Washington University in St. Louis Softball Announces Class of 2015
St. Louis, Mo., May 31, 2011 – Washington University in St. Louis head softball coach Leticia Pineda-Boutté announced that five student-athletes will join the Bears’ program as freshmen for the 2012 season.
The five players hail from five different states: Nicole Bell, Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West), Paige Biles, House Springs, Mo. (Eureka), Sydney Caldwell, Decatur, Ill. (MacArthur), Jennifer Purisch, North Potomac, Md. (Thomas S. Wooton) and Alyssa Wilson, Hurst, Texas (Birdville).
“We are extremely excited about this recruiting class. They are going to add speed and depth to key positions,” said Pineda-Boutté, who is 193-65-1 (.747) in six seasons on the Danforth Campus. “Their work ethic and dedication to improving their game is a great asset and will be a good fit for the program”
The Washington University softball team completed the 2011 season with a 32-12-1 overall record, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the 10th-straight year. The Bears also placed second in the University Athletic Association (UAA) with a 6-2 mark.
Complete biographies are listed below:
NICOLE BELL
Infielder • 5-3 • Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner in softball at Blue Valley West High School … Team captain … Batted .344 as a sophomore and .375 as a junior … Three-time all-conference … Two-year state qualifier in softball … 2008 Eastern Kansas League champions … 2011 Kansas State Scholar … Four-year Principal’s Honor Roll … AP Scholar … National Honor Society … PERSONAL: Born 6-17-93 … Enrolled in College of Arts & Sciences … Daughter of Jerry and Debbie Bell.
PAIGE BILES
Infielder • 5-7 • House Springs, Mo. (Eureka)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year letterwinner in softball and four-year letterwinner in track and field at Eureka High School … Hit a career-best .308 as a junior … Career .289 hitter with 23 stolen bases … 2008 Rookie of the Year, 2009 Most Improved Player and 2010 Wildcat Award … Holds the school record in the 4x100 meter relay (48.81) and 300-meter hurdles (45.73) … Three-time all-conference … 2010 First-Team Academic All-State … National Merit Commended Scholar … Board of Education Award of Outstanding Achievement … Math Student of the Year … Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Gold Standard of Excellence … St. Louis Post Dispatch Scholar Athlete … National Honor Society … AP Scholar … PERSONAL: Born 2-13-93 … Enrolled in College of Arts & Sciences … Daughter of Don and Pam Biles.
SYDNEY CALDWELL
Infielder • 5-6 • Decatur, Ill. (MacArthur)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner in softball at MacArthur High School … Two-time team captain … Batted .455 with 30 RBIs as a senior … Career .402 hitter … 2010 IHSA Regional champions … Three-time all-conference … 2011 All-Area first-team … National Achievement Scholarship recipient … Presidential Scholar and Illinois State Scholar … Big 12 Conference Scholar-Athlete … National Honor Society … Valedictorian of senior class … PERSONAL: Born 3-3-93 … Enrolled in College of Arts & Sciences … Daughter of Sean Caldwell and Lauri Young.
JENNIFER PURISCH
Catcher/Outfielder • 5-6 • North Potomac, Md. (Thomas S. Wootton)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner in softball at Thomas S. Wootton High School … Team captain … Batted .368 as a senior … 2011 Montgomery County Senior All-Star Team … 2010 and 2011 Player to Watch … National Honor Society … Maryland Distinguished Scholar … Honor Roll … PERSONAL: Born 6-19-93 … Majoring in biology … Daughter of Mark and Karen Purisch … Uncle Jay Teitelbaum was member of 1975 Little League World Series championship team from Lakewood, N.J.
ALYSSA WILSON
Infielder • 5-5 • Hurst, Texas (Birdville)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner in softball at Birdville High School … Team captain … Batted .398 as a senior and .409 as a junior … Two-time first-team all-district … Two-year Golden Glove recipient … AP Scholar with honors … Four-year Academic All-District … PERSONAL: Born 10-21-92 … Majoring in biomedical engineering … Daughter of James and Melinda Wilson … Brother ran track for one year at the United States Naval Academy.