Lombardi Signs Three Top 35 Recruits
11/14/18 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. – Melyssa Lombardi got her first signing period as Oregon's head softball coach off to a strong start on Wednesday, signing three top-level recruits to National Letters of Intent to join the Ducks in the fall of 2019.
The Ducks will add infielder Ariel Carlson, utility player Deijah Pangilinan and pitcher Megan Kliethermes - three players ranked in the top 35 nationally on FloSoftball's hot 100 rankings.
"I couldn't be more excited to welcome Ariel, Deijah and Makenna to our Duck family," said Lombardi. "These are three really talented players who are going to be able to make an impact for us as soon as they arrive on campus."
ARIEL CARLSON
IF | Eugene, Ore. | Marist HS | No. 21 in FloSoftball Rankings
Bio: A Eugene native and local star at Marist High School, Carlson was named the Gatorade Oregon player of the year last season after hitting .682 with 19 home runs, 71 RBIs and a .737 on-base percentage. Through three seasons at Marist, Carlson has racked up 51 home runs and 195 RBIs, and she has also shined for the Beverly Bandits club team. Carlson has also been a force in the circle, where she went 22-2 with a 1.09 ERA and 204 strikeouts as a junior. Carlson is the highest-ranked Oregon recruit at No. 21 in the FloSoftball hot 100 rankings.
Lombardi: "When I think of Ariel Carlson, I think of legitimate power at the plate. She has the ability to drive the gaps, and she can also leave the ballpark. She will be a big run producer for us who will provide power, and I have also been very impressed with her defensively as well as her versatility as an athlete."
Ariel: "I chose Oregon for many reasons. First is the simple fact that I want to win a national championship, and I know I can accomplish that at Oregon. I also chose Oregon because of the overwhelming amount of support I will receive from the coaches, teammates and University, but also from the entire community of Eugene. When I first committed I never thought too much about how close to home I was, but now I am so grateful that the eighth-grade Ariel chose a school that allows my family to be in the stands at every home game. Lastly, I chose Oregon knowing that when I graduate four years later, I will be the best softball player and the best woman that I can be."
MAKENNA KLIETHERMES
RHP | Wardsville, Mo. | Blair Oaks HS | No. 31 in FloSoftball Rankings
Bio: One of the top-ranked pitchers in the 2019 class, Kliethermes was twice a first-team all-state honoree at Blair Oaks High School in Missouri, leading the Lady Falcons to a 24-1 record and their second district championship in the last three years this fall. A strikeout pitcher, Kliethermes struck out 16 in a two-hit shutout to send Blair Oaks to the state final four yet again last month. The No. 31 ranked player by FloSoftball, Kliethermes played club ball for the DeMarini Aces.
Lombardi: "Makenna is a right-handed pitcher who creates a ton of spin on the ball, which allows her to have excellent movement on all of her pitches. She is a fierce competitor who knows what it takes to win, and her composure on the mound and ability to lead is very impressive. I expect Makenna to make an impact for us from the very start."
Makenna: "I chose the University of Oregon because when I stepped foot on the campus, it felt like home to me. Everyone was so nice and friendly that I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else."
DEIJAH PANGILINAN
OF | Vallejo, Calif. | St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS | No. 28 in FloSoftball Rankings
Bio: Pangilinan joins the Ducks out of Vallejo, Calif., where she played for a California Cruisers club team that also produced current Ducks Jasmine Sievers, Rachel Cid and Mia Camuso. The No. 28 recruit by FloSoftball, Pangilinan was the co-MVP of the Tri-Country Athletic League Rock Division as a junior.
Lombardi: "Deijah is an elite athlete who excels both on offense and defense. Defensively she has a strong arm and great range in the outfield, and offensively she is an athlete who will hit for power and for average. Deijah is a complete player who is going to be able to set the table for us as well as drive in runs. She's the total package."
Deijah: "I chose Oregon because it was my dream school. I love how the team plays the game, as well as their vibes and swag. I have always felt like the University of Oregon was the right place for me, and that motivated me to work hard in my own softball career to give myself a chance to make it to my dream school. I visited UO when I was entering my eighth-grade year, and I immediately fell in love with the campus, the beauty of the town and, of course, the energy the two brought to the athletic team's games. It was then that I knew I wanted to go there and nowhere else."
The Ducks will add infielder Ariel Carlson, utility player Deijah Pangilinan and pitcher Megan Kliethermes - three players ranked in the top 35 nationally on FloSoftball's hot 100 rankings.
"I couldn't be more excited to welcome Ariel, Deijah and Makenna to our Duck family," said Lombardi. "These are three really talented players who are going to be able to make an impact for us as soon as they arrive on campus."
ARIEL CARLSON
IF | Eugene, Ore. | Marist HS | No. 21 in FloSoftball Rankings
Bio: A Eugene native and local star at Marist High School, Carlson was named the Gatorade Oregon player of the year last season after hitting .682 with 19 home runs, 71 RBIs and a .737 on-base percentage. Through three seasons at Marist, Carlson has racked up 51 home runs and 195 RBIs, and she has also shined for the Beverly Bandits club team. Carlson has also been a force in the circle, where she went 22-2 with a 1.09 ERA and 204 strikeouts as a junior. Carlson is the highest-ranked Oregon recruit at No. 21 in the FloSoftball hot 100 rankings.
Lombardi: "When I think of Ariel Carlson, I think of legitimate power at the plate. She has the ability to drive the gaps, and she can also leave the ballpark. She will be a big run producer for us who will provide power, and I have also been very impressed with her defensively as well as her versatility as an athlete."
Ariel: "I chose Oregon for many reasons. First is the simple fact that I want to win a national championship, and I know I can accomplish that at Oregon. I also chose Oregon because of the overwhelming amount of support I will receive from the coaches, teammates and University, but also from the entire community of Eugene. When I first committed I never thought too much about how close to home I was, but now I am so grateful that the eighth-grade Ariel chose a school that allows my family to be in the stands at every home game. Lastly, I chose Oregon knowing that when I graduate four years later, I will be the best softball player and the best woman that I can be."
MAKENNA KLIETHERMES
RHP | Wardsville, Mo. | Blair Oaks HS | No. 31 in FloSoftball Rankings
Bio: One of the top-ranked pitchers in the 2019 class, Kliethermes was twice a first-team all-state honoree at Blair Oaks High School in Missouri, leading the Lady Falcons to a 24-1 record and their second district championship in the last three years this fall. A strikeout pitcher, Kliethermes struck out 16 in a two-hit shutout to send Blair Oaks to the state final four yet again last month. The No. 31 ranked player by FloSoftball, Kliethermes played club ball for the DeMarini Aces.
Lombardi: "Makenna is a right-handed pitcher who creates a ton of spin on the ball, which allows her to have excellent movement on all of her pitches. She is a fierce competitor who knows what it takes to win, and her composure on the mound and ability to lead is very impressive. I expect Makenna to make an impact for us from the very start."
Makenna: "I chose the University of Oregon because when I stepped foot on the campus, it felt like home to me. Everyone was so nice and friendly that I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else."
DEIJAH PANGILINAN
OF | Vallejo, Calif. | St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS | No. 28 in FloSoftball Rankings
Bio: Pangilinan joins the Ducks out of Vallejo, Calif., where she played for a California Cruisers club team that also produced current Ducks Jasmine Sievers, Rachel Cid and Mia Camuso. The No. 28 recruit by FloSoftball, Pangilinan was the co-MVP of the Tri-Country Athletic League Rock Division as a junior.
Lombardi: "Deijah is an elite athlete who excels both on offense and defense. Defensively she has a strong arm and great range in the outfield, and offensively she is an athlete who will hit for power and for average. Deijah is a complete player who is going to be able to set the table for us as well as drive in runs. She's the total package."
Deijah: "I chose Oregon because it was my dream school. I love how the team plays the game, as well as their vibes and swag. I have always felt like the University of Oregon was the right place for me, and that motivated me to work hard in my own softball career to give myself a chance to make it to my dream school. I visited UO when I was entering my eighth-grade year, and I immediately fell in love with the campus, the beauty of the town and, of course, the energy the two brought to the athletic team's games. It was then that I knew I wanted to go there and nowhere else."
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballMelyssa Lombardi: "I love this group."
Tuesday, February 17
Ayanna Shaw: "We're in a better spot now."
Tuesday, February 17
Amari Harper: "Tweaking the little things."
Tuesday, February 17
Melyssa Lombardi: "Cannot wait to play our next game."
Wednesday, February 11
