Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State Softball Signs Seven To National Letters Of Intent
11/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 18, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State softball coach Jacquie Joseph signed seven players to National Letters of Intent for the 2005 season, she announced Tuesday. Amanda Carlson, Heidi Charon, Caitlin Mahoney, Nikki Nicosia, Traci Nicosia, Lesley Noel and Amy Serota will join the Spartans next year. Three of the seven are Michigan natives, three are from Florida and one is from Illinois.
"This is a very good class," said Joseph. "In two years we will have turned over every starter on our team so the pressure to sign a strong, talented class this year was immense. We feel fortunate to have been able to meet all our needs. All seven are academically strong, and have very good test scores and grades."
Amanda Carlson, 3B/C, Dorr, Mich./Wayland Union HS Two-year letterwinner at Wayland Union High... Named team's rookie of the year in 2002... Also earned all-district honors in 2002 and 2003... Named Team MVP in 2003... ... Batted .381 as a junior with 31 RBIs, 12 doubles, and a .992 fielding percentage... Set the school record for putouts with 358 in 2003... Also lettered in basketball as a freshman in 2000... Named to the Detroit Free Press' Top 50 Players to Watch list in 2003... Has played with travel teams, West Michigan Heat (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Grand Rapids Blaze (Grand Rapids, Mich.)... A long-time camp participant at Michigan State... High school coach is Michigan State softball alumnus Cheri Ritz... Member of National Honor Society.
Joseph on Carlson
"Amanda has a tremendous work ethic and desire to succeed. She follows fellow Wayland graduate and 2004 senior Angel Merren to MSU, keeping a long line of Wayland alums playing at MSU."
Heidi Cheron, 1B/3B, Escanaba, Mich./Escabana HS Three-year letterwinner at Escanaba High... Earned all-state honorable mention and all-district and all-regional third-baseman honors on a team that ended the season ranked fifth in the state... Hit .311 last year with 18 runs batted in... Also had three doubles, three triples and a home run on the season... Has played on the state champion ASA team in each of the last four years, including participating in the NSA "A" World Series in 2003... Also lettered in tennis (No. 2 doubles) and volleyball, where she served as team captain in 2001 and 2002... Member of National Honor Society.
Joseph on Cheron
"Heidi is a big, strong corner player who is a teammate of another signee, Lesley Noel. We lose both our corner players this year in Brittney Green and Natalie Furrow, so depth at this position was important. Her sister, Holly, also attends MSU, and will graduate next year."
Caitlin Mahoney, SS/3B, Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary HS Three-year letterwinner at Lake Mary High... Named all-state honorable mention in softball in 2003... Three-time all-conference and all-county selection in softball (2001, 2002, 2003)... Two-time offensive player of the year at Lake Mary... Hit .447 as a freshman, .427 as a sophomore and .300 as a junior... Has 15 career doubles, seven career triples, eight career home runs and 60 career RBIs... Hit .386 for ASA team, Clearwater Lady Bombers, with 19 doubles, three triples and six home runs... Team was 2003 National Pony Champions... Also finished in third place at the 2000 ISA Nationals... Lettered in volleyball in 2003 and 2004... Will serve as softball team captain in 2004... Member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society... Who's Who Among American High School Students... Parents Tom and Lois Mahoney are graduates of Michigan State's college of business.
Joseph on Mahoney
"Caitlin has tremendous experience at the club level and has played shortstop for a very good ASA team in the Clearwater Lady Bombers. She hits with excellent power and can play either shortstop or third base well."
Nikki Nicosia, 2B/OF, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS Three-year letterwinner at St. Thomas Aquinas High... Named first-team all-state in 2003, an also set the single-season hit record at St. Thomas Aquinas, with 64... Played on the state champion team in as a sophomore (30-4) and junior (28-5)... Also named Broward County Player of the Year in 2003... Earned All-Broward County honors as a sophomore (first-team) and freshman (second-team)... Played on the ASA team Miami Waves from 1999-2002, finishing fourth in 2000 at the ASA Nationals U14 Championships... Has been a member of the Palm Beach Lady Gators (Gold) for the last year... A forward, she also lettered in soccer in 2001 and 2002... Daughter of Steve and Pam Nicosia... Twin sister Traci, also signed to play for MSU today... Father Steve, played professional baseball from 1978-85... Sister Kim played softball at Florida Atlantic from 1998-2001, while another sister, Kelly, played at Florida International from 1999-2002.
Joseph on Nikki Nicosia
"Nikki can legitimately hit from both sides of the plate. She has seen most of her time anchoring the middle infield position opposite her twin sister Traci in both high school and on her ASA Gold team, the Palm Beach Lady Gators. She can also play the outfield. She runs exceptionally well and has accounted for an average of a run per game throughout her career."
Traci Nicosia, SS/UT, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS Three-year letterwinner at St. Thomas Aquinas High... Named first-team all-state in 2002... Played on the state champion team in as a sophomore (30-4) and junior (28-5)... Also named to the All-Broward County first team in 2001, 2002 and 2003... Hit .470 with 40 RBIs in 2003, .466 with 23 RBIs in 2002 and .407 with 15 RBIs as a freshman in 2001... Played on the ASA team Miami Waves from 1999-2002, finishing fourth in 2000 at the ASA Nationals U14 Championships... Has been a member of the Palm Beach Lady Gators (Gold) for the last year... A sweeper, she also lettered in soccer in 2001 and 2002... Daughter of Steve and Pam Nicosia... Twin sister Nikki also signed to play for MSU today... Father Steve, played professional baseball from 1978-85... Sister Kim played softball at Florida Atlantic from 1998-2001, while another sister, Kelly, played at Florida International from 1999-2002.
Joseph on Traci Nicosia
"Traci is a utility infielder who can do it all. She has a strong arm, great range, good hands and can run. She has tremendous experience playing for the Palm Beach Lady Gators, an ASA Gold team."
Lesley Noel, P, Escanaba, Mich./Escanaba HS Three-year letterwinner at Escanaba High... Named all-district in 2002 and 2003; all-region and all-state in 2003... Owns a career record of 49-5... Posted an ERA of 0.19 in her junior year (2003), 0.34 as a sophomore and 0.20 as a freshman... Has struck out 577 in 358. 67 innings pitched... Hit .347 as a sophomore and .312 as a junior... Team finished as runners-up in 2003 state finals, and was ranked fifth in the final polls... Played on the Escanaba team in 2001 that reached the state semi-finals... ASA team, Besse Forest Products Class A/B won the 2003 NSA Michigan State championship, and the 2000 NSA Wisconsin State Championship... Also participated in the 2003 NSA World Series... Played on Little League World Series teams in 2001 and 2002, finishing as runners-up both years... Serving as senior class secretary... Three-year honor roll student.
Joseph on Lesley Noel
"We feel Lesley is the best pitcher in the state in her class. She lost at state in the championship game last spring, but we believe she has an excellent chance to win it all in 2004. She's a teammate with another of today's signees, Heidi Charon."
Amy Serota, OF, Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield HS A two-year letterwinner at Deerfield High... Named All-Central Suburban League in 2002 and 2003... Also named All-Northshore in 2002 and 2003 by the Pioneer Press... Team's best defensive player in 2003 and most improved in 2002... Team ended the 2003 season as sectional semi-finalists, with a 26-8 record... Deerfield has won the conference championship each of her three years... Hit .326 as a junior with six doubles and five triples... Hit .335 with seven doubles, two triples and a home run her sophomore year... Played on ASA team Illinois Chill from 2002-2003... Qualified for ASA USSSA and AFA National Tournaments... Attended the 2003 ASA National Tournament in Garland, Texas... Finished second at ASA Midwest Regionals... Two-year letterwinner in basketball... Father Scott Serota played football at Purdue from 1974-75.
Joseph on Amy Serota
"Amy is a speedy outfielder from the Chicago area. She played for a solid ASA A team in the Illinois Chill. Amy can play any outfield position and her speed will allow her to make an immediate impact on our team."
