshman, batting .321 with five triples and 21 stolen bases… second-team All-State Underclass selection, second-team All-CIF San Diego Section choice, and first-team All-North Country honoree as a sophomore… named the team's Offensive Player of the Year after batting .478 in her second prep campaign… earned first-team All-State, All-CIF, and All-North Country laurels as a junior… led the county's Division I contingent with a .537 average and earned her second Offensive Player of the Year honor… team co-captain as a junior… San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team as a junior.
Associate Head Coach Dee Dee Kingsbury: "Delynn is a very talented athlete and outfielder, and the sister of a former player - Patrina Harrison. Delynn has many tools as an athlete that will make her a valuable member of the Titan softball team. We are looking forward to seeing her compete in a Titan uniform."
KAYLA SILVERSTEIN
Currently entering her senior season at La Costa Canyon High School… first-team All-Avocado West League selection as a junior and the league's Pitcher of the Year as the Mavericks won the league title… first-team All-North County selection in 2012… played her first two prep seasons at Torrey Pines High School… San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team as a junior.
Associate Head Coach Dee Dee Kingsbury: "We couldn't be more excited about Kayla becoming a Titan. She will make an immediate impact on our pitching staff. She has had a very successful career playing for her travel ball team and had a great high school season last year. She has worked very hard in the last year preparing herself to compete at this level and it is paying off."