Softball Adds Six for 2013 Campaign

Harvard looks for its third straight Ivy title in 2013 (Kevin Burns).

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The two-time defending Ivy League champion Harvard softball team will bolster its 2013 roster with six incoming freshmen, head coach Jenny Allard announced Wednesday. The incoming sextet represents six different states.

“We are thrilled to welcome this talented group into the softball program,” said Allard of the class of 2016. “They will help us continue our strong tradition of competitive excellence in the program.”

The Crimson captured its second straight Ivy League title last season, sweeping Penn in the Ivy Championship Series, held at Soldiers Field for the second year in a row. Harvard went on to make history at the NCAA Seattle Regional, posting a 2-2 record on the weekend and reaching the regional final for the first time in program history. Harvard graduates five seniors from last season, including Ivy Player of the Year Jane Alexander and two-time Ivy Pitcher of the Year, but looks towards its incoming class to fuel another Ivy title run.

Here is a look at the incoming freshman class:

Haley Davis – Infield/Outfield – Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Trabuco Hills
Played shortstop and outfield all four years at Trabuco Hills High School ... Varsity softball captain in 2012 ... 2011 high school softball offensive MVP ... Named 2011 South Coast League all-league second team ... 2009 high school softball defensive MVP ... Helped her team become Sea View League champions in 2010 ... Made it to the third round of CIF in 2009 and to the second round of CIF in 2010 ... Also captained American Athletics 18U Gold in 2011 and 2012 ... Made the Principal’s Honor Roll all four years of high school ... National Honor Society member (2010-12) ... Named Distinguished Mustang in 2011 and Academic Top 20 in 2009 ... Volunteer at Saddleback Church (2009-12) and at Saddleback Food Bank (2010-12) ... Volunteer coach for youth softball players (2011-12) ... Also enjoys hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding.

Zoe Galindo – Outfield – Las Vegas, Nev./Valley
Played softball all four years at Valley High School … Captain of the softball team in 2012 … Named first team all-division, scholar athlete, and all-state academic team all four years of high school … Awarded softball team MVP for three seasons … Selected as softball team Rookie of the Year in 2009 … Helped softball team go undefeated to Northeast Division champship in 2009 … Received district-wide honors as Female Athlete of the Year … Also played two years of varsity volleyball at Valley … Captain of the volleyball team in 2011 … Named second team all-division, all-state academic team, Academic Athlete of the Year, and a Scholar Athlete … Graduated salutatorian with International Baccalaureate diploma … Member of National Honor Society 2010-12 … Member of the IB council for three years and vice president senior year … Member of the tutor club from 2011-12 … Also enjoys scrapbooking, photography, crafting, volleyball, boating, traveling, writing and the beach.

Morgan Groom – Pitcher/Infield – Lowell, Mich./Lowell
Lettered in softball all four years at Lowell High School … Captain of the softball team in 2012 … Earned all-conference, all-district, all-region, and team MVP from 2010-2012 … Named all-state first team in 2012 … Received all-state honorable mention in 2011 … Named a WZZM and Meijer Scholar Athlete of the Week … A Michigan Miss Softball runner-up division I nominee … Holds Lowell softball records for season Earned Run Average (ERA), career ERA, single season strikeouts, opponents runs scored and opponents runs earned … Also played varsity golf for three years at Lowell … Captain of the golf team in 2012 … Named Lowell High School Female Athlete of the Year 2012 … Also named an MHSAA Scholar Athlete, OK White Conference Scholar Athlete and Detroit Free Press Scholar Athlete … Member of National Honor Society for two years … Three year member of the Lady Arrows Varsity Club … Volunteer at softball clinics … Also enjoys traveling and hiking.

Rachel Halperin – Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale
Started all four years as a catcher at Scarsdale High School ... Captained the softball team in 2012 ... Named NY Section 1 AA all-league all four years ... Named NY Section 1 AA all-section in 2011 and 2012 and honorable mention all-section in 2010 ... Earned the 2012 softball MVP award ... Hit four homeruns in four consecutive at bats in 2012 varsity season ... Also a varsity swimmer for three years ... Member of Signifer Honor Society in 2012 ... President of the Tri-M Music Honor society in 2011 and 2012 ... Selected for area all-state chorus (2009-11) ... Soloist on Italy performance trip (2011) and Buenos Aires performance trip (2009) ... Student government secretary (2010-12) ... Mother, Sherry Halperin, and Aunt, Stacey Mandelbaum, attended Harvard ... Also enjoys singing.

Jamie Halula – Pitcher/Outfield – Key Biscane, Fla./Ransom Everglades
Played varsity softball all four years at Ransom Everglades ... Co-captain of high school softball team in 2012 ... Led team to 2012 Class 4A-15 district championship and 2012 Class 4A-4 regional semifinal ... Helped the Ransom Everglades softball team make Class 3A-4 regional quarterfinal from 2009-11 ... Named Ransom Everglades varsity softball MVP in 2011 and 2012 ... Awarded the Ransom Everglades Female Scholar Athlete of the Year 2012 ... Given the Ransom Everglades Outstanding Female Athletic Performance Award 2011 ... Won the varsity softball Outstanding Defensive Player award in 2009 and 2010 ... Southeast Florida high school strikeout leader in 2011 and 2012 ...  Holds Ransom Everglades’ single season and career strikeout records ... Played five years with Miami Stingrays travel teams ... Won USSSA 2011 16A state championship and runner-up in 2011 Colorado Fireworks Invitational Power Pool tournament ... Named Miami Herald Female Scholar Athlete of the Year 2012 ... Named Miami Herald All-Dade County first team in 2011 and 2012 and second team in 2010 ... An ESPN Rise Top Performer in Kissimmee Klassic gold bracket in 2011 ... Named Miracle Sports All-State second team in 2011 ... Graduated Cum Laude from Ransom Everglades ... Earned Dean’s Academic and Effort Honor Roll all four years of high school ... Member of National Honor Society ... A National Merit Commended Student and an AP Scholar with Distinction ...  Member of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society ... Achieved the 2012 John Phillip Sousa Award for Superior Musicianship and Outstanding Dedication ... Selected for Florida Music Educators All-State Honor Band in 2012 ... Also selected for the University of Miami South Florida Honor Band in 2010 and 2012 ... Member of the Symphonettes, a student organization dedicated to the supporting and awareness of the arts, and acted as corresponding secretary (2011) and member of the executive board (2011-12) ... Part of the Key Club (2009-12) and treasurer for two years ... Volunteer pitching instructor for Howard-Palmetto Recreational League for two years ... Grandfather, John Allan Pond ’58, graduated from Harvard Business School.

Alyssa Siegmann – Infield/Outfield – Norfolk, Mass/King Philip Regional
Played varsity softball all four years at King Philip Regional High School ... Captain of the softball team in 2012 ... MA D1 state champions in 2010 and 2011 ... MA D1 south sectional champions in 2010 and 2011 ... Won Hockomock League championship four times, achieving four consecutive undefeated league records ... Earned Hockomock League Scholar Athlete award in 2012 ... Received the 2012 King Philip High School Outstanding Senior Female Athlete Award ... Named a Hockomock League All-Star in 2011 ... A Sun Chronicle All-Star in 2011 ... Also played four years of varsity hockey as a goalie at King Philip Regional ... Captained ice hockey team in 2011 and 2012 ... Named team MVP and Sun Chronicle Ice Hockey All-Star in 2012 ... Made the SEMGHL North All-Star team in 2011 and 2012 ... Earned the Team Academic Award in 2011 ... Named most improved player in 2010 ... Made the Cougar Classic All-Tournament team in 2010 ... Played two years of varsity soccer at King Philip Regional ... Class valedictorian ... Earned the Principal’s Service Award in 2012 ... Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Academic Excellence Award recipient in 2012 ... Member of the National Honor Society (2011-12) and the History National Honor Society (2011) ... Earned the Silver Award in girl scouting ... Elected class secretary from 2010-12 ... Member of the Leo Club and math team for four years ... Achieved Excellence in Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering in 2012 ... Selected for Bausch and Lomb Excellence in Science Award in 2011 ... Received Excellence in Excel and PowerPoint in 2009 ... Religious education teacher in 2011 and a peer tutor in 2011 and 2012 ... Also enjoys New England sports, reading, movies, and classic rock.