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NIU Softball Receives Four National Letters Of Intent For 2009

Huskies add a talented catcher, middle infielder and a pair of outfielders



First-year head coach Lindsay Chouinard inked four talented players in her first recruiting class.

Dec. 14, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - The 2009 Northern Illinois softball roster received a boost with the addition of four talented players. The Huskies and head coach Lindsay Chouinard recently received four National Letters of Intent for the 2009 season from catcher Carly Norton, outfielder Danielle Parrish, infielder Krista Matsui and outfielder Ashley Cann.

With the addition of Norton, an Oak Forest, Ill. native, a promising catcher was added to the 2009 roster. While at Oak Forest High School, she was a three-time first-team all-conference performer, including first-team all-area and honorable mention all-state selections during her junior year. Also in her junior year, she was named team MVP and was the MVP of the Decatur Tournament, an honor she earned in her sophomore year as well. She was a four-year letterwinner and was named team captain in each of her final three seasons.

"Carly is a program difference maker," said NIU head coach Lindsay Chouinard. "Her defensive capabilities behind the plate and at the corners coupled with her power at the plate will make an immediate impact in our line-up. Her personality and love for the game are contagious; she really believes in the direction of this program."

Left-handed outfielder Dani Parrish brings an impressive set of tools to the NIU softball program. Parrish hails from Plainfield, Ind. where she attended Plainfield High School.

"Dani is a left-handed triple threat with great speed," said Chouinard. "She is a table setter who has the ability to move from first to third in two pitches. We will look for Dani to make a statement in the box from the first pitch."

Matsui brings a solid set of defensive skills to either middle infield position. The Joliet, Ill. native played a key role in Plainfield South High School's 2006-07 Regional championship team that went 23-11, 8-6 in the Suburban Prairie Conference. She was a three-year letterwinner and a four-year basketball letterwinner. In her junior year, she was named to the Joliet Herald News honorable mention all-area team. She holds the Plainfield South High School record for career triples with six.

 

 

"Krista is one of the smoothest middle infielders I have seen," Chouinard said. "She has great range and a strong arm. When watching the game, you notice her on the field first. Krista is working hard at using her speed from the left side."

Cann's addition to the 2009 roster adds to the outfield depth as the Glenwood, Ill. native helped lead Marian Catholic High School to East Suburban Catholic Conference and Regional championships in her freshman season as the team posted a 34-6, 18-0 record. She was a four-year letterwinner and was team captain in her final two years. As a junior, she garnered first-team all-conference, Star Newspaper first-team all-area honors and was a Daily Herald honorable mention all-area selection. In her sophomore year, she was a second-team all-conference selection.

"Ashley has shown tremendous dedication to this program," said Chouinard. "As a natural lefty with years of outfield experience, she will certainly push and raise the level of play in the field and at the plate."

-NIU-