Healy inks two in first recruiting class
November 18, 2010 | Softball
Nov. 18, 2010
MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin head coach Yvette Healy has unveiled her first recruiting class, signing two players for the 2012 season. Marissa Mersch of Downers Grove, Ill., and Jami Miller from Kirkwood Community College have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Wisconsin. The pair will enroll at UW next year and play softball for the Badgers beginning in the spring of 2012.
Mersch, a senior at Downers Grove South High School, joins UW with school records in batting average and hits. She hit for a .532 batting average and recorded 74 hits in 2010. This three-year varsity lead-off hitter is a lefty in batting and throwing. The senior also had 52 runs scored, 25 stolen bases, 20 doubles, and three home runs this past season.
"Wisconsin softball is proud to welcome one of the top left-handed hitters in the country, Marissa Mersch, to the Badger softball family," Healy said. "Marissa's power, speed, and competitiveness will make her one of the most exciting athletes in the Big Ten. Mersch is the type of elite Midwest athlete that will help propel Wisconsin softball to a national stage.
"We are fortunate that Marissa has had the opportunity to learn and grow under 2010 Illinois Coaches Association Coach of the year, Ron Havelka. Beyond Marissa's unique ability to hit home runs and steal bases, it is her commitment to family, community and academics that separates her from her peers."
For her career totals, Mersch has 181 hits, and only needs 68 more in the 2011 spring season to break the Illinois High School Association school record, and five to break her high school's career hit record. Mersch was a three-time honoree on the DuPage County All-Area team and the Suburban Life All-Area team. She also received West Suburban Gold All-Conference team accolades from 2008-2010.
In 2010, Mersch was named Most Valuable Player by both Suburban Life and the Downers Grove Bugle. She also was put on the Chicago Sun Times' top 100 players list and named to the Chicago Sun Times' All-Area team, after leading her team to the 2010 IHSA State Quarterfinals. In 2009, she was her high school team's MVP, and also nabbed second-team Chicago Tribune All -State team honors.
In the off-season, Mersch plays club for Beverly Bandits Gold. Off the diamond, she excels academically and is a four-year honor student.
Miller joins Wisconsin after starting her college career at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Miller hails from Genoa, Ill., where she attended Kingston High School.
"I'm thrilled to have Jami Miller join the Badger softball family," Healy said. "We love her power and speed. It's always fun to recruit athletes that can hit home runs and steal bases. Jami has proven herself to be an elite athlete in one of the best junior college programs in the country."
In her first season at Kirkwood, Miller was named to the first-team Region 11, first-team Midwest All-Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and a first-team NFCA All-American.
She put up impressive stats in her rookie season with the Eagles. In 61 games, Miller hit .469 with a .846 slugging percentage and a .594 on-base percentage. Of her 82 hits, 17 were doubles, five were triples and 13 were home runs.
Miller tallied 65 runs scored and drove in 74. She boasted a stern eye at the plate, drawing 19 walks to just 14 strikeouts. On the basepaths, Miller was a perfect 28-for-28 on her stolen base attempts.
The Wisconsin softball team opens the 2011 season on Feb. 17 with a game against Texas State in Austin, Texas, before taking part in the Texas Invitational against Texas, Colorado State, Missouri State and Oregon State.
