Three high school standouts and one junior college recruit signed national letters of intent on Tuesday to play softball at Long Beach State.
Liz Javier, Caitrin DeBaun, Dana Garcia and Nalani St. Germain will join the 49ers for the 2009 season.
“This recruiting class will certainly help to continue the success and tradition that our program has had over the years both on and off the field,” LBSU head coach Kim Sowder said. “All four players will come in and compete for positions right away. They are great leaders on their current teams and we can’t wait to have them in ‘The Beach’ uniform.”
Javier, an infielder, played at Mt. San Antonio College last season. As a freshman in 2008, she earned first-team all-South Coast Conference honors after helping the Mounties to their sixth straight league title and an appearance in the state championship game. Javier attended Warren High School, where she was a four-time all-San Gabriel Valley League and all-CIF selection.
“Liz is a great leader on the field and will come to us with two valuable years of experience at the junior college level under head coach (Kelly) Ford,” Sowder said. “She has proven to be a solid hitter and corner player for Mt. SAC and she is a tremendous competitor.”
DeBaun, an outfielder, attends Rosary High School in Fullerton, Calif., where she is a three-time all-league pick. As a junior, DeBaun was named the Trinity League Most Valuable Player, while also garnering all-CIF and all-Orange County honors. Over the summer, DeBaun hit .400 at the 2008 ASA 18 Gold Nationals in Oklahoma City, Okla., leading the So Cal Explosion to a fourth-place finish.
“Caitrin is an experienced outfielder with a very strong and consistent bat,” Sowder said. “She has a great work ethic and is willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. I love her energy and her love for the game.”
Garcia, a senior at La Mirada High School, is a three-time first-team all-Suburban League selection. As a junior, she was also named to the Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team after finishing the season with a .471 batting average. The catcher is also a member of the Artesia Punishers travel team that reached the finals of the 2006 Triple Crown World Series and Elite World Series.
“Dana is a versatile athlete whose primary position is catcher, however, she can play anywhere on the field,” Sowder said. “Her versatility on defense, along with her strength and speed on offense, will give us many options.”
St. Germain is a senior at Ayala High School in Chino Hills, Calif. The infielder is a three-time all-league pick and was named the Rookie of the Year in 2006. As a junior, she helped the Bulldogs to the 2008 Serra League championship and was named to the Los Angeles Times All-Star Team.
“Nalani is a very strong athlete that can play any position on the field,” Sowder said. “Offensively, she has great power and is capable of driving in a lot of runs. She has a tremendous upside and has great leadership qualities.”
The ‘Niners will open the 2009 campaign at the Cathedral City Classic, Feb. 6-8.
