April 16, 2002
LAS VEGAS - UNLV softball head coach Shan McDonald has signed four high school seniors to National Letters of Intent, it was announced on Tuesday.
Northern California products Joanna Jackson and Erin Sigala are the latest players to sign with the Rebels. The pair joins Britney Hillyer of Eagle Point, Ore., and Carly Petracco of Boca Raton, Fla., who committed during the early signing period last fall.
Hillyer, a 5-3 catcher at North Medford High School, is a smart and well-rounded athlete. In addition to an accomplished career in summer ball, Hillyer was selected both team captain and first team all-conference for the Black Tornado.
"Brittney has a real passion for the game," McDonald said. "She's competitive, very coachable and willing to learn, and that will make her a real asset for us in the coming years."
Jackson, a San Jose, Calif., native, is a versatile athlete who can play almost anywhere on the field. A three-year starter at shortstop at Santa Teresa High School, she has seven years' summer experience. Her current team, the Salinas Valley Wildcats, is also the same club team as fellow signee Erin Sigala.
"Joanna is versatile, fast and has real good game sense," McDonald said. "She should be a good threat on the bases and her defense is going to upgrade us one more step."
Petracco is also a catcher and signed with UNLV last fall. A two-sport star at Olympic Heights High School, she earned all-state, all-county and all-conference honors last season. She has spent two summers playing with the Miami Stingrays.
"Carly is also pretty versatile, although she's primarily a catcher and will see time behind the plate next year," McDonald said. "She's a good student of the game and a hard worker and should develop into a solid all-around player for us."
Perhaps the biggest catch of this year's class is Sigala. Touted as one of the top pitchers in the West and perhaps in the country, the Salinas, Calif., fireballer opened the 2002 season with a 54-inning scoreless streak and has led Notre Dame High School to an undefeated record in the Monterey Bay League this year.
"Erin is among of the top of the class of pitchers in the country," McDonald said. "She'll bring some dominance in the circle and will add a dependable bat."
An overpowering strikeout pitcher, Sigala was the Monterey Bay League MVP and was twice chosen first team all-state. She has fanned more than 500 batters in her high school career, highlighted by a 19-strikeout game earlier this year.
