BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team has added four players that are set to join the program for the 2019 season.
The incoming recruiting class includes two infielders, one catcher and one pitcher/infielder. The Vikings return a majority of their roster from the 2018 season, with only two players departing due to graduation. The program is currently in search of the next head coach after Amy Suiter stepped down from her position following her eighth season at the helm of the program.
SELI AHOLELEI Honolulu, HI (Edmonds Community College)
Two-time Northwest Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference selection and 2018 NWAC North Pitcher of the Year at Edmonds Community College…named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Junior College All-American pitcher in 2017 and 2018…four-time NWAC Player of the Week…named the 2018 Triton Athletics Female Athlete of the Year…combined to go 43-8 with a 3.27 ERA and 334 strikeouts in 63 career pitching appearances (41 starts) at ECC…during sophomore season in 2018 went 27-4, 3.18 ERA with 233 strikeouts…also hit .510 (147-for-288) with 27 doubles, 6 triples and 34 home runs at Edmonds…finished her career as the program leader in home runs (34), hits (147), RBI (130), runs scored (139), batting average (.510), pitching wins (43), strikeouts (334) and no-hitters (4).
BROOKE FESENBEK Olympia, WA (Olympia High School)
Power-hitting third baseman out of Olympia High School…named First Team 4A South Puget Sound League as a junior and senior…team captain and team MVP during senior season…earned Second Team Narrows League 4A selection as a sophomore…played club softball for PNW FORCE out of Olympia.
SAM MUTOLO Bothell, WA (Jackson High School)
Standout prep career at Jackson High School helping her team to the 2018 WIAA 4A state championship and four District 1 championships…four-year varsity starter…over final two years of high school career batted .413 (57-for-138) with 21 doubles, 4 triples, 6 home runs and 42 RBI…named First Team All-WesCo 4A as a senior, a second-team selection as a sophomore and junior and honorable mention as a freshman…honorable mention All-State selection in 2018 by the Washington State Softball Coaches Association…also a top-level bowler at the prep level finishing 20th at the state championships as a senior.
CIARA ORTIZ Edmonds, WA (Edmonds-Woodway High School)
Speedy infielder that was named Second Team 3A All-State as a senior in 2018…helped lead Edmonds-Woodway High School to a 16-10 record in 2018 and a spot in the WIAA 3A State Softball Tournament…named First Team WesCo 3A South as a junior and senior…team captain as a junior and senior…member of the National Honor Society.
The Vikings are scheduled to open the 2019 season Feb. 1-3 with five games in the 10th Annual Desert Stinger tournament at Majestic Park in Las Vegas, Nevada. WWU’s home debut will be a four-game GNAC series hosting Montana State Billings March 2-3 at Viking Field, with doubleheaders each day starting at noon. The tentative 2019 schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/Softball.
