Softball announces 2020 signees

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin softball head coach Yvette Healy announced the 2020 signing class on Wednesday. The Badgers will welcome six new players to Madison, including Gabriela Altobelli, Peyton Bannon, Sylvia Flairty, Ava Justman, Gabrianna Salo and Skylar Sirdashney.

Gabriela Altobelli

Gabriela Altobelli and the RedHawks took 2019 Conference, Regional, Sectional, & Super-Sectional Championship titles at Marist High School. She was a 2019 ESCC All-Conference member and helped her team to a fourth-place finish at 4A State 2019 this year. The year prior, her team was regional champions in 2018.

Altobelli plays club ball for Illinois Chill and coach Gerry Quinn. Before that, she competed for the Beverly Bandits. With the Bandits, her team won the 2018 PGF Shootout Championship and was 2019 PFG 16U National Champions.

Healy on Altobelli: "Gabby is a left-handed power hitter from Chicago. She's a corner/catcher who can also run it down in the outfield. Her size, athleticism and speed make her a triple threat at the plate. She's a great teammate who cares about growing the game, helping those around her, and giving back in her community."

Peyton Bannon

One of the top infielders in the country, Peyton Bannon, is bringing her talents to Wisconsin. Last year, the Richmond, Illinois native and Richmond Burton Community High School won the KRVC championship and earned back-to-back regional championships in her freshman and sophomore years under coach Vicki Klopf. Bannon also plays club ball for Gerry Quinn's Illinois Chill team.

Her versatility has led to numerous accolades including being a three-year letter winner and earning all-conference and all-state honors. She's also been named the 2019 Kishwaukee River Valley Conference Player of the Year. She is ranked among Flo Softball's Hot 100 and Extra Inning Softball's Top 100 2020 Recruits.

Bannon is a talented dual-sport athlete, as she's a three-year letter winner in basketball, even earning all-conference and all-state honors. Also excelling in the classroom, Bannon is member of the Honor Roll and member of the National Honors Society.

Healy on Bannon: "Peyton is one the best all-around athletes that we've recruited to Wisconsin. Her tremendous range and arm-strength make her an ideal Big Ten short stop and centerfielder. Peyton is fast, agile, and savvy. She has the ability to hit for power and for average at the highest level. It's been fun watching Peyton develop over the years from a great defender, into one of the top middle infield prospects in the country!"

Sylvia Flairty

Sylvia Flairty is staying home. Last year, the Slinger, Wisconsin native and the Owls were regional champions and advanced to sectionals under coach Tanya Villarreal. Flairty also plays club ball for Kyle Knoblauch's BATS Academy Fastpitch team.

She's earned numerous honors including being a First Team All-Conference member, named to the All-District Team, Second Team All-State and Highest Team Average Award. As a sophomore she helped lead her high school team to a Sectional Championship and to the State Semifinals which would be the first time ever for Slinger to travel to the State Tournament. In July 2017, Flairty traveled to Europe with America's Team where she was coached by 3-time Olympic Gold medalist Leah Amico.

Flairty is a talented dual-sport athlete, as she's a letter winner in basketball. She's had an impact in the classroom as well being on the Honor Roll all throughout high school.

Healy on Flairty: "The state of Wisconsin is going to have a new hometown favorite when Sylvia steps on the field in Madison. Sylvia is strong, powerful, and passionate about representing the state. It's thrilling to have local talent that can hit with tremendous power and can throw 70 miles an hour. Get ready for four years of memorable walk-off home runs from Sylvia as she competes for the Badgers this fall."

Ava Justman

From Chatsworth, California, Ava Justman is a 5-foot-8 pitcher for Chatsworth Charter High School. Justman and her team were 2019 LA City CIF Semifinalists this year and won the 2018 LA City CIF championships in 2018 under coach John Forgerson. She is a three-time first-team All-League honoree, three-time All-City honoree, a 2019 All-City Pitcher of the Year, first-team All-Area in 2018-19 and first-team All-State underclass 2018-19.
Justman also plays club ball for Dean Fausett's SoCal Choppers.

Healy on Justman: "Ava is a tremendously talented left-handed pitcher from the SoCal Choppers. She can spin the ball, and gets swinging strikes on both sides of the plate. Her confidence and poise will help her make an immediate impact on the mound. Having a gifted left-handed pitcher is the perfect complement to our talented staff."

Gabrianna Salo

Gabrianna Salo and Escanaba High School, have won back-to-back Division Two State Championship titles in 2018 and 2019 under head coach and Salo's father, Gary Salo. Salo is a three-time All-District member, a three-time All-Region honoree and three-time All-State honoree. She's also been named the 2019 Total Sports Michigan High School Player of the Year, a 2019 First Team Max Prep All-American and a 2019 First Team ExtraInnings All-American.

Off the field, Salo is a letter winning member of the bowling team and is member of the Honor Roll and a member of the National Honors Society.

Salo also competed for the Michigan Finesse. She and the Finesse were JO Cup 16u Champions in 2017, took two Top 17 finishes at PGF Nationals in 2018 and 2019 and took a Top 15 finish at IDT Boulder Tournament in 2018. She now plays for the Louisville Lady Sluggers under coach Jim Huecker.

Salo is ranked 52 in Flo Softball's 2020 recruiting class.

Healy on Salo: "Gabi Salo will graduate high school as one of the most successful and highly decorated pitchers to every come from the state of Michigan. She's completive, hard-working and knows how to pound the zone and change speeds. Gabi's 'honey badger' mentality has helped her grow into an elite power five prospect on the mound. Her selfless and humble approach to the game, and life is a perfect fit with our Badger softball culture."

Skylar Sirdashney

Skylar Sirdashney is a 5-foot-11 catcher and third baseman from The Woodlands, Texas. Individually, she's earned numerous honors including being named to the Texas Sports Writers Association 6a All-State Team, the first-team All-County Conroe Courier team and first-team District 15-6a softball team all three years in a row. She was also named the 2019 District 15-6a Softball Defensive Player of the Year.

Sirdashney competed for the Scrapyard Internationals program, led by coach Todd Leach and had the opportunity to play internationally in Japan and Canada.

Off the field, she is a three-year Academic All-District honoree.

Healy on Sirdashney: "Skylar is a lanky, power hitter from Texas, with the ability to drive gaps, and run bases. Her elite arm-strength, and vocal leadership, and gritty approach to diving on defense match perfectly with our core values. Skylar is a versatile catcher/corner who bring energy and enthusiasm to field every time she plays."

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