EUGENE – University of Oregon softball head coach Kathy Arendsen announced the addition of four talented high school seniors who signed National Letters of Intent (NLI) to join the Ducks as freshmen for the 2009-10 season.

Allie Burger, OF, RT-LH, Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park HS / WA LadyHawks)
Jessica Moore, P, RT-RH, Sutter, Calif. (Sutter HS)
Kaylan Howard, MIF, RT-RH, Riverside, Calif. (Poly HS / Corona Angels)
Samantha Pappas, OF-P, RT-LH, Los Flores, Calif. (Tesoro HS / SoCal A’s)

“I’m really proud of this class,” Oregon head coach Kathy Arendsen said. “They’re all players that could make an immediate impact, and are excited about being student-athletes at the University of Oregon and playing in the nation’s top softball conference. They’re hard workers who offer good speed, hit the ball well and have great arms. The balance is nice, too, since we’re strengthening our infield, outfield and pitching areas. Since we will graduate three seniors it’s great that we’re adding four players to help make up for their absence next year.”

Profiles of the signees follow:

Allie Burger was a Louisville Slugger/NFCA regional and national All-American in 2007 and ’08. A first-team all-state and Greater Spokane League outfielder last year, she was considered one of the area’s top hitters and a defensive standout. As a sophomore in 2007, she was a first-team all-region and all-state outfielder and led the league in stolen bases, and ranked second in runs and sixth in batting (.547). As a freshman she was a first-team all-league infielder and hit .453 with a .586 on-base percentage, and stood second in the league in stolen bases and walks. She played with current Duck freshman pitcher Samantha Skillingstad, and their team won the state title her sophomore season and also advanced to the championship finale her junior year.

“Allie is a contact hitter who’s great as a slapper, yet will be also to drive the ball into the gap as she develops power,” Arendsen said. “She’s a feisty at the plate and offers great speed, and brings a great work ethic everyday to practice and games. She’s attended our camps before, and we’ve always been impressed with her work ethic. She and Pappas will be key candidates to replace Sari-Jane Jenkins in the outfield.”

Kaylan Howard hit .302 last spring for Poly High School and had 19 hits, 16 RBI and three home runs. She led her team to a fifth-place finish in the South Section final. On the club side, her team took second in the 2008 ASA 18U Gold Nationals and Gold Boulder Independence Day tournaments, and added fifth place in the 2007 Gold Nationals. She attended the 2007 West Coast All-Stars Elite 64 Futures Camp.

“Kaylan will battle for playing time at shortstop or second base,” Arendsen said. “She can swing the bat, and has played in a great club program that has produced two of our top current players - Neena (Bryant) and Monique (Fuiava) – so she has an idea about what it takes to play at the Pac-10 level.”

Jessica Moore was an all-state pick in 2008, Appeal-Democrat Newspaper Player of the Year (2007, ’08), Northern Section MVP (2008), Butte View All-League honoree (2006, ’07, ’08) and All-Northern Section honoree (2007, ’08). Her Sorcerers club team placed 13th at Gold Nationals in 2008, and her junior season pitching stats follow: 24-1, 0.33 ERA, 166.2 innings, 384 strikeouts, 19 walks, 22 complete games, 18 shutouts. At the plate last summer, she hit .483, had 46 hits, 19 RBI, three doubles, five triples and one homer.

“Jessica has great velocity and movement so she’ll contend for innings next year,” Arendsen said. “She’s a great student and has a 3.8 GPA, and comes from a family of Duck alumni and fans, so we’re both very excited to have her join our softball program.”

Samantha Pappas was an all-tournament pick the last two seasons for Tesoro High School and has starred both at the plate and on the mound. As a sophomore in 2007, she hit .462, had 12 RBI, two home runs and ranked top-five in each category in the South Coast League. She has competed at the varsity level all three seasons, and led Tesoro’s division in homers her first season. As a junior in club action in 2008, she hit .435 during the season before the team went to the national tournament.

“Sam has a great combination of speed and power,” Arendsen said. ”She will contribute in the outfield and possibly in the circle .She’s very athletic and could play immediately.”

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