Scarpello Announces New Addition to 2011-12 Signin
Nov 16, 2010 | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – Five student-athletes will join the UNO softball program next season, Head Coach Jeanne Scarpello announced this week. Kat Barrow, Mara Eeman, Lindsay Gilliland, Tonya Peterson and Kiley Thalken have all signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Mavericks in 2011-12.
"Not only are these five players athletic, but they are also quality students in the classroom,” Scarpello said. “We look forward to working with all of these young ladies. They all have strong work ethics along with a strong desire to win. They are a perfect fit to keep the winning tradition here at UNO going and take us to another level. We believe that each of these players has the potential and ability to make a strong impact in their first year as Mavericks, and we feel very fortunate that they have chosen to play for UNO."
Kat Barrow – P/INF – 5-6 – R/R – Kearney, Mo. (Kearney)
Barrow is a four-year letterwinner in softball at Kearney High School in Kearney, Mo., and will graduate in May 2011. She is a four-time first-team all-conference and first-team all-district selection. As a senior, Barrow established the Kearney record for career strikeouts and was chosen second-team all-region. As a junior, Barrow was first-team all-state and was named the Kansas City Star's All-Metro Softball Player of the Year. Her KHS squad went undefeated in the regular-season and captured a second district championship before placing third at the Class 4 state tournament during her junior year. Barrow earned second-team all-state honors as a sophomore, leading her team to a district championship and setting a school record with an earned-run average of 0.23.
Barrow also lettered in basketball for two seasons as well as academics. She is a member of MAHEC, an organization for students interested in careers in health care. The daughter of Edwin and Diane Barrow, she will major in biology with an emphasis in pre-medicine at UNO.
“Kat is an exceptional pitcher who has command and good movement on a variety of pitches,” Scarpello said. “She is a hard worker with a strong competitive spirit. Not only is Kat a strong fielding pitcher, she will also add a presence on the mound. Kat will be a great addition to our pitching staff.”
Mara Eeman -- OF -- 5-6 – R/R – Ralston, Neb. (Ralston)
Eeman is a four-year letterwinner in softball, basketball and track at Ralston High School and will graduate in May 2011. As a senior this fall, she garnered second-team All-Nebraska and Class B first-team all-state honors. Last year as a junior, Eeman earned River Cities all-conference accolades in softball and basketball, as well as offensive player of the year honors in both sports.
As a freshman, Eeman took first-team All-Nebraska recognition and was honored as newcomer of the year by her softball and basketball teams. In 2007, the Rams finished third at the Nebraska State Softball Championship
Eeman's summer team, Frozen Ropes Fury, won the 2010 USSSA World Series in the 18-Under A division. The daughter of Jayme and Jeff Eeman, she plans to major in pre-nursing or pre-medicine.
“Mara is a very solid defensive and offensive player,” Scarpello said. “She will bring an aggressive approach to the plate and on the base paths, and she has the ability to be consistent and powerful at the plate. She is very athletic to make all the routine plays in the outfield but also some spectacular plays as well.”
Lindsay Gilliland – OF – 5-4 – R/R – Upland, Calif. (Liberty)
Gilliland was a three-year starter in the outfield for the Liberty Blue Jays. Following her senior season, Gilliland was named second-team All-Conference and second-team All-District. She also earned a Gold Glove Award for her defensive play in the outfield. The Blue Jays won the district title and finished second in the conference that year. In her sophomore year, Liberty won the silver bracket of the Greater Kansas City Tournament. Gilliland earned All-Conference honorable mention following her first season as a starting outfielder. In her three years as a starter, Liberty compiled a 68-21 record.
Gilliland played her club ball with the Originals, and they won the Colorado Fireworks Tournament in 2010.
The daughter of Steve and Kelly Gilliland, Lindsay plans to major in business administration/sports marketing.
Tonya Peterson – IF – 5-6 – R/R – Omaha, Neb. (Westside)
Peterson will join the Mavs after being a four-year starter at Westside High School, where the Warriors won four straight district championships. As a freshman in 2007, Peterson helped WHS to a 24-11 record and a third-place finish at the state tournament. In her junior season, she set the school record for most doubles in a season en route to first-team all-state honors by the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. This fall, Peterson added another first-team All-Nebraska nod as well as second-team Super State accolades.
Additionally, Peterson has lettered in basketball and academics, having been a member of the honor roll all four years. In 2009, the Warriors qualified for the state basketball tournament. Peterson also was part of the Frozen Ropes Fury summer team that won the 2010 USSSA World Series in the 18-Under A division. The daughter of Dave and Patty Peterson, she plans to major in pre-medicine.
“Tonya's consistency is what is most impressive,” Scarpello said. “Not only is she consistent with the glove, she is able to hit quality pitching and drive in runs when the pressure is on. We look forward to having Tonya in the lineup to produce RBI, and she will prove to be a tough out at the collegiate level.”
Kiley Thalken – IF – 5-3 – R/R -- Bennington, Neb. (Bennington)
Thalken joins the Mavericks after her career at Bennington High School in Bennington, Neb., where she played for Coach Clay Tibke. In 2009, she tied for the Nebraska Class B record with three doubles in a game and also holds the state's Class B single-season mark with 17 doubles for the year. As a junior, Thalken earned all-state honorable mention accolades from the Omaha World-Herald.
Thalken plans to major in chemistry at UNO.
“Kiley is very athletic.” Scarpello said. “Not only does she have a strong arm but also quickness as a fielder and on the base paths. Kiley will be very valuable because of her versatility. Though small in stature, her bat can produce some pop to our lineup. She is a player who will keep getting better in her years at UNO.”
"Not only are these five players athletic, but they are also quality students in the classroom,” Scarpello said. “We look forward to working with all of these young ladies. They all have strong work ethics along with a strong desire to win. They are a perfect fit to keep the winning tradition here at UNO going and take us to another level. We believe that each of these players has the potential and ability to make a strong impact in their first year as Mavericks, and we feel very fortunate that they have chosen to play for UNO."
Kat Barrow – P/INF – 5-6 – R/R – Kearney, Mo. (Kearney)
Barrow is a four-year letterwinner in softball at Kearney High School in Kearney, Mo., and will graduate in May 2011. She is a four-time first-team all-conference and first-team all-district selection. As a senior, Barrow established the Kearney record for career strikeouts and was chosen second-team all-region. As a junior, Barrow was first-team all-state and was named the Kansas City Star's All-Metro Softball Player of the Year. Her KHS squad went undefeated in the regular-season and captured a second district championship before placing third at the Class 4 state tournament during her junior year. Barrow earned second-team all-state honors as a sophomore, leading her team to a district championship and setting a school record with an earned-run average of 0.23.
Barrow also lettered in basketball for two seasons as well as academics. She is a member of MAHEC, an organization for students interested in careers in health care. The daughter of Edwin and Diane Barrow, she will major in biology with an emphasis in pre-medicine at UNO.
“Kat is an exceptional pitcher who has command and good movement on a variety of pitches,” Scarpello said. “She is a hard worker with a strong competitive spirit. Not only is Kat a strong fielding pitcher, she will also add a presence on the mound. Kat will be a great addition to our pitching staff.”
Mara Eeman -- OF -- 5-6 – R/R – Ralston, Neb. (Ralston)
Eeman is a four-year letterwinner in softball, basketball and track at Ralston High School and will graduate in May 2011. As a senior this fall, she garnered second-team All-Nebraska and Class B first-team all-state honors. Last year as a junior, Eeman earned River Cities all-conference accolades in softball and basketball, as well as offensive player of the year honors in both sports.
As a freshman, Eeman took first-team All-Nebraska recognition and was honored as newcomer of the year by her softball and basketball teams. In 2007, the Rams finished third at the Nebraska State Softball Championship
Eeman's summer team, Frozen Ropes Fury, won the 2010 USSSA World Series in the 18-Under A division. The daughter of Jayme and Jeff Eeman, she plans to major in pre-nursing or pre-medicine.
“Mara is a very solid defensive and offensive player,” Scarpello said. “She will bring an aggressive approach to the plate and on the base paths, and she has the ability to be consistent and powerful at the plate. She is very athletic to make all the routine plays in the outfield but also some spectacular plays as well.”
Lindsay Gilliland – OF – 5-4 – R/R – Upland, Calif. (Liberty)
Gilliland was a three-year starter in the outfield for the Liberty Blue Jays. Following her senior season, Gilliland was named second-team All-Conference and second-team All-District. She also earned a Gold Glove Award for her defensive play in the outfield. The Blue Jays won the district title and finished second in the conference that year. In her sophomore year, Liberty won the silver bracket of the Greater Kansas City Tournament. Gilliland earned All-Conference honorable mention following her first season as a starting outfielder. In her three years as a starter, Liberty compiled a 68-21 record.
Gilliland played her club ball with the Originals, and they won the Colorado Fireworks Tournament in 2010.
The daughter of Steve and Kelly Gilliland, Lindsay plans to major in business administration/sports marketing.
Tonya Peterson – IF – 5-6 – R/R – Omaha, Neb. (Westside)
Peterson will join the Mavs after being a four-year starter at Westside High School, where the Warriors won four straight district championships. As a freshman in 2007, Peterson helped WHS to a 24-11 record and a third-place finish at the state tournament. In her junior season, she set the school record for most doubles in a season en route to first-team all-state honors by the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. This fall, Peterson added another first-team All-Nebraska nod as well as second-team Super State accolades.
Additionally, Peterson has lettered in basketball and academics, having been a member of the honor roll all four years. In 2009, the Warriors qualified for the state basketball tournament. Peterson also was part of the Frozen Ropes Fury summer team that won the 2010 USSSA World Series in the 18-Under A division. The daughter of Dave and Patty Peterson, she plans to major in pre-medicine.
“Tonya's consistency is what is most impressive,” Scarpello said. “Not only is she consistent with the glove, she is able to hit quality pitching and drive in runs when the pressure is on. We look forward to having Tonya in the lineup to produce RBI, and she will prove to be a tough out at the collegiate level.”
Kiley Thalken – IF – 5-3 – R/R -- Bennington, Neb. (Bennington)
Thalken joins the Mavericks after her career at Bennington High School in Bennington, Neb., where she played for Coach Clay Tibke. In 2009, she tied for the Nebraska Class B record with three doubles in a game and also holds the state's Class B single-season mark with 17 doubles for the year. As a junior, Thalken earned all-state honorable mention accolades from the Omaha World-Herald.
Thalken plans to major in chemistry at UNO.
“Kiley is very athletic.” Scarpello said. “Not only does she have a strong arm but also quickness as a fielder and on the base paths. Kiley will be very valuable because of her versatility. Though small in stature, her bat can produce some pop to our lineup. She is a player who will keep getting better in her years at UNO.”
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
