University of North Carolina Athletics
Softball Inks Three To NLIs
December 2, 2010 | Softball
Dec. 2, 2010
CHAPEL HILL -- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill softball program signed three high school seniors to National Letters of Intent head coach Donna J. Papa announced Thursday.
Jenna Kelly, Amber Parrish, and Lauren Walker sign to become the University of North Carolina's 2015 graduating class.
"I am really thrilled about the 2015 class," exclaimed Papa. "We have strengthened our offense as well as adding depth to our pitching and catching. This group of signees have achieved many successes both on and off the field at all levels including a national championship season."
"I have enjoyed getting to know each one of them," Papa added. "They represent all the qualities that we are looking for in players for our program- outstanding attitudes and work ethic, athleticism, and strong academics."
Jenna Kelly is an infielder from Saugus, Calif. The Saugus High School product throws and bats right-handed and plans to wear number 22 at Carolina. Kelly is a four-time team captain and three-time team MVP at Saugus. The Saugus, Calif., native has earned First-Team All Foothill League her sophomore and junior seasons.
Kelly has played club softball with the So Cal Athletics 18U Gold squad the last three seasons. Kelly was a teammate with current freshman Amy Nece on the So Cal Athletics club that recently won the 2010 Premier National Championship this summer.
"Jenna Kelly is an outstanding power hitter and will be a welcome addition for us offensively and defensively on the infield," said Papa. " She has come off a summer as a National Champion for the So Cal Athletics travel team. Jenna is very driven as a competitor on the field and is a strong academic student. She will make an immediate impact for us and knows what it takes to be and compete at an extremely high level."
Academically the Saugus, Calif., product has an interest in biology and chemistry as a major. She ranks in the top seven percent of her class, is a member of the Honor Society the last four years and a four-year participant with the Key Club.
Kelly chose North Carolina because "my career goal is very important to me and is one of the mains reason I picked UNC. I plan on becoming an orthodontist and Carolina's dental program is ranked very high."
Kelly added "The softball program at North Carolina is an added bonus and I can hardly wait to become a member of the Tar Heel team. These along with many other reasons made the University of North Carolina the perfect choice for me."
Amber Parrish is a right-handed catcher from Lucama, N.C. and plans to wear number 25 at UNC. The James Hunt High School product has earned Team MVP honors each of her last three seasons. The team captain has garnered All-Conference accolades every season and Conference Player of the Year the last two seasons.
The ASA 14U National Champion and 2010 Wilson Daily Times Player of the Year currently plays club softball with the Cape Fear Storm.
"Amber Parrish is a very talented catcher with excellent defensive skills," said the veteran head coach. "She is aggressive behind the plate possessing an arm that is necessary at this level. She will also be a force at the plate as she is a strong offensive presence from the right side. Amber will give us good depth behind the plate and will have the opportunity to catch for a quality pitching staff."
The Lucama native has an academic interest in child psychology, social work with children, and education. Parrish has earned A/B Honor Roll throughout high school and All-Academic Honors for volleyball, basketball and softball.
Parrish chose North Carolina because "when I'm there its feels like my home. I not only think it will help me become a successful person but it will also give me the skills I will need to know in the real world."
The Old North state native added, "From the very first time I visited the campus I knew this was the school for me. Playing softball at Carolina will better myself as an athlete as the program has strived for years and I can't wait to become a part of it."
Lauren Walker is a pitcher/first baseman from York, Penn. The right-hander attends Central York High School and will don the number six jersey for the Tar Heels. The 2010 Pennsylvania Softball Gatorade Player of the Year earned First-Team AAAA All-State in her junior season.
Walker is a three-time YAIAA Player of the Year and three-time team MVP. The York, Penn., native also plays with the Jersey Inferno Gold club team and broke the single season home run record this summer.
"Lauren Walker is a very versatile player as she pitches, plays the infield and is a power type hitter," Papa exclaimed. "She will complement our current pitching staff and will make us a very tough staff to face. Lauren is a strong academic student with a strong work ethic both on the field and in the classroom. She will give us another offensive threat up at the plate as she possesses homerun power."
Academically, Walker is a member of the National Honor Society. The Varsity Club President in her junior and sophomore years has won four academic achievement awards. The Distinguished Honors Student won the Judy Gelnett Award, given to one junior each year that best exemplifies strong academic qualities.
The York, Penn., native chose the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "for its academic reputation, gorgeous location, traditionally strong softball program and coaches, strength of other sports teams as well as supportive alumni."
Walker added "UNC-CH offers a wide variety of majors and areas of study in a beautiful setting in the south. Carolina has an excellent softball program and has been consistently ranked in the top-25 in the country. Coach Papa impresses me as an excellent coach and I can't wait to play for her."
