Nov. 29, 2011

Columbus, Ohio - Ohio State has signed four Ohio high school standouts to letters of intent to play softball for the Buckeyes, head coach Linda Kalafatis announced today. Mandie Abbruzzese, Jesse Machovina, Cammi Prantl and Jayla Saibene will be joining the Buckeyes for the 2013 season.

"We're happy to announce an all-Ohio class in our 2012 recruiting class. These four young women know the passion it takes to be a Buckeye and they'll join a group of terrific returning student-athletes," says Kalafatis.

"Ohio State is an amazing place to be a student-athlete and we are excited to welcome these four new players. We have a lot of excitement for the upcoming season and with the addition of these four players next season, we expect continued success."

Abbruzzese is a team captain for Coach Todd DelBoccio at Upper Arlington High School in Columbus, where she was team MVP as a junior. An outfielder who has earned all-OCC, all-district and all-metro honors, Abbruzzese plans to major in speech pathology at Ohio State, and is active in volunteer work with children with disabilities. She is the daughter of John and Racheal Abbruzzese.

Coach Linda Kalafatis: "Of the four, Mandie is the only local student-athlete in this class and her desire to be a Buckeye was strong. Mandie lost most of the summer with a fractured ankle, but she has just returned from injury and has seemed to pick up right where she left off. She has good speed and sees the ball well with a little bit of pop. Mandie has played a variety of positions in high school and summer ball, but we project her as an outfielder."

Machovina is a three-sport athlete from St. Clairsville High School, where she has lettered in softball, basketball and swimming. Named the OVAC conference softball player of the year as a junior, she was the team MVP for Coach Bruce Stiles while earning Buckeye 8 league honors and captaining the Martins Ferry Times-Leader all-area softball squad. She also earned all-area recognition as a basketball point guard. Machovina, who holds a student pilot's license, will major in aviation. She is the daughter of Dan and Laura Machovina.

Coach Linda Kalafatis: "Jesse is a strong athlete who can play almost any position. We've seen her excel at catcher, second base and shortstop, and we may work her at third base as well. I like her athleticism and ability to hit for power. Jesse loves to play; she just loves to be at the ball fields so she'll fit in well at Buckeye Field. She joined her high school swim team this year to stay conditioned and ready for softball."

Prantl was the Mid-State League conference player of the year as a junior, earning all-district, all-metro and all-state honors at Teays Valley High School. Leading Coach Brenna Gesigue's squad to the regional finals, she set a school record with seven home runs. Prantl, whose Ohio Slammers ASA team won the Hall of Fame tournament in Oklahoma City, is also a four-year volleyball letterwinner. A member of the National Honor Society who plans to major in business, she is the daughter of Herb and Donna Prantl.

Coach Linda Kalafatis: "Cammi is a solid defensive outfielder with a strong arm who can also play catcher. Offensively, she's a triple threat player from the left side with some pop in her bat who reminds me a lot of current freshman Taylor Watkins. I like that Cammi has challenged herself from an early age to "play up" in age groups. She has always been on very successful teams so her desire to win is strong. Cammi is a very strong student with better than a 4.0 grade-point so she blends in well with the academic success in our program."

Saibene is a four-year starter at Massillon Perry High School in Canton, helping Coach Allison Heppe's squad win the 2010 state championship. Receiving first team all-Federal League and second team all-state recognition, Saibene has also gained plenty of ASA national tournament experience. She is the daughter of Jason and Tammy Saibene. Her uncle Marty Mull was a Buckeye swimmer and two-time national champion for the Buckeyes.

Coach Linda Kalafatis: "I see Jayla at second base or in the outfield for us. She's been one of the top hitters on each of her teams her entire career and she has a good mix of power and speed. Jayla has the natural ability to get the sweet spot of the bat on the ball on a very consistent basis. From high school to club ball, Jayla has always been on very successful teams and her desire to win is strong. Jayla and Cammi were teammates years ago on the Slammers and helped them to great success; I think those two players can help the Buckeyes to greater success."