Softball reveals 2024-25 signing class
Nov 13, 2024 | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. - Omaha softball had five student-athletes join the Mavericks' program on Wednesday, Nov. 13 and Thursday, Nov. 14 as part of National Signing Day. Arriving on campus in August 2025 will be Hailey Boltz, Berkley Hatten, Ellie Novitske, Caitlyn Semple and Bridget Whitney.
Four of the five newcomers hail from Nebraska.
"We are very excited about adding this group of student-athletes to our program," said head coach Mike Heard. "We feel this a well-rounded group with a lot versatility and ability to make some early contributions on the field. This is a group that will also do very well in the classroom and contribute off the field in our community. When we recruit, we look for players who will fit our program in many different ways and we feel good about this group checking all of those boxes."
Hailey Boltz
Hailey Boltz joins the Mavericks from Lincoln, Neb. where she attends Lincoln North Star. The 5-foot-9 pitcher/outfielder set her high school's single-season hits record with 66 and finished her interscholastic career with a batting average of .507. Boltz was twice named Athletic Player of the Year, earning the honor as a freshman and junior. Expected to major in Biology at Omaha, Boltz earned honor roll distinction at Lincoln North Star and enjoys reading and baking when away from the softball field.
Mike Heard on Boltz: "Hailey is an outstanding overall athlete who will complete for us both in the circle and in the outfield. Hailey has the physical ability to be high level at both positions. It will be fun to watch her develop in both areas. Offensively, she will hit for both average and power while also providing some legitimate speed on the bases. Hailey is an excellent student who fits our program in many different ways –– both on and off the field."
Berkley Hatten
A middle infielder, Berkley Hatten joins the Mavericks from Lincoln, Neb. after a stellar stint at Lincoln East. Finishing second among all players in the fall 2022 season in home runs according to MaxPreps (19), Hatten concluded her high school career with 59 home runs, a program record, and led the state in homers as a sophomore. A two-time student-athlete of the week, Hatten tied the state record of home runs in a game (3) three times. Hatten was named to the Lincoln Journal Star Second Team All-City twice, Omaha World-Herald Second Team All-State and Honorable Mention, in addition to the Nebraska All-Class Second Team.
Hatten's four-year batting average in high school was .403. She will study kinesiology at Omaha and earned honor roll status in six high school semesters, in addition to four HAC All-Conference Academic honors.
Mike Heard on Hatten: "Berkley is a strong, athletic middle infielder that we are excited to watch develop in our system. She has all the tools to be very good defensively. Offensively, Berkley will bring the ability to hit for both average and power at the plate. She is an excellent student and will fit into our culture well."
Ellie Novitske
Hailing from Pleasanton, Calif., Ellie Novitske attended Foothill High School where she was the defensive most valuable player in 2024. Playing shortstop and second base, Novitske EBAL All-Conference honors in 2023 and 2024, her sophomore and junior seasons. A team captain and four-year varsity starter, Novitske also played for the SoCal Athletics - Gumataotao. From a family of collegiate athletes, Novitske was named a Scholar-Athlete three times and boasted a grade point average of 4.0 or highers three-straight years (2022-24), qualifying her for Foothill's Principal's List.
Mike Heard on Novitske: "We are excited about what Ellie can bring to our team. Ellie is a versatile middle infielder who can play both shortstop and second. She has very quick feet and good hands that you always look for in a good infielder. Offensively, Ellie has the ability to be on base a lot and put pressure on a defense with her baserunning. Ellie plays with a toughness that coaches love to see. She is a great fit."
Caitlyn Semple
Omaha native Caitlyn Semple joins the Mavericks from Millard West where she was named to the Class A Second Team All-State last fall. An academic all-state honoree, Semple earned four varsity letters at Millard West and was the recipient of the Rick Gilbride Sportsmanship Award. An artist expected to major in engineering, Semple played club ball with Nebraska Gold and is an AP Scholar with Distinction.
Mike Heard on Semple: "Caitlyn is strong, athletic pitcher that we are excited to watch develop in our program. She is a strong character athlete with a work ethic that is contagious. Caitlyn also brings a good bat and will compete to be in our lineup offensively as well. She is a top-notch student and a tremendous teammate. She will be a valuable addition to our team."
Bridget Whitney
A multi-sport athlete, Bridget Whitney joins the Mavs from Yutan, Neb. where she attended Bishop Neumann, the alma mater of former Maverick Tara Trede. On the softball field, Whitney was named to the Lincoln Journal Star's First Team Class C All-State and the Omaha World-Herald's Second Team Class C All-State in 2023. The catcher was also named to the All-Area First Team last season. In 2022, both the Journal Star and World-Herald named her an Honorable Mention. An accomplished basketball player, Whitney earned multiple state and city honors on the hardwood.
Mike Heard on Whitney: "Bridget was a late addition to our 2025 class, and we were thrilled to get her. Physically, she is a big, strong athlete who plays multiple sports. Behind the plate she receives the ball well, moves well and has a strong arm. Offensively, we believe she will bring some power to our lineup in the future. Bridget plays with passion and energy. She will be a great addition to our team."
Connect with Omaha softball on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, @OmahaSB.
Four of the five newcomers hail from Nebraska.
"We are very excited about adding this group of student-athletes to our program," said head coach Mike Heard. "We feel this a well-rounded group with a lot versatility and ability to make some early contributions on the field. This is a group that will also do very well in the classroom and contribute off the field in our community. When we recruit, we look for players who will fit our program in many different ways and we feel good about this group checking all of those boxes."
Hailey Boltz
Hailey Boltz joins the Mavericks from Lincoln, Neb. where she attends Lincoln North Star. The 5-foot-9 pitcher/outfielder set her high school's single-season hits record with 66 and finished her interscholastic career with a batting average of .507. Boltz was twice named Athletic Player of the Year, earning the honor as a freshman and junior. Expected to major in Biology at Omaha, Boltz earned honor roll distinction at Lincoln North Star and enjoys reading and baking when away from the softball field.
Mike Heard on Boltz: "Hailey is an outstanding overall athlete who will complete for us both in the circle and in the outfield. Hailey has the physical ability to be high level at both positions. It will be fun to watch her develop in both areas. Offensively, she will hit for both average and power while also providing some legitimate speed on the bases. Hailey is an excellent student who fits our program in many different ways –– both on and off the field."
Berkley Hatten
A middle infielder, Berkley Hatten joins the Mavericks from Lincoln, Neb. after a stellar stint at Lincoln East. Finishing second among all players in the fall 2022 season in home runs according to MaxPreps (19), Hatten concluded her high school career with 59 home runs, a program record, and led the state in homers as a sophomore. A two-time student-athlete of the week, Hatten tied the state record of home runs in a game (3) three times. Hatten was named to the Lincoln Journal Star Second Team All-City twice, Omaha World-Herald Second Team All-State and Honorable Mention, in addition to the Nebraska All-Class Second Team.
Hatten's four-year batting average in high school was .403. She will study kinesiology at Omaha and earned honor roll status in six high school semesters, in addition to four HAC All-Conference Academic honors.
Mike Heard on Hatten: "Berkley is a strong, athletic middle infielder that we are excited to watch develop in our system. She has all the tools to be very good defensively. Offensively, Berkley will bring the ability to hit for both average and power at the plate. She is an excellent student and will fit into our culture well."
Ellie Novitske
Hailing from Pleasanton, Calif., Ellie Novitske attended Foothill High School where she was the defensive most valuable player in 2024. Playing shortstop and second base, Novitske EBAL All-Conference honors in 2023 and 2024, her sophomore and junior seasons. A team captain and four-year varsity starter, Novitske also played for the SoCal Athletics - Gumataotao. From a family of collegiate athletes, Novitske was named a Scholar-Athlete three times and boasted a grade point average of 4.0 or highers three-straight years (2022-24), qualifying her for Foothill's Principal's List.
Mike Heard on Novitske: "We are excited about what Ellie can bring to our team. Ellie is a versatile middle infielder who can play both shortstop and second. She has very quick feet and good hands that you always look for in a good infielder. Offensively, Ellie has the ability to be on base a lot and put pressure on a defense with her baserunning. Ellie plays with a toughness that coaches love to see. She is a great fit."
Caitlyn Semple
Omaha native Caitlyn Semple joins the Mavericks from Millard West where she was named to the Class A Second Team All-State last fall. An academic all-state honoree, Semple earned four varsity letters at Millard West and was the recipient of the Rick Gilbride Sportsmanship Award. An artist expected to major in engineering, Semple played club ball with Nebraska Gold and is an AP Scholar with Distinction.
Mike Heard on Semple: "Caitlyn is strong, athletic pitcher that we are excited to watch develop in our program. She is a strong character athlete with a work ethic that is contagious. Caitlyn also brings a good bat and will compete to be in our lineup offensively as well. She is a top-notch student and a tremendous teammate. She will be a valuable addition to our team."
Bridget Whitney
A multi-sport athlete, Bridget Whitney joins the Mavs from Yutan, Neb. where she attended Bishop Neumann, the alma mater of former Maverick Tara Trede. On the softball field, Whitney was named to the Lincoln Journal Star's First Team Class C All-State and the Omaha World-Herald's Second Team Class C All-State in 2023. The catcher was also named to the All-Area First Team last season. In 2022, both the Journal Star and World-Herald named her an Honorable Mention. An accomplished basketball player, Whitney earned multiple state and city honors on the hardwood.
Mike Heard on Whitney: "Bridget was a late addition to our 2025 class, and we were thrilled to get her. Physically, she is a big, strong athlete who plays multiple sports. Behind the plate she receives the ball well, moves well and has a strong arm. Offensively, we believe she will bring some power to our lineup in the future. Bridget plays with passion and energy. She will be a great addition to our team."
Connect with Omaha softball on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, @OmahaSB.
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