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Nov. 12, 2009

                CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa softball team has added five players to its 2011 roster, UNI head coach Ryan Jacobs announced Thursday. Gina Brown (New Lenox, Ill./ Lincoln-Way Central), Jamie Fisher (Conrad, Iowa/ BCLUW), Emma Plese (Plainfield, Ill./ Joliet), Jessica Severinsen (Elizabeth, Colo./ Chaparral) and Katy Sexton (North Liberty, Iowa/ Clear Creek-Amana) each signed national letters of intent to play for the Panthers.

                "We are very excited about our 2010 recruiting class.  It is a very important class for us because of the talent leaving our program with our senior class," Jacobs said. "This class will add a group of players with a lot of winning experience and athletic versatility.  There is a great balance of speed and power with these players. We are looking for these players to become impact players right away in their freshman seasons.

                Brown, an infielder from New Lenox, Ill., helped Lincoln-Way Central win the state championship in 2008. She was a four-year letter winner, and she earned all-conference honors as a junior. She also served as the starting third baseman for Team Aurelios, which finished fourth in the NSA World Series.  She also picked up all-area honors, and was honored as an athlete of the week by the Chicago Tribune. She currently plays her summer ball for the New Lenox Lightning.

                "Gina is a hardnosed player with tremendous strength.  Defensively she has tremendous quickness, very strong arm, and unbelievable glove.  At the plate, she is a very discipline hitter with great power to all fields."

                Fisher, a Conrad, Iowa native, joins the Panthers after a standout career at BCLUW. The pitcher earned second-team all-state honors as a freshman, and was a first-team pick as a sophomore and junior. She was selected the 2A Pitcher of the Year in 2009, and helped BCLUW finish as 2009 state champion. She holds a 111-12 record in her three years in the circle, and she earned conference MVP honors all three seasons. She was named the Times Republican Athlete of the Year in 2009 and was Co-Athlete of the Year in 2008. He mother, Linda, played softball for the Panthers.

                "Jamie is a hard throwing pitcher who will add leadership and confidence on the mound," Jacobs said. "Her untapped potential is very high.  She comes from a small high school and led them all the way to a state title last summer."

                Plese, a utility player from Plainfield, Ill., joins the Panthers after a four-year career at Joliet High School. Her Stone City Sharks Softball summer team finished as NAFA 16U National Tournament Champion in 2008 and it finished ninth in the 18U Elite Nationals in 2009. The Sharks also finished as 18U Germantown Invitational Champion in 2009, and Spark Invitational Runner-Up.

                "Emma is a true utility player who plays consistently in every position on the infield and in the outfield," Jacobs said. "She has a quick release and very strong arm.  At the plate she can put a ton of pressure on the defense hitting from the left side.  She has the ability to play the short game with bunts and slaps as well as hit with some power.  She will continue to put pressure on defenses with her speed and instincts on the bases."

                Severinsen, a pitcher from Elizabeth, Colo., comes to UNI after lettering four seasons at Chaparral High School. Severinsen was a second-team all-conference selection in 2007, and she was a first-team pick in 2008. She was also an all-state honorable mention in 2008. As a junior, she struck out 60 in 41 innings pitched, notching a 1.02 ERA. She also hit .393 with four home runs on the season. She went 28-10 with the Colorado Comets Gold summer team in 2009, striking out 230. She also hit .374 to help the Comets finish in third place in the Triple Crown World Series. In 2008, she helped the Comets finish as ASA State Champion and finish fourth in the Triple Crown Nationals.

                "Jessica is a well-rounded pitcher with good speed and movement.  She is a bulldog on the mound and has pitched against some of the best hitters in the country while playing for the Colorado Comets travel ball organization," Jacobs said. "She will add high-quality depth to our pitching staff with the ability to lead the team."

                Infielder Katy Sexton, a native of North Liberty, Iowa, comes to UNI after starting four years at Clear Creek-Amana. She was a first-team all-state selection in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and she helped CCA finish as Class 3A State Champion in 2009 with a perfect 45-0 record. She was named the Class 3A Player of the Year on 2009, as well as earning a place on the state tournament team. She hit .537 with a .803 slugging percentage in 2009, marking the fourth straight season she hit better than .500. She earned all-conference honors all four years, and the 2006 team also finished as state champion.

                "Katy comes from an Iowa softball powerhouse program Clear Creek - Amana.  Last season she led the state of Iowa in almost every offensive category," Jacobs said.  "As the leadoff hitter she set the tone for a very high-powered offense.  Katy has great hand-eye coordination, is a very consistent hitter, and has very good speed."