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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Virginia softball coach Eileen Schmidt recently announced that Kristen Hawkins (Elizabeth, Pa.), Melanie Mitchell (White Plains, Md.) Alexandra Skinkis (La Palma, Calif.) and Taylor Williams (Woodbridge, Va.) have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Cavaliers in 2009-10.
“We are very proud to welcome this class to the University of Virginia,” Schmidt said. “Sometimes the matching process can become difficult at a University such as this, but what we have in this class is not just exceptional students and players, but leaders. All four are very different when it comes to their backgrounds and personalities, yet they all share the same competitive drive, passion, and characteristics of winners.”
Hawkins, a pitcher and catcher, was the 2008 Daily News Player of the Year and has helped Elizabeth Forward High School to three sectional titles. A member of the Renegades travel ball team, Hawkins has been selected to play in the all-star game at the 2009 Colorado Sparkler.
Mitchell, a pitcher who also plays first base, led McDonough High School to a regional championship in 2008. She was also named the Washington Post player of the year from southern Maryland and was the 2008 Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Player of the Year. This fall Mitchell went 7-0 in the circle with a 0.14 while playing for the NJ Breakers Gold club team.
Skinkis, an infielder, has helped Oxford Academy to three Academy League championships and is already the school’s record holder for RBI. In 2008, she led the Worth Firecrackers to the 18U Gold Colorado Fireworks tournament championship and the 18U Gold Champions Cup title.
Williams, an outfielder, was the 2008 Cardinal District Player of the Year at Hylton High School. She is currently a member of Wagner’s Gold club team.
“This group wants to help us immediately improve this program and take it to another level,” Schmidt continued. “When you take this class, with that can-do mindset, and add it to our returnees who are already working their tails off and have made great strides, you see a maturity level beyond their years and a program flourishing.”
Virginia opens the 2009 campaign Feb. 7-8 at the East Carolina Tournament in Greenville, N.C.
SIGNEE BIOS
Kristen Hawkins
Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward
Pitcher/Catcher
Height: 6-0 Bats: Switch Throws: Right
High School
2008 Daily News Player of the Year
Three-time first team all-section
Three-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette all-south all-star
Helped Elizabeth Forward to three sectional titles
Team was a WPIAL runner-up in 2006
Three-year team captain
Also competed in basketball
Travel Ball
Played for Harry Rutherford on Renegades club team
Selected to play in the 2009 All-Star game at Colorado Sparkler
Personal
Born Jan. 6, 1991
Daughter of Nancy Hawkins
Has a younger sister, Michelle
Intends to major in sports medicine
Schmidt on Hawkins: “Kristen is so versatile and just incredible athlete. She can play any position on the field and will swing a big bat for us. The challenge for us as a staff is to tap that energy level and aggressive attitude and let it permeate the entire squad.”
Melanie Mitchell
White Plains, Md./McDonough
Pitcher/First Base
Height: 6-1 Bats: Switch Throws: Right
High School
Helped McDonough to a regional championship in 2008
2008 Washington Post Player of the Year (southern Maryland)
First team Washington Post all-metro as a junior and second team as a sophomore
2008 Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Player of the Year
Two-time first team all-conference
Three-time all-county player of the year
Three-time first team all-county
Also competed in volleyball and swimming
It’s Academic Team member and captain
National Society of High School Scholars member
Travel Ball
Member of the NJ Breakers Gold for the past year
Went 7-0 with a 0.14 ERA and three saves in fall 2008
Helped team to 18U ASA Gold Nationals where the team finished 25th
Also played for the 18U and 16U Shamrocks
Finished 17th at the 16U ASA Nationals in 2006, going 5-0 with one save
Compiled a 23-4 record with a 0.43 ERA
Personal
Born Nov. 19, 1991
Daughter of Donnie and Carol Mitchell
Intends to major in Systems and Information Engineering
Schmidt on Mitchell: “Melanie is a great fit for our University and especially this program. She has no fear on the mound and relishes the chance to put this team on her shoulders and take us to the top.”
Alexandra Skinkis
La Palma, Calif./Oxford Academy
Infield
Height: 5-6 Bats: R Throws: R
High School
Oxford Academy RBI record holder
Three-time first team All-Academy League
Two-time second team All-CIF Division 6
Helped team to three Academy League championships
Twice named team’s best defensive player
Also received team’s offensive player of the year award
National Honor Society member
Travel Ball
2006 16U ASA California state champions as a member of Gordon’s Panthers
2007 16U ASA California state champions as a member of Victory USA
Helped Worth Firecrackers to the 2008 18U Gold Colorado Fireworks Tournament championships
Helped Worth Firecrackers to the 2008 18Gold Champions Cup title
Personal
Born Jan. 4, 1991
Daughter of David and Cheryl Skinkis
Has a younger brother, Eric
Intends to major in business
Schmidt on Skinkis: “Alex’s experience level and work ethic are unmatched. She has won at every level on the field. She has competed at one of the most difficult academic high schools in the country and owned it. Her ability to lead on and off the field is stunning.”
Taylor Williams
Woodbridge, Va./Hylton
Outfield
Height: 5-1 Bats: L Throws: R
High School
2008 Cardinal District Player of the Year
First team all-state and all-regional selection
First team Washington Post all-metro
National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society member
Travel Ball
Member of Wagner’s Gold club team
Finished 17th at the 2008 ASA Gold Nationals
Also played for Team News Jersey Showcase and Virginia Fire and Ice
Personal
Born March 18, 1991
Daughter of Mark and Johnetta Williams
Sister, Larissa, played softball at Radford
Intends to double-major in biology and psychology
Schmidt on Williams: “Speed and brains are a tough combination to get out of someone, and Taylor has both. I really felt like we needed to add just a little more speed to our line-up and Taylor fit that need. Her three-way attack skill set is exactly what we need to make this offense roll.”