LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Softball Head Coach Jen Starek has announced the addition of eight newcomers to the River Hawk squad as they gear up for the 2023 season.

In just her second year at the helm, Starek adds two graduate transfers, one sophomore transfer and five freshmen, giving experience and depth to the roster. The River Hawks are set to begin play in February of 2023. 

"We are really excited about the new players and the immediate impact they will have on the program," said Starek. 

RIVER HAWKS PLAYER PROFILES  

Name: Emily Reid  
Hometown/High School: Dighton, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth
Previous School: Maine
Class: Graduate Student 
Position: Pitcher
Height: 5-8
Major: Physical Therapy

As a Senior (at Maine): Started 16 of the 31 games she appeared in ... finished the season with a team-leading 88.1 innings pitched, supporting a 5.47 ERA and 1.81 WHIP ... had a record of 3-11 with two complete games and one save ... team-leading 53 strikeouts to 36 walks. 
As a Junior (at Maine): Started two of the eight games she appeared in ... finished the season with 8.1 innings pitched, supporting a 9.24 ERA ... had a record of 1-1 ... nine strikeouts to 12 walks.

As a Sophomore (at Maine): **Season shortened due to COVID-19** Started two of the four games she appeared in ... finished the season with 10 innings pitched, supporting a 3.50 ERA ... seven strikeouts to five walks.

As a Freshman (at Maine): Started 15 of the 23 games she appeared in ... finished her rookie campaign with a team-leading 92.2 innings pitched, supporting a 4.38 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP ... had a 4-14 record with five complete games ... 55 strikeouts to only 43 walks ... tallied three five-strikeout games ... one shutout relief appearance.

High School: All-Conference First Team selection as a senior ... had 145 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched, supporting a 0.45 ERA as a senior ... 11-2 record as a senior ... played in the state semi-final game as a senior ... National Honors Society member. 

Personal: Daughter of Martha and Carl ... has two brothers (Tyler and Zack) ... her father, Carl, played baseball at University of Rhode Island ... her brother, Zack, played baseball at UMass Dartmouth ... enjoys playing intramurals with her friends, skiing and working out ... favorite TV shows are Grey's Anatomy and Jeopardy ... fan of the Boston Red Sox ... lists Joe Kelley and Pedro Martinez as her favorite athletes ... greatest sports memory was pitching in the conference championship her senior year of high school.  

Name: Mya Case
Hometown/High School: Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee
Previous School: New Haven
Class: Graduate Student
Position: Infielder/Outfielder
Height: 5-5
Major: Business Administration (MBA) 

As a Senior (at New Haven): Northeast-10 All-Conference Second Team selection ... started all 40 games ... team-leading .318 batting average, 41 hits and 23 runs scored ... four doubles, seven home runs and 16 RBI ... strung together two seven-game hitting streaks.

As a Junior (at New Haven): Started all 37 games at shortstop ... finished the season with 34 hits and a .296 batting average ... seven doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI and 28 runs scored ... strung together a four-game hitting streak ... Northeast-10 Academic Honor Roll ... Fall 2020 Dean's List.

As a Freshman (at New Haven): Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team selection ... Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team selection ... D2CCA All-East Region Team ... started all 49 games at shortstop and catcher ... finished her rookie campaign with 53 hits and a .344 batting average ... 14 doubles, one home run, 35 RBI and 29 runs scored ... Northeast-10 Academic Honor Roll ... Fall 2018 Dean's List.     

High School: Made the varsity team all four years ... team captain as a senior ... team Player of the Year and MVP as a junior ... National Honors Society member.

Personal: Daughter of Sara and Patrick ... her father, Patrick, played baseball at LeMoyne College ... has one sister (Kayla) ... enjoys hiking, traveling and spending time with family and friends ... favorite TV show is Yellowstone ... fan of the New York Yankees and Buffalo Bills ... lists Derek Jeter as her favorite athlete ... greatest sports memory was hitting a home run in her last at bat of her University of New Haven career. 

Name: Trinadey Santiago 
Hometown/High School: Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire
Previous School: American International College
Class: Sophomore
Position: Catcher/Infielder 
Height: 5-5
Major: Education

As a Freshman (at American International College): Played in 17 of 42 games ... finished her rookie campaign with 11 hits and a .239 batting average ... four doubles, two home runs, nine RBI and four runs scored ... strung together a four-game hitting streak.

High School: CHSCA All-State Selection ... Gametime CT Second Team All-State Selection ... All-Southern Connecticut Conference Selection ... Southern Connecticut Conference All-Academic Selection ... George DeMaio Player of the Year. 

Personal: Daughter of Candice and Michael ... has one brother (Quentin) ... enjoys drawing and listening to music ... favorite TV show is Shameless ... fan of the Boston Red Sox ... lists Alex Hugo as her favorite athlete ... greatest sports memory was hitting a three-run walk off, allowing her friend be the winning run before she left for her last game of travel ball.

Name: Giana LaCedra
Hometown/High School: Tyngsboro, Mass./Lowell
Class: Freshman
Position: Pitcher
Height: 5-6
Major: Elementary/Special Education

High School: Four-time Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year ... four-time MVC Most Valuable Player ... four-time MVC All-Conference ... four-time Boston Globe and Boston Herald Player of the Year ... four-time All-Scholastic Spring Athlete ... most strikeouts in school history ... most wins in school history ... most shutouts in school history ... most consecutive wins in school history ... most strikeouts in a game ... three-time team captain ... high honor roll.

Personal: Daughter of Kimberley and Chris... Has two siblings (Giacobbe and Giuliana) ... enjoys coaching, cooking, reading, arts, music and traveling ... favorite TV show is Grey's Anatomy ... fan of the Boston Celtics ... chose UMass Lowell because she would be able to work within the Lowell Public Schools and go to her siblings' sports events ... greatest sports memory was being awarded Gatorade Player of the Year four years in a row and being the only player in the nation to do so.

Name: Katelyn Fitzgerald
Hometown/High School: Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon
Class: Freshman
Position: First Base
Height: 5-6
Major: Biology

High School: Two-time All-Conference First Team ... two-time All-Area Second Team ... team co-captain ... National Honors Society member.

Personal: Daughter of Kelly and Daniel ... has two siblings (Andrew and Erin) ... enjoys traveling, playing with her dogs and hanging out with friends ... favorite TV show is Friends ... fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Red Sox ... lists Mike Trout as her favorite athlete ... chose to attend UMass Lowell because she loved how big the campus was, the amount of support that student-athletes get as well as the education programs that it offers.

Name: Jordan Chamberlain
Hometown/High School: Wolcott, Conn./Wolcott
Class: Freshman
Position: Outfielder
Height: 5-11
Major: Applied Biomedical Science

Personal: Daughter of Cheryl and Brian ... has one brother (Jason) ... enjoys lifting and cooking ... favorite TV shows are 24 and Criminal Minds ... fan of the New York Yankees and Green Bay Packers ... lists Mark Teixeira as her favorite athlete ... greatest sports memory was making the game-saving diving catch in the conference championship game her freshman year. 

Name: Shannon Howes
Hometown/High School: Palgrave, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas
Class: Freshman
Position: Outfielder
Height: 5-3
Major: Exercise Science

High School: First All-Star outfielder at the u19 Canadian Fastpitch Championship ... honor roll in each year of high school.

Personal: Daughter of Erin and Rodney ... has two siblings (Shea and Garrett) ... enjoys painting and hiking ... favorite TV show is Dawson's Creek ... fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Bruins ... lists Hayley Wickenheiser as her favorite athlete ... chose to attend UMass Lowell because of the great health science programs and softball program. 

Name: Kylie Frank
Hometown/High School: Hampstead, N.H./Phillips Andover 
Class: Freshman
Position: Catcher
Height: 5-2
Major: Business

High School: Spent her first two years of high school at Central Catholic ... varsity starter in all four years ... team captain as a senior ... inducted into National Honor Society during her time at Central Catholic.

Personal: Daughter of Francine and Troy ... Her brother Cole is committed to Lehigh University for Lacrosse entering in 2024 ... enjoys being outdoors and spending time at the lake ... favorite TV show is Yellowstone ... fan of the New England Patriots ... lists Tom Brady as her favorite athlete ... chose to attend UMass Lowell because of its Division I status and proximity to home.