River Hawks Add Eight Newcomers to 2023 Squad
LOWELL, Massachusetts— UMass Lowell Softball Head Coach Jen Starek has announced the addition of eight freshmen to the River Hawk roster as they prepare for the 2023 season.
In only her second year at the helm, Starek adds two graduate transfers, one sophomore transfer and five freshman transfers, adding experience and depth to the list. The River Hawks are scheduled to play in February 2023.
“We are very excited about the new players and the immediate impact they will have on the program,” said Starek.
RIVER HAWKS PLAYER PROFILES
Surname: Emily Reid
Hometown/Gymnasium: Dighton, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth
Previous school: Maine
Class: graduate student
Position: jug
Height: 5-8
Main: physical therapy
As a senior (in Maine): She started in 16 of the 31 games she appeared in… finished the season with a team-leading 88.1 innings and assisted a 5.47 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP… had a record from 3-11 with two full games and one save… team leading from 53 strikeouts to 36 walks.
As a junior (in Maine): Started two of the eight games she appeared in… finished the season with 8.1 innings and assisted a 9.24 ERA… had a 1-1 record… nine strikeouts to 12 walks.
As a sophomore (in Maine): **Season shortened due to COVID-19** She started two of the four games she appeared in… finished the season with 10 innings and assisted a 3.50 ERA… seven strikeouts to five walks.
As a freshman (in Maine): Started 15 of the 23 games she appeared in… finished her rookie campaign with a team-leading 92.2 innings pitch, assisted a 4.38 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP… had a 4- 14-record five complete games…55 strikeouts on just 43 walks…three five-strikeout games counted…one shutout relief appearance.
Secondary school: All-Conference First Team selection as a senior…had pitched 145 strikeouts in 80 innings and assisted a .45 ERA as a senior…11-2 record as a senior…played in the state semifinal game as a senior. .. Member of the National Honors Society.
Personally: Daughter of Martha and Carl… has two brothers (Tyler and Zack)… her father Carl played baseball at the University of Rhode Island… her brother Zack played baseball at UMass Dartmouth… enjoys playing intramurals with her friends Skiing and playing sports…Favorite TV shows are Grey’s Anatomy and Jeopardy…Boston Red Sox fan…names Joe Kelley and Pedro Martinez as their favorite athletes…biggest sporting memory was the conference championship her senior year of high school.
Surname: Mya case
Hometown/Gymnasium: Syracuse, NY/West Genesee
Previous school: New port
Class: graduate student
Position: infielders/outfielders
Height: 5-5
Main: Business Administration (MBA)
As a senior (in New Haven): Northeast-10 All-Conference Second Team Selection …started all 40 games …leaded .318 batting average, 41 hits and 23 runs scored …four doubles, seven homers and 16 RBI …streaked two hitting streaks in seven games .
As a junior (at New Haven): Started all 37 games shortstop…finished the season with 34 hits and a .296 batting average…seven doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI and 28 runs scored…streaked a four game hitting streak…Northeast 10 Academic Honor Roll… Fall 2020 Dean’s List.
As a freshman (in New Haven): Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team Selection… Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team Selection… D2CCA All-East Region Team…started all 49 games at shortstop and catcher…finished their rookie campaign at 53 Hitting and a .344 batting average…14 doubles, one home run, 35 RBI and 29 runs scored…Northeast-10 Academic Honor Roll…Fall 2018 Dean’s List.
Secondary school: Made a varsity team every four years…Team Captain as a senior…Team Player of the Year and MVP as a junior…Member of the National Honors Society.
Personally: Daughter of Sara and Patrick…her father Patrick played baseball at LeMoyne College…has one sister (Kayla)…enjoys hiking and traveling and spending time with family and friends…Favorite TV show is Yellowstone. …fan of the New York Yankees and Buffalo Bills …lists Derek Jeter as her favorite athlete …the greatest sports memory was a home run on her last bat of her career at New Haven University.
Surname: Trinadey Santiago
Hometown/Gymnasium: Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire
Previous school: American International College
Class: second grader
Position: Catchers/Infielders
Height: 5-5
Main: education
As a freshman (at American International College): Played 17 of 42 games…finished her rookie campaign with 11 goals and a .239 batting average…made four doubles, two homers, nine RBIs and four runs…streaked a four-game winning streak.
Secondary school: CHSCA All-State Selection…Gametime CT Second Team All-State Selection…All-Southern Connecticut Conference Selection…Southern Connecticut Conference All-Academic Selection…George DeMaio Player of the Year.
Personally: Daughter of Candice and Michael…has one brother (Quentin)…likes to draw and listen to music…Favorite TV show is Shameless…Boston Red Sox fan…names Alex Hugo as her favorite athlete … the biggest sports memory was hitting a three-run walk-off that allowed her friend to make the winning run before heading out for her final travel ball game.
Surname: Giana LaCedra
Hometown/Gymnasium: Tyngsboro, Massachusetts/Lowell
Class: student in the first year
Position: jug
Height: 5-6
Main: Elementary/Special Education
Secondary school: Four-time Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year…four-time MVC Most Valuable Player…four-time MVC All-Conference…four-time Boston Globe and Boston Herald Player of the Year…four-time All-Scholastic Spring Athlete…most strikeouts in in school history… most wins in school history… most shutouts in school history… most consecutive wins in school history… most strikeouts in a game… three-time team captain.. .high roll of honor.
Personally: Daughter of Kimberley and Chris… Has two siblings (Giacobbe and Giuliana)… enjoys coaching, cooking, reading, art, music and travel… Favorite TV show is Grey’s Anatomy… Boston Celtics fan… . chose UMass Lowell because she could work at Lowell Public Schools and go to her siblings’ sporting events…the biggest sporting memory was being named Gatorade Player of the Year four years in a row and being the only player in the to his nation to it.
Surname: Katelyn Fitzgerald
Hometown/Gymnasium: Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon
Class: student in the first year
Position: First base
Height: 5-6
Main: biology
Secondary school: Twice All-Conference First Team…twice All-Area Second Team…Team Co-Captain…Member of National Honors Society.
Personally: Daughter of Kelly and Daniel…has two siblings (Andrew and Erin)…enjoys traveling, playing with her dogs and meeting friends…Favorite TV show is Friends…Fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Red Sox… lists Mike Trout as her favorite athlete… chose UMass Lowell because she loved the size of the campus, the support student-athletes receive, as well as the educational programs it offers.
Surname: Jordan Chamberlain
Hometown/Gymnasium: Wolcott, Conn./Wolcott
Class: student in the first year
Position: outfielder
Height: 5-11
Main: Applied biomedical science
Personally: Daughter of Cheryl and Brian…has one brother (Jason)…likes lifting and cooking…Favorite TV shows are 24 and Criminal Minds…Fan of the New York Yankees and Green Bay Packers…lists Mark Teixeira as her favorite athlete…biggest sports memory was making the game-saving jump catch in the conference championship game in her freshman year.
Surname: Shannon Howes
Hometown/Gymnasium: Palgrave, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas
Class: student in the first year
Position: outfielder
Height: 5-3
Main: training science
Secondary school: First All-Star Outfielder at Canada Under-19 Fastpitch Championship…roll of honor each year of high school.
Personally: Daughter of Erin and Rodney…has two siblings (Shea and Garrett)…likes to paint and hike…Favorite TV show is Dawson’s Creek…Fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Bruins…Lists Hayley Wickenheiser as her favorite athlete… chose to attend UMass Lowell because of the great health science programs and softball program.
Surname: Kylie Frank
Hometown/Gymnasium: Hampstead, NH/Phillips Andover
Class: student in the first year
Position: catcher
Height: 5-2
Main: business
Secondary school: Spent her first two years of high school at Central Catholic…college starter in all four years…team captain in seniority…was inducted into the National Honor Society while at Central Catholic.
Personally: Daughter of Francine and Troy…Her brother Cole is committed to Lacrosse at Lehigh University for 2024…enjoys being outside and spending time at the lake…Favorite TV show is Yellowstone…Fan of the New England Patriots … lists Tom Brady as their favorite athlete … chose UMass Lowell because of his status in Division I and proximity to home.
