Softball Announces Class of 2019
1/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Seton Hall University head softball coach Paige Smith on Friday announced the Pirates will be adding five student-athletes for the 2016 season as a part of the program's Class of 2019. The versatile recruiting class, the second full class Smith has brought in, features decorated players from across the country, with four states represented including New Jersey, Texas, Colorado and California.
The Seton Hall softball Class of 2019 includes pitcher Chrisa Head (Lewisville, Texas - Lake Dallas), catcher Destini Peck (Riverside, Calif. - Grand Terrace), utility player Ragen Reddick (Middlesex, N.J. - Bishop George Ahr), pitcher Madison Strunk (San Antonio, Texas - East Central) and shortstop Emily Supercynski (Aurora, Colo. - Grandview).
Head is a dominant pitcher out of Lake Dallas High School, where she has earned First-Team All-District and All-Area honors for three-straight seasons. Over her prep career she has posted a 1.54 earned run average with 419 strikeouts. Head also played club ball with Frozen Ropes Gold and Team Mizuno Impulse 16 & 18 Gold.
"The first thing you notice about Chrisa is her size, she is six feet tall and has tremendous presence on the mound," said Smith. "She has a lot of great break on her pitches and has played a lot of top competition out of the state of Texas. We are really looking forward to adding her to the team as a great junk baller."
Peck is a catcher that hits for average and power. Out of Grand Terrace High School, she has also been associated with the Firecracker program since 2011, playing for the Lakewood Firecrackers in 2014-15. Last season, she hit .550 with eight doubles, two home runs, three triples and 35 RBI, while leading Grand Terrace to a 14-1 league record and the Sunkist League title. She was named All-League in 2013 and again in 2014.
"Destini was one of the most sought after catchers from California in the 2015 class," said Smith. "She is a power lefty hitter, and is one of the best overall players I have recruited. I was very impressed the first time I saw her play, when she finished a home run shy of the cycle and made several strong plays behind the plate. She is a very well rounded player."
Reddick has played four years at shortstop for Bishop George Ahr High School, earning All-Conference and First-Team All-Greater Middlesex County honors in 2014. She has a .394 career-batting average and hit .459 during her junior season. For her career at Bishop George Ahr, Reddick has four home runs, 51 runs scored and 35 RBI. She has played travel ball with the NJ Breakers 18-under Gold squad from 2011-14.
"Regan is a local standout, she is a scrappy kid and I see her as a utility player that could play in the infield or outfield," said Smith. "She is quick and is one of those players that when she is on the field, you know she will do whatever it takes to win; Regan plays with a great deal of determination."
Strunk has starred at East Central High School and also plays for the Texas Bombers Gold 18-under team. She was a First-Team All-State selection in 2013 and has been named First-Team All-District for three-straight season (2012-14). As a junior, she threw 111.2 innings at East Central, posting a 14-4 record while allowing just 27 earned runs.
"Maddie is a power pitcher with a heavy ball. To win the BIG EAST you need a pitcher with a drop ball where the bottom falls out of it, and that is something Maddie can bring to our team," said Smith. "She has been playing with the Texas Bombers program for most of her career, and that is a top-level program, so she has been facing a lot of strong competition and has already been put in high pressure situations on a great team."
Supercynski has experienced a great deal of success at Grandview High School, where she helped lead her team to a Colorado 5A state championship in 2014, the first in school history. Last season, she hit .418 with 31 runs scored, 25 RBI and eight steals, leading to Centennial League Most Valuable Player accolades and First-Team All-State honors for the second-straight season. Supercynski has made four First-Team All-Conference appearances and participated in the SHSCA All-State Senior game in 2014. She has played club ball for the Colorado Angels since 2009.
"Emily is a defensive plug with great range," said Smith. "I have seen her make a number of incredible plays out in the field, and she reacts really well to the ball. She has a very good overhand throw, great size, and hits in the power part of the lineup."
The Seton Hall University softball team opens its 2015 season next weekend, when the Pirates travel to the University of North Texas Round Robin in Denton, Texas, on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 6-8. The season opener is Friday morning against Boise State at 11 a.m.
