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Dec. 8, 2009
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Seven players hailing from five states have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Boilermaker softball team in the fall of 2010. Shortstop/outfielder Tori Chiodo (Sylmar, Calif.), catcher/third baseman Danielle Fletcher (Moorpark, Calif.), first baseman Lauren Grant (Louisville, Ky.), outfielder Laura Herndon (Palm Harbor, Fla.), catcher/first baseman/outfielder Kimberly McMillan (Powder Springs, Ga.), outfielder Lindsey Rains (Fullerton, Calif.) and outfielder/infielder Andie Varsho (Chili, Wis.) make up the group. "We are hoping all seven of them will be able to make an impact on an already young team," head coach Kim Maher said. "This whole group works hard in the classroom and they want to come to Purdue because they know that with the resources we provide, they are going to get better. That was one of the key things for each of them, the ability to get better being in this program and also helping take this program to the next level." Chiodo is a three-time all-league selection at Kennedy High School, earning first team honors each of her first three years under coach Stacy Fields. She also garnered first team all-city accolades her freshman and sophomore years, while also earning team MVP honors both seasons. Chiodo batted .528 with 39 RBI, seven home runs and a .585 on-base percentage as a rookie, while garnering Daily News Newcomer of the Year honors and leading Kennedy to a runner-up finish at the all-city championship. She followed that effort with a .563 average and seven home runs her sophomore year. As a junior, she posted a .479 average with 38 runs and six homers, while also earning the Academic Achievement Award. The three-time Scholar Award winner also played varsity soccer as a freshman. The daughter of Charles and Jeannette Chiodo, plays summer ball for the Cal Sliderz and plans to major in communication at Purdue. "Tori is savvy, she's spunky, she's fun to watch and she enjoys the game," Maher said. "She very feisty offensively. She has some pop in her bat. She attacks at the plate. She's not your typical slapper. She looks like a slapper, but she is going to provide some power for us offensively. When it comes to defense, she is going to make a transition to shortstop, but she can also play in the outfield."
Fletcher, a utility player at Grace Brethren High School, is a two-time all-league performer. She garnered second team all-Marmonte league honors as a sophomore at Moorpark High School, then added first team all-Frontier league accolades her junior season at Grace Brethren. In her first two years at Moorpark under coach Meghan Stotts, Fletcher received most valuable player honors as a rookie and best offensive player accolades her sophomore year, while earning scholastic student-athlete honors both seasons. After transferring to Grace Brethren, she led the team to a league title under coach Norma Skinner, while garnering all-league accolades and the team's Best Defensive Player honors. The daughter of Robert and Lisa Fletcher plays summer ball for the Pumas 18-Gold team which finished third at the ASA National Championship, and plans to major in psychology or business at Purdue. "Danielle is going to be an impact player for us," Maher said. "She is a catcher, but also has the versatility to play third base. She has a lot of power for her stature and will definitely be in the middle of our order providing us power and driving in runs. Defensively, she is a very aggressive catcher. She is going to take command behind the plate. She has explosiveness and likes to pick runners off. She is not afraid to direct the pitchers and infield. As a catcher, you need to have that confidence, game savvy and guts to make the calls and Fletcher is definitely going to be able to do that for us." Grant is a three-time all-region selection at DuPont Manual High School under coach David Guild. She garnered all-7th Region accolades her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons, while earning team Most Outstanding Player accolades her sophomore and junior outings. The Academic All-State selection was named team's newcomer of the year award as a freshman, while also leading her cheerleading squad to a NCA National Championship. Grant also is three-year volleyball letterwinner, garnering all-district honors as a senior and leading her team to a district title her junior year. The daughter of Carl and Tonya Grant plays summer ball for the Louisville Lady Sluggers, which participated in ASA Nationals in 2009 and finished seventh at the Colorado Fireworks in 2008. Lauren played for the Louisville Stunners 14U team that won the USSSA National Championship in 2007, bringing her most valuable player honors. She plans to major in veterinary medicine at Purdue. "Lauren is a natural lefty," Maher said. "She is a first baseman with good speed. She is an aggressive base runner and will provide consistency and power to our lineup. Lauren is a hard worker, who wants to come to Purdue to make an impact while working hard and becoming a better player." Herndon is an all-state outfielder at Palm Harbor University High School. She received second team all-state accolades as a junior after batting .469 and leading her team to the Florida District 5A-9 title and a regional runner-up finish. Herndon also earned first-team all-Pinellas County Athletic Conference honors, first team all-county accolades from the St. Petersburg Times and all-Suncoast second team honors her junior year. The Principal's List and National Honor Society member also helped team to a district title and regional runner-up finish as a rookie, while starting in right field for coach Chuck Poetter. The daughter of David and Cindy Herndon plays summer ball for the Florida Gold, which won the Florida Fall State Championship in 2008. The Clearwater Community Outstanding Volunteer Award winner plans to major in business at Purdue. "Laura has been coming to our camps for the last couple of years," Maher said. "Laura has family in Indiana and she loves what Purdue softball is about. She wants to come in here and help develop and grow the program, keeping it in the postseason while taking it to the next level. Laura is defensively tough. She makes great plays and she is accurate with throws. Offensively, she is a slapper but she is working on more of a power game. She has good speed and she is tenacious on the bases." McMillan is an all-state selection at Hillgrove High School under coach Jason Campbell, garnering second team accolades as a junior and first team honors her senior year. She also received Dugout Club State Elite 80, second team all-Cobb County, Region 7AAAA all-tournament team and Hillgrove Offensive Player of the Year honors after batting .378 and leading her team to the regional title her junior season. The 2009 National Achievement Scholarship semi-finalist was named to the All-City/South Metro Team and the Atlanta Journal Constitution team as a freshman and earned 5AAAA All-Region Honorable Mention as a sophomore. In her final season, she has been named to the All-County first team (First Base) and Senior State All-Star team, while garnering first team all-state accolades. The daughter of Edward and Leslie McMillan plays travel ball for the Atlanta Vipers, which participated in the 18U Gold Nationals in 2009. The National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society member plans to major in biology at Purdue. "Kim is a natural lefty, who catches, plays first baseman and in the outfield," Maher said. "She is very athletic and has very good foot speed. Offensively, she will provide power and consistency to our lineup. Defensively, she will fill in where she is needed, behind the plate, at first or in the outfield. Kim is a hard worker on the field and in the classroom." Rains is a three-time first team all-league selection at Fullerton High School under coach Mark Takkinen. She also received her team's offensive player of the year award after her freshman and sophomore seasons during which she led Fullerton to league titles. The three-time student scholar athlete also garnered team MVP honors and Lancaster Desert Classic tournament MVP accolades in 2009. Rains also played tennis for Fullerton her freshman and sophomore years and basketball as a rookie. The daughter of Ron and Leslie Rains plays summer ball for the USA Athletics 18 Gold, after spending 2003-2007 as a member of the OC Dynasty. Lindsey plans to major in chemistry with hopes of becoming a teacher or chemical engineer. "Lindsey is a natural lefty who is going to be a hitter," Maher said. "She hit for average but also has the potential to put it out. She has good foot speed and is defensively sound. Lindsey is another one who was immediately drawn to purdue and what we are trying to do. She wants to be a part of getting this program to the next level." Varsho is a two-time first team all-state selection at Marshfield High School, earning the honors as a freshman and sophomore under coach Mike Voss. She has led the WVC Conference in batting average and on-base percentage each of her first three seasons, while earning all-conference accolades each year, including Player of the Year honors as a junior. Varsho also is a three-time first team all-conference honoree on the tennis court, at #3 singles as a rookie, #2 singles as a sophomore and #1 doubles her junior year. As a senior, she garnered second team all-conference accolades at the #1 singles spot as her team won state for the second straight year. On the basketball court, the honor student was an honorable mention all-conference selection her junior season as the team won its second state title. The daughter of Gary and Kay Varsho plans to major in biology at Purdue. "Andie is a lefty slapper with good foot speed who also has the potential to put it out," Maher said. "She is defensively sound in the outfield and also is flexible enough to come into the infield. She is well-rounded athlete who plays multiple sports and plays them very well." The 2010 Boilermakers open their season at the ASU Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 12.
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