12/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CONWAY - The Coastal Carolina softball program will welcome in seven freshmen as part of its 2015 signing class, announced by head coach Kelley Green on Monday.
Alexis Alvino (Levittown, N.Y.), Angela Buccilli (Murrysville, Pa.), Mari Cook (Beaufort, S.C.), Chelsea D'Avilar (Georgetown, Canada), Ashley Guillette (Oxford, Conn.), Taylor Rahach (Hudson, Ohio) and Adriana Toro (Lincoln, R.I.) have committed to continue their softball careers at Coastal Carolina beginning next fall.
"This time of year is always exciting to talk about our new signing class," Green said. "Once again, we graduate a senior group that has been one of the best in program history. We certainly knew we had to gather a talented class of 2015 signees to keep our program growing. We have a great balance of speed, athleticism and versatility in this class, as well as strong pitching."
Alvino is a four-year starter as an infielder and catcher for Division Avenue High School and is coming off a junior season in which she was named all-state. She led the team in every offensive major offensive category, hitting .490 with seven doubles, two triples and two home runs, while driving in 26 runs and scoring 27. Over her first three seasons, Alvino has compiled a .476 average with 17 doubles, eight triples, eight homers, 56 RBIs and 76 runs. She is a three-time all-Nassau County selection and helped Division Avenue to conference championships in 2012 and 2013.
"With our need for speed and versatility, Alexis fits the bill perfectly," Green said. "She can play multiple positions and is also a dynamic offensive threat."
Buccilli, the sister of former Coastal Carolina baseball player Alex Buccilli, is a two-time Pittsburgh Tribune Review First Team All-Section infielder for Franklin Regional High School. As a sophomore in 2013, she batted .492 with seven doubles, 14 RBIs and 16 runs scored. Buccilli was selected team MVP last season and has totaled 16 doubles, 35 RBIs, 38 runs and 24 stolen bases so far in her career.
"Angela is one of those hard-nosed players that isn't afraid to get dirty," Green said. "She has been bleeding teal since the days of her brother suiting up for Coastal baseball, and she is eager to follow in his footsteps."
Mari Cook
Like Alvino, Cook has been a varsity starter since her eighth-grade year for Beaufort High as a corner infielder and earned South Carolina 4A all-state honors last season. She hit .345 with nine home runs and eight doubles while totaling 22 RBIs and 32 runs. Defensively, she had a .990 fielding percentage as a junior when she was named the team's Defensive MVP. She has led Beaufort to state playoff appearances each of the last two years.
"We have had the opportunity to see Mari grow and develop over the past several years into the player she is today," Green said. "We are excited to add Mari's power potential to our offense."
D'Avilar is a switch-hitting shortstop and utility player who was selected team MVP for Christ the King Secondary School in Ontario, Canada, last year. She has also been a part of travel teams that won the Ontario Summer Games in 2012, a provincial championship in 2013 and posted other top-three provincial and top-five national finishes the last several years. D'Avilar's older sister played for Great Britain's under-19 team.
"Chelsea has great fielding fundamentals and the versatility to play a few different infield positions," Green said. "Her quickness offensively and defensively will be a huge asset for us."
Guillette is a highly-touted right-handed pitcher who was ranked No. 33 on Full Count Softball's 2015 Hot 100 List and is a three-time all-state selection. Last year, Guillette posted a 28-4 record with a career-best 0.60 ERA and 426 strikeouts. She recorded 312 strikeouts as a freshman and 386 as a sophomore when she led Oxford High to its first state championship with a 17-strikeout, two-hitter in the semifinal and a 15-strikeout, three-hit performance in the final. Guillette has compiled a 71-10 mark in three high school seasons and also helped RI Thunder Gold to a 13th-place finish in a 2014 national tournament.
"Ashley is a very talented pitcher who we expect to make an immediate impact in the circle," Green said. "We have seen her be very dominant against some of the top teams in the country, and we look forward to seeing her do the same in teal."
Taylor Rahach
Rahach, another right-handed pitcher, earned second-team all-state honors as a junior for Walsh Jesuit and was also a member of an ASA Class A national championship team in 2014. She posted a 19-3 record, a 0.89 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 125 innings of high school action last season. As a sophomore, Rahach went 19-6 with 254 strikeouts and earned team MVP honors while leading Walsh Jesuit to the state semifinals with a 13-strikeout, no-hitter in the regional semifinal and an 18-strikeout, two-hit game in the regional championship. She is a three-time all-district and all-county pick.
"Taylor is an outstanding pitcher who knows how to win," Green said. "She has been very successful throughout her high school and travel ball careers, and we look forward to watching her continue that success here at Coastal."
Adriana Toro
Toro is a three-time first-team all-state outfielder and member of the 2014 Providence Journal All-State team. She hit .429 last season with five doubles, four triples, three home runs, 21 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Toro helped Lincoln High to state championships and a perfect 43-0 combined record in 2012 and 2013, recording 44 hits and 28 RBIs in her freshman season and racking up six doubles and eight triples as a sophomore. In the 2013 state final, she contributed two hits, including a triple, and two RBIs. Toro also played on the same RI Thunder Gold team as Guillette that finished the 2014 season ranked 34th in the nation.
"Adriana brings a level of outfield play that is second to none," Green said. "She has played for an outstanding travel ball organization and will look to make an immediate impact both in our outfield and in our lineup."
