Virginia Signs Three Softball Recruits

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Dec. 12, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia head softball coach Cheryl Sprangel has announced the signing of three players to national letters of intent with Virginia during the early signing period. The three student-athletes who will enroll at Virginia for the 2004-05 academic year are: third baseman/pitcher Whitney Holstun (Escondido, Calif./Escondido), shortstop Kathryn Mirras (Montauk, N.Y./East Hampton), and pitcher/first baseman Karla Wilburn (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Torrey Pines).

Holstun, a 5-9 third baseman/pitcher from Escondido, Calif., has started each of her first three seasons at Escondido High School. She was named the CIF Player of the Year in 2003 while helping lead her team to the CIF Championship. Holstun was named the Valley League Player of the Year and also earned first-team All-League honors. She was also the recipient of the Valley League’s Spirit of the Game award. Holstun is a Triple Crown All-American. The Union Tribune named Holstun to its All-County All-Academic First Team. She is a national Honor Society member and has been named to the Principal’s Honor Roll throughout her high school career. Holstun is a two-time recipient of a California Scholarship Foundation Award as well as a Governors Scholarship for her academic achievements.

“We are looking for Whitney to fill some big shoes for us at third base. Whitney is a strong muscular athlete that is a quick defensive player. She has a strong arm and is a very intense player. We are also very excited about Whitney’s potential for power at the plate,” stated Sprangel.

Mirras is a 5-7 shortstop from Montauk, N.Y. She is a three-sport standout at East Hampton High School. In softball, she earned All-County honors as a sophomore and junior, as well as All-Division accolades as a freshman. She plays ASA softball for the Long Island Breakers. Mirras is also an All-League performer in soccer and basketball. A four-year High Honor Roll student, Mirras is also a member of the National Honor Society. In addition to competing in three varsity sports, she is a member of the Band, Jazz Band, Key Club, and Varsity Leaders Club at East Hampton. Mirras is very active in community service projects as well.

“Kathyrn is a very smooth athlete that we are hoping to move into the very important shortstop position. She has a strong arm and probably has one of the smoothest double play moves I have seen. Offensively, Kathyrn is a line-drive singles hitter, but with great speed and intelligence on the bases, those singles could quickly become doubles,” she said.

Wilburn is a 6-0 pitcher/first baseman from Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. She has started all three years at Torrey Pines High School and serves as the 2004 softball team captain. As junior in 2003, Wilburn was a first-team All-CIF performer and also garnered first-team All-Palomar and All-North County honors. She led San Diego County in strikeouts in 2003 with 246 while posting a 16-9 record with a 0.49 ERA. Wilburn also hit .362. She has twice been named Torrey Pines’ Offensive Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and Most Outstanding Softball Athlete. Wilburn received Scholar Athlete honors and was named to the Union Tribune’s All-Academic First Team. She plays ASA softball for the San Diego Breakers 18 Gold team after playing for the California Cruisers 18 Gold team in 2002-2003. She is a two-year member of the National Honor Society and the Key Club.

We are extremely excited about Karla signing with us. She seems to be a perfect fit for Virginia. She is definitely one of the top pitching prospects that can throw hard but also has shown the ability to outsmart batters. But what is really exciting is that with her strength and almost six-foot frame, she has the desire and potential to continue to improve. Karla also has a powerful bat that will keep her in the line-up either as a designated hitter or at first base if she’s not pitching,” remarked Sprangel.

“These three players will help solidify our infield, which will lose several key fourth-years to graduation this year. We hope to compliment these three outstanding players with additional signees in the spring,” said Sprangel.