DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University softball team signed three high school student-athletes,
Becca Barnett (Moline, Ill.),
Alexia Lara (Bettendorf, Iowa) and
Hannah Pals (Des Moines, Iowa) to National Letters of Intent for the 2019 season, head coach
Rich Calvert announced on Wednesday.
"We feel the most important aspect in the recruiting process is finding quality student-athletes that represent Drake softball both on-and-off the field," Calvert said. "It is the most versatile class we have ever had in terms of playing different positions. We could train them in the infield, outfield, behind the plate and even in the circle as all of them pitch for their high school teams."
Barnett is from just across the Iowa border in Moline, Ill., where she was selected All-Metro and Western 6 All-Conference for Moline High School in 2017 after batting .410 with two home runs, nine doubles and 36 runs batted in. She transferred to Moline after spending her first three high school years at Alleman High School. Barnett, a pitcher and shortstop, is a member of the Illinois Premier Fastpitch club.
Lara, a utility player, hails from Bettendorf, Iowa, where she is a three-year letterwinner for Pleasant Valley High School. She helped the Spartans win the 2017 Iowa Class 5A state title during a great junior season when she batted .473 with 50 RBI. She was named to the All-Iowa Elite First Team, First Team All-State, All-Metro, Mississippi Athletic All-Conference and to the Class 5A All-Tournament team. Lara is a member of the Southeast Iowa All Stars club.
The final member of the class is Pals, who played her first three high school seasons at Dowling Catholic High School. She will finish her prep career at North Polk High School. Pals is another utility player, who had an outstanding junior year for the Maroons in the circle and at the plate. She helped lead Dowling to the state tournament, batted .426 with four home runs and compiled a 0.69 earned run average and struck out 215 batters. As a junior, Pals was named first team all-state, all-district and all-CIML. She is a member of the Iowa Premier Fastpitch club.
"Time will tell on the impact they will have on the softball field, but they all come from programs, whether high school or club, that have achieved tremendous success during their time," Calvert said. "We look forward to seeing them develop over their careers."
