Temple University Athletics
Two Players Sign National Letters of Intent to Play Softball at Temple
11.30.12 | Softball
Amanda Gatt and Kaylyn Zierke will play for the Owls in 2014
PHILADELPHIA – Temple head softball coach Joe DiPietro has announced the signing of Amanda Gatt and Kaylyn Zierke to the class of 2017. Both players will begin their careers with the Owls during the 2014 season.
Gatt is a pitcher from Voorheesville High School in Voorheesville, N.Y. She also plays club ball for the East Coast Elite Gold under coach Ken Frye. A four year starter for her high school team, Gatt has earned First-Team Colonial Council All-Star recognition three times, and is a two-time First-Team Small School All-Star. Last season, she was named first-team all-state by the New York State Sportswriters Association while also setting her school's strikeout record with 335 K's in 156 innings of work. In addition to her athletic accolades, Gatt is also a 2012 National Honor Society inductee.
“Amanda will bring a lot of positive attributes to our team next year,” commented DiPietro. “She's a quality pitcher that throws in the 63-64 MPH range. She will bring more depth to an already deep staff. Signing Amanda was very important for me. I know she's going to work extremely hard this summer so she can come in and compete for innings right away.”
Zierke, or KZ as she is known, is a catcher from Hanover Park, Ill. Now in her senior year at Bartlett High School, Zierke also plays club ball for The New Lennox Lightning Gold under coach Jim Abbott. A four-year starter at Bartlett, she was the team captain of last year's squad which was the state runner-up. A two-time first-team all-conference selection, Zierke holds a career batting average of .385. A 2012 second-team all-state selection, she is also a menace behind the plate, throwing out 80% of the attempted steals against her.
“KZ is going to be a big asset to us as we move forward,” said DiPietro. “She's a strong, tough athletic player that has an above average arm as well as power to all fields at the plate. With Kayla Cook graduating, it was very important to add such a quality catcher like KZ. She's going to do some incredible things for us.”
“Signing these two quality young women continues the path that I've taken with players,” remarked DiPietro. “Not only are they very good players but they're even better people. Both will leave here with a quality Temple education and I couldn't be happier for both.”
For more information on Temple softball, visit www.facebook.com/Temple-University-Softball and www.twitter.com/TUSB_owls.
Gatt is a pitcher from Voorheesville High School in Voorheesville, N.Y. She also plays club ball for the East Coast Elite Gold under coach Ken Frye. A four year starter for her high school team, Gatt has earned First-Team Colonial Council All-Star recognition three times, and is a two-time First-Team Small School All-Star. Last season, she was named first-team all-state by the New York State Sportswriters Association while also setting her school's strikeout record with 335 K's in 156 innings of work. In addition to her athletic accolades, Gatt is also a 2012 National Honor Society inductee.
“Amanda will bring a lot of positive attributes to our team next year,” commented DiPietro. “She's a quality pitcher that throws in the 63-64 MPH range. She will bring more depth to an already deep staff. Signing Amanda was very important for me. I know she's going to work extremely hard this summer so she can come in and compete for innings right away.”
Zierke, or KZ as she is known, is a catcher from Hanover Park, Ill. Now in her senior year at Bartlett High School, Zierke also plays club ball for The New Lennox Lightning Gold under coach Jim Abbott. A four-year starter at Bartlett, she was the team captain of last year's squad which was the state runner-up. A two-time first-team all-conference selection, Zierke holds a career batting average of .385. A 2012 second-team all-state selection, she is also a menace behind the plate, throwing out 80% of the attempted steals against her.
“KZ is going to be a big asset to us as we move forward,” said DiPietro. “She's a strong, tough athletic player that has an above average arm as well as power to all fields at the plate. With Kayla Cook graduating, it was very important to add such a quality catcher like KZ. She's going to do some incredible things for us.”
“Signing these two quality young women continues the path that I've taken with players,” remarked DiPietro. “Not only are they very good players but they're even better people. Both will leave here with a quality Temple education and I couldn't be happier for both.”
For more information on Temple softball, visit www.facebook.com/Temple-University-Softball and www.twitter.com/TUSB_owls.
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