Jayhawk Softball Signs Five
Nov. 17, 2005
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
University of Kansas head softball coach Tracy Bunge announced Thursday the signing of Janice Damo (Tulare, Calif.), Amanda Jobe (Shawnee, Kan.), Tracy Lubken (Phoenix, Ariz.), Sara Ramirez (Pacoima, Calif.) and Sarah Vertelka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) to National Letters of Intent.
Damo, a pitcher/outfielder from Tulare Union High School, was a first-team all-state selection and the Fresno Bee Player of the Year as a junior in 2005. She batted .500 and went 19-3 in the circle with 17 shutouts and a 0.09 ERA last year to bring her high school career totals to .457 at the plate and a 49-20 pitching record (0.43 ERA).
A 5-6 right-hander, Damo plays club ball with the California Cruiser, a second-place finisher at the 2004 Gold nationals. She plans to study sports medicine/physical therapy at KU.
Jobe is a first baseman/outfielder out of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and has been listed as one of the top hitters in the region. The 5-7 lefty was second-team all-state and batted .407 as a junior in 2005, helping her team to a second-place finish at the state championships.
Jobe also hit .325 and team-leading seven home runs for the Kansas City Xtreme Gold, which finished second at the USSSA World Series in 2005. An NFCA Scholar Athlete and Kansas Honors Scholar, Jobe maintains a 4.4 GPA and plans to major in pre-medicine/biology at KU.
Lubken, a 5-6 centerfielder, was named 2005 Desert Valley First Team All-Region after her junior season at Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. A lefty lead-off batter known for her speed, Lubken led the Lil Saints Gold club team with a .398 batting average and .458 on-base percentage. Lubken plans to major in psychology with the goal of obtaining a law degree at KU.
Ramirez, recruited for her defensive abilities, is a shortstop/second baseman out of Alemany High School. She was an First Team All-Mission League selection as a junior and plays club ball for the CA Valley Breeze with fellow signee Vertelka.
Vertelka, a 5-9 right handed pitcher, comes to KU with a long list of accolades. A two-time Baseline League MVP, Vertelka was also named First Team All-San Bernadino County as a sophomore and junior at Rancho Cucamonga High School.
“I am excited about the quality and depth of this class,” Bunge said. “With six seniors graduating, it was important to bring in players who have the ability to step in a help us right away. This class has that potential.”
Following the 2006 season, KU will graduate Nettie Fierros, Ashley Goodrich and All-Big 12 selections Heather Stanley, Serena Settlemier, Jessica Moppin and Destiny Frankenstein.
– KU –
