Softball Signs Eight Future Dukes on National Signing Day

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Head Coach Loren LaPorte announced that the James Madison softball program has signed eight future Dukes to National Letters of Intent on Thursday morning.

"We are extremely excited and pleased to announce our very talented and dynamic Fall 2020 signing class," said Head Coach Loren LaPorte. "With so many players graduating in 2021, this class will play a major role in continuing to build the success of the program. Overall, they bring in a mix of power, speed, athleticism, pitching and competitiveness that we need to compete at a high level."

The Dukes' nine signees include: Abbie Campbell, Isabelle Fishman, Jasmine Hall, Taylor Hankins, Morgan Mesaros, Josey Polk, Lexi Rogers and Lily Romero . The group will enroll in the fall of 2021 and begin playing for the Dukes in the spring of 2022.

Name: Abbie Campbell
Height: 5-7
Position: Infielder
Hometown/High School: Midlothian, Va. / Midlothian High School
Career Highlights: Three-year varsity letterman in both softball and basketball…Named team captain in 2019…Two-time selection to District Honorable Mention…Member of both Hanover Hornets and Stars National 18U teams…A member of the A-B Honor Roll
Coach LaPorte's Thoughts: "Abbie is a versatile player who is solid at the plate and can play both the infield and outfield. She plays with so much passion and is the type of player who leaves it all on the field."

Name: Isabelle Fishman
Height: 5-7
Position: Infield/Pitcher
Hometown/High School: Cypress, Calif. // Empire Springs Charter School
Career Highlights: Named to the 2021 Extra Innings Top 100 Athletes List…2018 On Deck Jamboree…2017 USSSA Elite Select 30…Member of USA Athletics Team in Long Beach, CA…Member of the Distinguished Honor Roll and Honor Roll
Coach LaPorte's Thoughts: "Isabelle's athleticism and ability to play multiple positions including pitching is very exciting. She is an extremely hard worker and has the drive and ambition to succeed both on the field and in the classroom."

Name: Jasmine Hall
Height: 5-7
Position: Infielder
Hometown/High School: Granite Falls, N.C. / South Caldwell High School
Career Highlights: Three-year softball varsity letterman…ranked 74^th in the class of 2021 nationally by Extra Innings…2020 All State and Charlotte Observer First Team…Charlotte Observer All-District Team…220 Regional and district First Team…Two-time Northwestern 4a All-Conference first team…2019 NC State Champion…2018 NC State Runner Up… All regional/All district…Northwestern First Team All-Tourney Team…Member of the National Beta Club…Member of SC Elite Nationals team
Coach LaPorte's Thoughts: "Jasmine is a fierce competitor with a ton of grit and heart. She can play multiple infield positions and has gap-to-gap power at the plate."

Name: Taylor Hankins
Height: 5-7
Position: Pitcher
Hometown/High School: Luray, Va. / Page County High School
Career Highlights: 2017 First Team All-District, All-Region and All State…Member of the Honor Roll and FCS…Member of VA Glory Premier team
Coach LaPorte's Thoughts: "Taylor is a local prodigy who will bring us depth in the circle and at the plate. She does a great job mixing speeds and keeping hitters off balance. It is going to be exciting to watch her develop over the next four year as a Duke."

Name: Morgan Mesaros
Height: 5-4
Position: Infielder
Hometown/High School: Garnet Valley, Pa. / Garnet Valley High School
Career Highlights: Three-year varsity letterman…2020 Varsity Softball Ambassador Award Winner…Recorded a batting average of .480 with .550 OBP in 2020…Played for PA Chaos 18U Gold team since eighth grade…Ranked sixth in the country by US Club Rankings and tenth by FloSoftball in 2019…Member of the Distinguished Honor Roll and National Honor Society
Coach LaPorte's Thoughts: "Morgan is an outstanding defensive middle infielder who has great hands and range. She has the ability to spray the ball around the field as well as drive the ball out of the park."

Name: Josey Polk
Height: 5-4
Position: Infielder
Hometown/High School: Arrington, Tenn. / Page High School
Career Highlights: 2019 Silver Slugger Award…2018 Rookie of the Year…Member of both Tennessee Fury and Fury Platinum…2018 1^st place USA softball Junior Olympic Cup National Championships…2017 1^st PGF Futures National Championship…2016 5^th place USA Elite Nationals…2016 7^th place PGF National Championship… 2015 1^st place USSSA National Championship…Honor Roll member all four years…Tennessee State Champion Keyhole Equestrian racer and 10 top-five finishes in other classes with her pony named Blossom
Coach LaPorte's Thoughts: "Josey is a smooth and athletic middle infielder who will bring a combination of speed and power from the left side to the lineup. She plays at a very high level and is always working on her game."

Name: Lexi Rogers
Height: 5-7
Position: Infielder/Pitcher
Hometown/High School: Bellefonte, Pa. / Bellefonte Area High School
Career Highlights: Three-year varsity letterman…2019 District 6 Championship…2019 District 6 Coaches Association 4A/5A/6A All-Star…2019 NFCA/Easton All-American Scholar Athlete…2018 District 6 Championship…2018 District 6 Coaches Association 4A All-Star…Member of the National Honor Society and Distinguished Honor Roll
Coach LaPorte's Thoughts: "Lexi is a utility player and pitcher who also carries a big bat. Her strength and ability to hit the long ball is going to be huge for our lineup."

Name: Lily Romero
Height: 5-6
Position: Catcher
Hometown/High School: Long Beach, Calif. / Robert A. Millikan High School
Career Highlights: Three-year varsity starter and letterman…2019 Moore League First Team…2018 Moore League Second Team…USA Athletics 18U Gold Rogers…2018 Runner-up PGF Championships…2017 Runner-up Champions Cup…2016 Runner-up PGF Nationals…Member of the National Honor Society
Coach LaPorte's Thoughts: "Lily is a composed and consistent player who will give us depth behind the plate and in the outfield. She has a cannon for an arm and is a tough out at the plate."

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