Head coach Kelly Ford announced that five area prep athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to play softball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans. Shianne Brannan, Brooke Clemetson, Arianna Espinoza, Adele Leuma and Kristen Voller will begin their careers with the Titans at the beginning of the 2014-15 academic school year.
"This is an exciting group for us to have signed," Ford said. "Our staff have high expectations for all the student-athletes that we will be bringing into our family and this group represents the type of individuals we want to surround ourselves with. The Cal State Fullerton traditions that were established throughout the 34 years of the program will be in great hands in the future, with groups of student-athletes such as these."
All of the signees hail from California and four of them are from the Inland Empire.
Shianne Brannan | 5-8 | Middle Infielder | Chino Hills High School | Chino Hills
A starter on the Huskies squad for her first three seasons, she was named to the All Sierra League, First Team in her junior year after earning a spot on the second team in for her sophomore and freshman seasons. Despite missing seven games with an injury in 2013, she finished with a .343 batting average and added five doubles, two triples and a pair of home runs, while knocking in 13. Remarkably, she did not strike out in 77 at bats. As impressive as she's been on the field, she is a three-time member of the Academic and Athletic Honor Roll, while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. During her sophomore year she earned the President's Education Award.
"Shianne Brannan will have an immediate impact on our middle infield. She is an all around outstanding athlete and our staff is looking forward to working with her to help her develop into the type of collegiate player that she aspires to be," Ford said. "She's also the kind of person that you want to surround yourself with."
Travel Ball Experience
Brannan is a member of the Orange County Batbusters (formerly Team Mizuno 18u), playing for Jesse Gonzalez. Thus far has competed at four ASA nationals and in 2012 was part of the Fireworks/Sparkler team that won a tournament championship in San Diego.
Brooke Clemetson | 5-6 | P/OF | Charter Oak High School | Covina
A two-time first team all league performer through three years of her prep career, Clemetson hit for a .323 average during her junior year when she also earned all area honors from a local newspaper and her team's defensive player of the year award. She scored 21 runs, drove in 15 more and stole 13 bases to solidify her offensive prowess. In the circle last year, she went 13-5 while posting a 2.21 ERA with 90 strikeouts. As a sophomore she posted an 11-8 record in the circle and hit for a .412 average. As a freshman she hit for a .419 average on the way to earning All Sierra League Second Team honors. She has been named a three-time Scholar Athlete while competing for the Chargers and last year added an league all-academic honor as well.
"Brooke is that speedy, feisty player that everyone wants to add to their team. She makes our team better just by being on the roster," Ford said. "She will be a great addition to our program and will give us plenty of options for how to use her during her career as a Titan."
Travel Ball Experience
Clemetson is also a member of the Orange County Batbusters (formerly Team Mizuno 18u), playing for Jesse Gonzalez. She was part of the Fireworks/Sparkler team that won a tournament championship in San Diego.
Arianna Espinoza | 5-3 | OF | Beaumont High School | Beaumont
A power hitter, who also hits for average, Espinoza has played for the Cougars for the past three seasons. During 2013 she hit for a .450 average with three home runs and 25 RBI after a sophomore campaign that resulted in a .406 average with a roundtrip per and eight runs batted in. During her freshman season in the Mountain Pass League, she tallied a .370 batting average.
"What fires me up about Arianna is that she loves to compete and you can't have too much of that in your program. Her passion and love for the game is contagious and she is a joy to be around," Ford added. "Her teammates will really appreciate that Arianna has chosen to be a Titan."
Travel Ball Experience
Competing for Kim Howard's Corona Angels 18u gold team, she has played outfield throughout her career.
Adele Leuma | 5-7 | P/OF | Hanford West High School | Hanford
A versatile athlete, she has played every position except catcher at the prep or club level, Leuma will join the Titans after competing in two sports for her first high school, basketball and softball, and her basketball team won their league in 2013. She will compete for the Huskies in 2014. Leuma was a second team All West Yosemite League and all county performer when she hit .298, scored a team-high 22 runs and drove in nine during her sophomore season.
"Adele can swing it, flat out. She'll be a force for us in the outfield and potentially in the circle as well as she is an old-school double threat," Ford said. "She is a mature athlete and will bring leadership characteristics with her when joins us."
Travel Ball Experience
Leuma has competed for coaches Ralph Herrera and Scott Gorton on the CenCal Dirtbags and has played pitcher, outfield, first base, shortstop and third base in service of her team.
Kristen Voller | 5-9 | P | Norco High School | Riverside
A three-year pitching mainstay at Norco High School, the Cougars finished as CIF Division I runners up last season, after she had a record 19-1 during her sophomore season with an incredible 235 strikeouts and that included two perfect games and five no-hitters. For good measure, the right-hander pitched nine shut outs as well.
"Kristen has continued to impress us with her strength, capacity to learn and with her overall potential and we can't wait to get to work with her," Ford noted.
Travel Ball Experience
Voller is on the pitching staff of coach Jim Snyder's Firecrackers.