IUP softball head coach Ali Ferrari has announced the signing of four newcomers for the 2009 season.

The foursome includes catcher/second baseman Jessie James (Hatboro-Horsham), utility player Megan McCormick (Seneca Valley), pitcher/first baseman Jenna Proffitt (Manheim Central) and first baseman/third baseman Jaime Weckesser (Archbishop Carroll).

“We are really excited about this year’s recruiting class.  We have added four outstanding student-athletes to our team for the 2009 campaign,” said Ferrari.  “All of these young ladies come from strong softball backgrounds.  Each of them plays with strong high school and ASA programs.  We feel they add several key dimensions to our roster.”

James has a career .337 batting average and .501 on-base percentage while stealing 16 bases as the leadoff hitter over her first three seasons at Hatboro-Horsham High School.  She was named to the Suburban One all-league second team as a catcher in 2005 and honorable mention in 2004.

She helped lead Hatboro-Horsham to second place in the PIAA Class 4A state tournament in 2006 and a third place finish last spring.  James also played on summer travel teams that finished as high as second at the ASA World Series in 2001 and ninth in 2002 as well as two state titles.

James also plays field hockey and basketball and is a member of the distinguished honor roll.  She plans on majoring in nursing at IUP.

“I have had the opportunity to see Jessie play quite a bit.  She has great fundamentals and is a very skilled athlete,” said Ferrari.  “Her dedication really came through with the hard work she has put in to come back strong from ACL surgery last year.  She is quickly regaining all of her mobility behind the plate to go along with her strong throwing arm.”

McCormick is in her fourth season on the softball team at Seneca Valley high School and is coming off a junior season in which she batted .412 and earned a spot on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Quad A all-section team.

With McCormick helping to lead the way, Seneca Valley won a section title and was the WPIAL runners-up in 2007.  Her Pittsburgh Patriots ASA team were the 2007 state champions and qualified for nationals the past two years and McCormick had a batting average of .395 over that span.

McCormick plans on majoring in health and physical education at IUP.

“Megan is a tremendous player with a lot of versatility.  She is a true power hitter who will make an impact at the plate,” said Ferrari.  “She is capable of playing multiple positions well.  I have watched Megan play for the last few years, and now I am excited to have the opportunity to coach her.”

Through three seasons at Manheim Central High School, Proffitt has a 27-13 pitching record, including 11 shutouts, 251 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.81.  At the plate, she has a career batting average of .315 with eight doubles, 11 triples and 44 RBIs.

She was selected the team’s Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2005, Most Improved Player as a sophomore and co-MVP after her junior season last spring.  Proffitt was named to the Class 3A all-state first team as a designated player (pitcher and first base) her junior year after breaking the school single season strikeout record with 135.

Proffit was also all-league second team in 2006 and honorable mention in 2005.  She has played with the Delco Diamonds ASA team the past three years and has 21 wins with a 1.71 ERA and 168 strikeouts while also batting .320 with 35 RBIs.  Her team finished third at the state tournament in 2007.

An honor roll student, Proffitt plans on majoring in health and physical education at IUP.

“Jenna is a very strong and athletic player.  I have seen her pitch throughout the past year and have seen her get stronger each time,” said Ferrari.  “She is an outstanding pitcher who will continue to develop and is also a powerful hitter.”

Weckesser batted .403 with three doubles, two triples, two homers and 27 RBIs while posting a 15-5 record, 1.30 ERA and 142 strikeouts her junior season at Archbishop Carroll High School.  She was named the team’s MVP and made her third consecutive appearance on the Philadelphia All-Catholic League team.

Her high school team has qualified for the postseason in each of her three seasons while she has also played on summer teams that have reached the national tournament in each of the past six years, most recently with the Blazing Angels Gold. 

Weckesser also played on a pair of Catholic League championship field hockey teams and was a member of the basketball team.  In the classroom, she was on the honor roll every quarter, twice received the perfect attendance award and was in the Student Ambassadors and Community Service Corps.  She plans on majoring in biology at IUP.

“Jaime is a strong athlete who has excelled in multiple sports in high school,” said Ferrari.  “She is an outstanding hitter who will be an asset to our lineup.  Her success in the classroom makes her a terrific all-around student-athlete who will be a great addition to our team and to IUP.”

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