With the start of the 2015 season drawing near, Florida Tech head softball coach Val Silvestrini announced the signing of four new players on Friday that will don the Crimson and Gray. (FIT image )
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – With the start of the 2015 season drawing near, Florida Tech head softball coach Val Silvestrini announced the signing of four new players on Friday that will don the Crimson and Gray.
The newest members of the Panther squad will enroll next year at FIT and join the team for the 2016 season.
“We have a big group graduating this year that has been a very important part of our program for the last two to four years,”said head coach Val Silvestrini.
Val Silvestrini
“I feel confident that the new recruiting class will contribute right away and help our program continue to grow.”
“I’m really happy with our 2015 signing class,” said Silvestrini.
This year’s class features a pair of Illinois natives, a player from Florida’s Gulf Coast and a local product from Palm Bay.
Panthers open up with Webber International on Feb. 1. First pitch set for 12 p.m.
BELOW: Player bios on each of the new signees
McKenzie Krutsinger
McKenzie Krutsinger
P, 5-6
Unity HS (Sidney, Ill.)
Aviation Management
A starting pitcher since her freshman year at Unity High School, McKenzie Krutsinger has maintained a 2.10 ERA through her high school career.
Having pitched a total of 382 innings through her first three years, she has tallied 428 strikeouts while allowing just 83 walks and surrendering an opponent batting average of .212.
Krutsinger is no slouch at the plate either, having batted .425 with 10 home runs, eight triples and 38 doubles.
She has helped lead her team to three-straight regional championship games and two 20-win seasons. Krutsinger has been named team MVP all three years of high school and was an all-area first team selection as a junior.
What Coach Silvestrini is saying: “McKenzie is a multi-sport athlete so you know she possesses tremendous athleticism. She is very smart pitcher that I look forward to having on our pitching staff.”
Amanda Rak
Amanda Rak
P/1B, 5-7
Lakewood Ranch HS (Sarasota, Fla.)
Accounting
A three-time letterwinner as a pitcher and first baseman at Lakewood Ranch High School, Amanda Rak posted a 1.20 earned run average in 2014 with 106 strikeouts.
During her junior campaign, she registered a pair of 12-strikeout games. Rak has helped lead her team to five district championships, while playing a big role in her team winning the region title and advancing to the state quarterfinals in 2012 and 2013.
She was named to the HTPreps All-Area Team three-consecutive years and was the HTPreps Player of the Week for the week of April 29, 2013.
Rak was the Lakewood Ranch Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and the team MVP in 2014.
What Coach Silvestrini is saying: “Amanda is a very competitive pitcher. She has great spin on the ball and is very aggressive. She will be a valuable addition to our rotation.”
Lexi Smith
Lexi Smith
C/UT, 5-7
Bayside HS (Lorain, Ohio)
Biological Sciences/Pre-Med.
A two-time letterwinner as a utility player at Bayside High School in Palm Bay, Lexi Smith was the team MVP in 2013 and was also an All-Space Coast Conference Second Team selection in 2013.
She helped lead the Bears to a district championship in 2014.
Additionally, Smith played for four years with the Orlando Aftershock club team.
What Coach Silvestrini is saying: “Lexi is a utility player from Brevard County. I had the pleasure to work with her since her freshman year of high school at our camps and she has shown tremendous improvement every year. She is a line drive hitter and I’ve seen her hit several home runs during the summer. I’m looking forward to having her within our program.”
A three-year player at first base at Benet Academy, Emily York recorded a batting average of .509 during her junior season with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. She registered an on-base-percentage of .562, a slugging percentage of .871 and an OPS of 1.432. York garnered a Third Team All-State nod from the Illinois Coaches Association in 2014. She helped lead her team to a regional championship in 2013 and conference championships in 2012 and 2013. A nine-year player for Bulls Sox Academy at the club level, York helped the team to the 2014 Chicago Metro championship and a bid to the Premier Girls Fastpitch Nationals in 2014.
What Coach Silvestrini is saying: “Emily is a corner player with a big stick. She is a very powerful athlete with a great knowledge of the game. She impressed me this past summer winning the home run competition at camp.”
