Softball Announces Five Early NLI Signees

Bronx, N.Y. – Head coach Bridget Orchard and the Fordham softball team have announced five early signees from the graduating class of 2021 to the team's 2016 recruiting class: third baseman Rachel Hubertus (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn), second baseman Brianna Pinto (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey), pitcher Anne Marie Prentiss (San Diego, Calif./Del Norte), pitcher/first baseman Gianna Ranieri (Northport, N.Y./Northport), and pitcher Paige Rauch (Windsor, N.Y./Binghamton).
 
"We are very excited about this signing class as they will have big shoes to fill after we graduate our seniors this year," Orchard said of the class, "They have all played at a very high level and will excel both on and off the field.  Each one brings a unique quality to our program that will fit our winning culture perfectly.  Our team and staff are very proud of this incoming group that could be one of the best classes we have ever had."
 

Rachel Hubertus is a 5'8 right-handed third baseman from nearby Short Hills, N.J. where she has earned four varsity letters in both softball and basketball. Hubertus is a three-time Super Essex First Team All-Conference selection and two-time team captain already. She hit the century mark for hits as a junior last spring and set Millburn High School's single season records for batting average, hits, runs scored, runs batted in, on-base percentage, and home runs. Hubertus was also named Group 4 Third Team All-State as a sophomore and Second Team All-State as a junior. Her success has also carried over to the basketball court where she was also named a Super Essex First Teamer and Fourth Team All-County as a junior. Hubertus is a member of the Morris County Belles club team. 

Orchard on Hubertus: "Rachel has the ability to hit her way into our starting lineup as she has a lot of power at the plate.  She is a third baseman with great range and a strong arm.  She will be looked upon to help fill the void of graduating senior Lindsay Mayer. Rachel plays travel ball for the Morris County Belles, the same organization that All-Conference Fordham alum Kayla Lombardo played for. Rachel is a relentless worker who we can't wait to have here at Fordham."
 

Brianna Pinto is a 5'4 second baseman from Franklin Square, N.Y. who bats left-handed and throws right-handed. She has earned four varsity letters with the H. Frank Carey High Seahawks as well as five letters with track. A three-time All-County selection, she enjoyed a terrific junior campaign where she was named the 2016 Nassau County Player of the Year. Pinto will serve as team captain this upcoming spring. With her club team, Team Long Island, Pinto is a U16 PONY National Champion. With the track team, Pinto is a two-time All-County performer, team captain, and the school's new record holder in the 55 meter dash. Pinto is a member of the National Honors Society, National Foreign Language Honors Society, and the Science Honors Society.
 
Orchard on Pinto: "Brianna is a second baseman and outfielder.  She will be looked to replace graduating senior Amy Van Hoven in our offensive lineup as she is a triple threat with speed and power from the left side.  Brianna can hit homeruns and also beat out a bunt. She is a tenacious player that we have watched for many years and are excited to finally have her joining our softball program. Brianna plays for Angel Mangual on the competitive Team Long Island travel team."
 

Anne Marie Prentiss is a 5'5 right-handed pitcher from San Diego, Calif. She is a four-year varsity letter winner at Del Norte High School under head coach Steve Kuptz. Prentiss led her league in strikeouts this past spring and was the eighth overall strikeout leader for San Diego County. She is a three-time Max Preps Player of the Game. She is a part of a decorated club team, The Next Level, and has won several events, namely the 2014 U16 TCS February Frost, 2015 U16 TCS SoCal's Finest, and 2016 U18 TCS Faith Strong tournaments. The Next Level were also runners up at the 2014 U16 TCS Memorial Day Classic, finished third at the 2014 U14 PGF Platinum event, and 13^th at the 2014 U16 TCS World Series. Academically, Prentiss is a member of the San Diego Union All-Academic Team the past two years, Del Norte High's Outstanding Student-Athlete last May, a two-time Nighthawk Scholar, and two-time Honor Roll member.
 
Orchard on Prentiss: "Anne Marie will add depth to our pitching staff and has played against some of the best players in the country in high school and travel ball. She has been a leader for the nationally-known organization TNL (The Next Level) travel team out of San Diego for the past few years and has the ability to step in right away and compete as a pitcher here next year.  We are looking forward to having Anne Marie join our program."
 

 

Gianna Ranieri is a 5'6 left-handed pitcher and first baseman from Northport, N.Y. where she has earned four varsity letters under head coach Maureen Nicolai. Ranieri was an All-Conference selection in 2015 and an All-League selection and team captain this past spring, also being named Northport's Defensive Player of the Year. Ranieri's play helped Northport to its first playoff appearance in six years and she was tasked with pitching in crucial postseason games. Ranieri had a 7-1 pitching record overall and 68 strikeouts in 51 innings, and also hurled two complete games in the final three games, including one no-hitter, with a final pitching line of just two earned runs in 21 innings while striking out 30 and walking four, good for a 0.66 ERA. Northport would fall to the eventual county champions despite Ranieri throwing 10 innings of two-hit ball with two walks and 11 strikeouts. Ranieri, like Pinto, plays at the club level with Team Long Island. She has been with the team from the U12 level and up, participating in numerous tournaments and events, garnering MVP accolades in seven of them. Academically, Ranieri is a member of both the Honor Roll and Language Honor Society.
 
Orchard on Ranieri: "Gianna is a lefty pitcher and can play first base as well.  Gianna will add depth to our pitching staff.  She is a competitor who has a lot of potential to help us right away.  Gianna has a lot of high-level game experience.  She plays with fellow incoming freshman Brianna Pinto on Team Long Island for Angel Mangual.  We are excited that Gianna will be a Fordham Ram."
 

Paige Rauch is a 5'6 right-handed pitcher/infielder from Windsor, N.Y. who has earned varsity letters at two stops, most recently with Binghamton High School in Binghamton, N.Y. With Windsor Central as a freshman and sophomore, Rauch was named an All-Conference second baseman, Third Team All-State as a second baseman and pitcher, and New York State Class B State Champion. As a sophomore, Rauch was again named All-Conference as a second baseman but this team earned First Team All-State recognition, as the Black Knights won the Section 4 Class B Championship. This past year, her first at Binghamton, Rauch was named an All-Conference shortstop and again earned First Team honors, also being named New York's Class AA Player of the Year after helping the Patriots to the Class AA title. Rauch is a member of the Conklin Raiders travel team, where she has been team captain for two years and counting. Rauch and the Raiders were PGF National Berth Winners a year ago and PGF NYC National Gold Bracket Champions this past spring. She has been named to the High Honor Roll every year.
 
Orchard on Rauch: "Paige is coming off pitching her team to a New York State High school Class AA Championship and was named NYS Player of the Year. We have been watching Paige for many years now and are excited for her to finally officially be part of our Fordham family.  We expect her to compete immediately for several open spots on the field.  She swings a powerful left handed bat and can pitch and play shortstop.  Paige comes from a long line of Conklin Raiders coached by Dale Cook that have excelled here at Fordham:  former A-10 Players of the Year Jocelyn Dearborn and Beckah Wiggins and Hall of Famer Erin Brooks."
 
The Fordham softball program is coming off its fourth consecutive Atlantic 10 championship and appearance in the NCAA Regionals. The Rams begin their 2017 season on Thursday, February 9 at #14 Arizona.