On Monday, the MSU softball team signed 6-foot-1 pitcher Kristina Zalewski of Ann Arbor and Saline High School to a National Letter of Intent.
Zalewski joins incoming freshmen third basemen Sarah Gutknech, pitcher Valerie Kaff, catcher Kassidy Kujawa and shortstop and center fielder McKenna Stephens to the 2014 recruiting class.
Softball head coach Jacquie Joseph is excited about the signing.
“She is hard-throwing, good-sized kid,” Joseph said. “We are excited about adding her to our pitching staff.”
Joseph is confident that the Spartans will contend in a highly competitive Big Ten conference.
“This class here is really going to help us next year,” Joseph said. “I’m really excited about what we have back and what we have coming in, and what that bodes for the future.”
With the addition of Zalewski and fellow pitcher Kaff, the Spartans have depth to their pitching staff.
“I feel really good about adding depth to our team,” Joseph said.
With the addition of Stephens, Kujawa and Gutknech the class also adds offensive depth.
The MSU softball team took a step in the right direction last season, improving from 12th in the Big Ten standings in 2011-12 season to seventh in the 2012-13 season.
Given the rise in standings last year, Joseph believes that the Spartans continue to improve.
“I think a top-four finish next year (and) making the NCAA Tournament are realistic goals,” Joseph said.
“I really feel that Michigan State will have the components to be a real contender next year.”
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