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July 25, 1998

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia head softball coach Cheryl Sprangel has announced the signing of four players to national letters of intent with Virginia.

The players are Erin Allinder (Norco, Calif./Norco), Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon), Erin McMorrow (Chantilly, Va./ Chantilly), and Kathryn Zunno (Mineola, N.Y./Mineola). In addition, Claudia Hickey (Vienna, Virginia/Bishop O’Connell), a transfer from Georgia State, will also join the Cavaliers.

Allinder, a pitcher/outfielder at Norco, lettered four times in softball. She was a Mountain View All-League selection in 1997, the 1996 All-Valley Tournament MVP and a 1995 All-Tournament selection in the Corona Invitational. She is also a three-time Mountain View League All-Academic selection. Allinder participated in volleyball for four years where she was an All-County second-team selection, and played basketball for two seasons at Corona.

Dennis, a pitcher at La Costa Canyon, lettered in softball four times. She finished her high school career with 83 wins, the most pitching victories in the San Diego Division I section history. Dennis is a two-time Avocado League Player-of-the-Year (1998, 1997) and was a member of the 1998 California Interscholastic Federation Champions. She was named to the All-Avocado League first-team and was a member of the Avocado League Champions in 1997. Dennis also played on the Orange County Batbusters 18 and under National Champion Gold team in 1997, where she earned first- team All-American honors. She was a member of the San Diego Breakers who were the Southern California State Champions and an All-CIF selection in 1996. Dennis recently played in the Boulder Independence Day Tournament in July, where she won the home run contest and was projected as one of the top players to participate in the tournament. She has been featured on Scholastic Sports America in recognition of her softball talent. Dennis was also an All-Palomar League first-team selection in 1996 and 1995.

McMorrow, as an outfielder/utility player at Chantilly, was named to the Coaches All-District and All-Region teams. McMorrow participated in the ASA Hall of Fame Tournament and was a member of the Pony Nationals in 1997. She was a member of the 1996 and 1995 ASA DC Metro Champions, and competed on the ASA Nationals from 1995-1997. McMorrow also participated in track and field at Chantilly, where she collected All-State, All-Region, All-District and MVP honors in 1998.

Zunno, a pitcher at Mineola, lettered four times in softball. She is a two-time All-State (1998, 1997) and a three-time All-County selection (1996-98). Zunno earned Most Valuable Player in Nassau County (Class B) in 1998 and collected the Most Valuable Pitcher Award in Nassau County in 1997. She was also an All-Conference selection in 1995. Zunno lettered in basketball four times at Mineola, where she was a two-time All-County and All-Conference selection.

Hickey, an outfielder at Bishop O’Connell, lettered four times in softball. She played outfield for one season at Georgia State. Hickey batted (.224), collected 19 hits, gathered five RBI and posted 12 stolen bases. She was a first-team All-State and All-Conference selection in 1997, while being named the 1997 Female Athlete of the Year at Bishop O’Connell. Hickey helped O’Connell Bishop post a 101-9 record and win four consecutive state championship titles (1994-97) as a member of the team. She also lettered in track and field three times at Bishop O’Connell.

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