Dec. 5, 2012
Bronx, N.Y. -
Fordham head softball coach Bridget Orchard announced today that four players have signed national letters of intent to play softball at Fordham University, starting with the 2014 season. They are infielder Sydney Canessa (Wall, N.J./Wall), catcher/infielder Stephanie Ferri (Pasadena, Calif./La Salle), pitcher/infielder Lauren Quense (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), and infielder Amy Van Hoven (West Monroe, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse).
"We are very excited about this talented recruiting class and the future of Fordham softball. I feel it could be one of the best overall classes we have brought to Rose Hill, as we added pitching, power, speed and an experienced catcher," said Orchard.
Canessa, a 5-7 infielder, is a four-year varsity softball player at Wall High School in Wall, New Jersey. With three years under her belt, Canessa has already become the team's career hits and runs scored leader. She had an outstanding junior season, as she was named Monmouth County Player of the Year by the Star Ledger, Shore Conference Player of the Year by the Ashbury Park Press, and Player of the Year by The Coast Star. Canessa also earned First Team All-State, First Team All-Group 3, First Team All-Shore, and First Team All-County honors.
In addition to her play at Wall, Canessa played summer ball for the New Jersey Nightmare, which won several local and national U18 tournaments and qualified for the PGF Nationals. Away from the field, she is a member of the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society, and ranked in the top 10 in her class academically.
Coach Orchard on Canessa: "Sydney is a fiery competitor who will look to contribute immediately in our infield at shortstop. She has the ability to make big plays and is a proven winner."
Ferri, a 5-10 catcher/infielder, is a four-year varsity softball player at La Salle High School in Pasadena, California. A two-year captain, she has yet to miss a game as the team's starting catcher over the past three seasons. She helped La Salle to the Camino Real League Championship as well as the California Southern Section CIF State Championship in 2010, and is a two-time First Team All-Del Rey League selection (2011 & 2012).
In addition to her play at La Salle, Ferri plays travel ball for So Cal 3D, where she has helped the squad finish ninth and 13th in the country at the last two PGF 18U National Championships. Away from the field, she is very active in academics and community service. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation, and been the recipient of La Salle's Scholar Athlete Award three times. Ferri has also garnered CIF All-Academic accolades for softball and served as a La Salle Student Ambassador. She is also a part of the Student Life Council at La Salle, and LEAP, a program where Ferri is a teacher and mentor for La Salle's signature community outreach program. The program visits inner-city and underprivileged schools and works with 7th and 8th graders in math, art, English, science, and computer education.
Coach Orchard on Ferri: "Stephanie is a big, strong catcher from the west coast, who has played against the best players in the country and comes east with a great deal of experience. She is a power hitter, who has the ability to change a game with the long ball. We are excited about adding her to our offensive lineup."
Quense, a 5-8 pitcher/infielder, is a three-year varsity softball player at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. A three-time team MVP, she was selected as the Bucks County Courier Times Player of the Year in 2011 and followed that by winning the Trentonian Player of the Year award in 2012. She was twice named First Team All-Southeastern PA (2011-12) as well as to the Courier Times Golden Team, while earning Second Team All-State honors in 2012.
For summer ball, Quense is a member of the PA Chaos 18U Gold, which qualified for both the ASA Gold Nationals and the PGF Nationals in 2012. She is also a member of the distinguished honor roll at Neshaminy.
Coach Orchard on Quense: "Lauren is a great all-around player, who will add depth to our pitching staff, as well as a power hitting first baseman."
Van Hoven, a 5-8 infielder, is a four-year varsity softball player at Cicero North Syracuse High School in Cicero, New York. She brings speed and the ability to get on base, as she has hit no worse than .383 in her first three varsity seasons. She batted .527 in in 2011, earning CNYCL Co-Player of the Year honors, as well as First Team All-CNY, while as a junior in 2012, Van Hoven hit .410, receiving First Team All-CNYCL. Van Hoven has helped Cicero North Syracuse to three Class AA NY State Finals and earned Scholar Athlete status in each of those seasons (2010-12).
For summer ball, Van Hoven is a member of TC Tremors 18U Gold, the same club that current Ram Gabby Luety played for when she signed on with Fordham. Away from the field, she is a member of the National Honor Society and the high honor roll, and has received Scholar Athlete awards in both softball and volleyball three times. Van Hoven has also garnered awards for Excellence in the Humanities and Business while at Cicero North Syracuse.
Coach Orchard on Van Hoven: "Amy is a lefty slapper who can also swing away. She will add speed to the top of our lineup and is a tough out. She is also a very athletic shortstop and has played at the highest level."
