Dec. 22, 2008

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Marist interim softball coach Joe Ausanio announced Lauren Napoli signed a national letter of intent to join the Red Foxes' softball team for the fall 2009 semester. The 5-foot-3-inch outfielder plays for Guilderland High School and the TC Tremors Gold Travel team.

Napoli has played three seasons of varsity soccer and softball for Guilderland High School. During the 2007 season she batted .410, maintained a slugging percentage of .585 and stole 14 bases over 17 games; she led the team in all the aforementioned categories. The Schenectady, N.Y., native was named to the New York Section II Preseason Dream Team by the Troy Record in 2008. In 2007 she was named a Section II New York First Team ll-star, and was named a Second Team All-Area all-star by the Albany Times Union. Academically, she was named the Guilderland High School scholar athlete and is a regular member of the high honor roll.

"We are very excited to have a player with Lauren's ability join our program," Ausanio said. "I have had the opportunity to watch her play for many years and she will be an impact player during her career at Marist."

The softball team will begin the 2009 season on Feb. 27 against Vermont and Costal Carolina as a part of the Jacksonville Tournament. Marist will look to reach their fourth straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament which will be held in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on the weekend of May 7-9.