Nov. 29, 2011
Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook softball team and head coach Megan Bryant have signed five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, as announced Tuesday. Patty Borges, Melissa Phelan, Allie Pisciotta, Jane Sallen and Kat Zabielski will join the Seawolves in the fall of 2012.
"We are excited that Patty, Melissa, Allie, Jane and Kat have decided to join us here at Stony Brook," Bryant said. "This class brings together outstanding young women who are a great match for Stony Brook academically, athletically and personally. They are committed to excellence in the classroom and on the playing field and will be great ambassadors for the university and Stony Brook Athletics."
Patty Borges will join the team from Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton, Mass., where she hit .478 with six home runs and 36 RBI as a junior. Borges scored a school-record 41 runs and helped lead the team to a 19-5 record in 2011. A native of neighboring Berkley, Mass., Borges owns a .783 career slugging percentage and was named 2011 Taunton Gazette Player of the Year. Borges, who also plays travel ball for the Rhode Island Thunder and head coach Dave Lotti, has been a first team All-Scholastic recipient in each of the last two seasons.
"Patty is a well-rounded player with a solid glove, great skills and a big bat," Bryant explained. "She is a smart, intuitive player and a competitor. We look for Patty to contribute immediately to our infield at either second base or third base and be a very productive hitter who can drive in runs."
A native of Saddle Brook, N.J., Melissa Phelan will also add an explosive bat to the Seawolves lineup. As a junior in 2011, Phelan helped lead Saddle Brook High School to a 21-9 record, while hitting .521 with nine home runs and 38 RBI as a catcher and infielder. She was named first team All-League and All-County and second team All-State. A multi-sport athlete, Phelan also starred in soccer and basketball and plays travel softball for the NJ Pride Gold and head coach Rob Stern.
"Melissa is an excellent all-around athlete with great power potential as a hitter and a gritty, hard-nosed style of play," Bryant said. "I believe her game will really develop once she has a chance to concentrate on softball year round. Melissa will help us out behind the plate and as one of the corners of our infield and will be a welcome addition to the middle of our lineup."
A standout catcher/infielder from New Hyde Park, N.Y., Allie Pisciotta will join the Seawolves after graduating from Kellenberg Memorial High School. As a junior, Pisciotta hit .474 and threw out 83% of runners trying to steal. In 2011, Pisciotta led Kellenberg to a 24-4 record, including a perfect 20-0 mark in league play, and was named CHSAA Player of the Year, third team All-State and team MVP. Pisciotta also plays travel ball for Team Long Island Elite and head coach Angel Manguel.
"Allie receives and throws very well and can swing the bat," Bryant said. "She is smart behind the plate and does a nice job working with pitchers. The fact that she has a good glove and can contribute in the infield is a real plus. Allie expects to win every time she takes the field and that is a quality we want in our players."
A left-handed pitcher from Lake Worth, Fla., Jane Sallen will bring a talented arm to the Seawolves rotation. In 2011, Sallen helped Grandview High School to the Florida 1A title game and allowed only one earned run with 29 strikeouts in the tournament. During the regular season, Sallen was 15-1 and posted a 0.92 ERA with 139 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched. Sallen also batted .519 as a junior and was named the 2010 and '11 Sun Sentinel 1A-2A-3A Player of the Year. In addition to high school ball, Sallen plays travel ball for the Lady Gators Gold and head coach Jim Stump.
"Jane has all the tools to develop into a dominant pitcher in the America East," Bryant admitted. "She is strong, throws hard with a good change of speeds and we love the fact that she is a lefty. Jane brings a real presence and physical and mental toughness to the circle. Her upside and desire to be the best is what really drew us to Jane."
The fifth player to join the Seawolves will be local talent Kat Zabielski of Farmingdale High School. In 2011, Zabielski helped Farmingdale to the 2011 Long Island Championship, batting in both runs in a 2-0 win over previously undefeated Bay Shore. As a junior, Zabielski hit .463 with 33 RBI and anchored the infield at shortstop. A three-time All-Nassau County selection, Zabielski also plays travel ball for the Long Island Express Gold and coach Ken Passante.
"Kat is a smart, hard-working player with excellent skills around the bag at first base," Bryant explained. "She will be one of those first basemen who can really anchor the infield and who makes our fielders look even better. Kat has shown the ability to drive in runs in clutch situations and is good under pressure.
"This class fills some real needs we have with our team going forward in terms of offense, defense and pitching. It will be exciting to see Patty, Melissa, Allie, Jane and Kat wearing red and we look forward to welcoming our newest student-athletes and their families to campus in the fall."
