FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University softball added five freshmen and one sophomore transfer over the offseason. In preparation for the upcoming season, the new Patriots were asked to answer a set of questions written by the coaches so that they could introduce themselves to the Patriot community.
Here are your 2024 Patriot Newcomers:
Dara Sharpe – Infielder from Louisa, Va. (Louisa County High School)
Club: Gold Rock VA 18U
Prep:
- Four-year letter earner in varsity softball and two-year letter earner in varsity indoor track
- Two-time team captain
- Two-time Second Team All-Region
- Three-time First Team Central VA All-Area Team
- First Team Free Lance Star All-Area Team
- High School Statistics: .410 batting average, 34 hits, 8 doubles, 4 triples, 1 homerun, 22 RBI, 26 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, .951 fielding percentage
- 2023 Jefferson District Champions
- 2023 Region 4D Champions
- 2023 Class 4 State Champions
- Academic: Three-time NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete
- Two-time National Honor Society member
- UVA Book Award
- Outstanding Academic Achievement
- Honors Letter Recipient
Harlowe Nigh – Pitcher/Infielder from Aldie, Va. (John Champe High School / Seton Hill University)
2023 - FRESHMAN (AT SETON HILL):
- Pitching: Appeared in 11 games, started in two
- 23.3 innings pitched
- 3.25 earned run average
- nine strikeouts
- 30 hits, 12 runs, 11 earned runs, 10 walk, five doubles, zero home runs
- 112 batters faced, .300 opposing batting average
- Season-high 4.2 innings pitched against Notre Dame (OH) (March 5)
- Season-high two strikeouts against Northwood (March 9)
- Hitting: Appeared in 17 games, started in five
- 1-for-17 with a slash line of .059 / .059 / .059
- Recorded one hit vs. WV Wesleyan (Feb. 25)
- Fielding: 0 putouts, 5 assists, 0 errors
- 1.000 fielding percentage
- Recorded two assists against Northwood (March 9)
- Academic
- Made the dean's list both semesters with a 4.0 GPA
- PSAC scholar athlete
Prep:
- Softball: Four-year varsity letter earner... Senior captain... Senior MVP
- Track and Field: Two-year varsity letter earner for indoor & field track... Sophomore Coaches' Award winner for indoor track and field
- Academic: 4.0 GPA honor roll all four years of high school
Haleigh Dellow – Pitcher from Westfield, N.Y. (Westfield Academy and Central School)
- Major: Double major in Psychology and Criminology
Club: TNT National Godard
Prep:
- Team Captain in Softball & Basketball
- Softball Career Statistics: 100+ career hits, 500+ career strikeouts, .546 batting average, 37 doubles, 11 triples, 19 home runs
- NY State records: .617 single season batting average, 14 single season doubles, 37 career doubles
- Division Campions 2022 & 2023, Sectional Champions2022 & 2023
- Ranked 2nd in NYS, All State Class D 4th Team 2021
- All-State Class D 1st Team 2022 & 2023
- All-Western NY Small School Honorable Mention 2021
- All-Western NY Small School 1st Team 2022 & 2023
- Division Pitcher of the Year 2021
- Division Player of the Year 2022 & 2023
- Post Journal Player of the Year 2021, 2022, and 2023
- Four-time First Team All-Star
- Four-time Team MVP
- Basketball Career Statistics: One Quadruple Double, Sectional Leader in blocks in a season with 98
- All State Class D 8th Team 2023
- Two-time Division 1st Team All-Star
- Character Athlete of the Game
- Two-time Team MVP
- Soccer: Division Champions 2019
- Sectional Champions 2019
- Division 2nd Team All-star
- Volleyball: Division Honorable Mention, Leader in kills
- Academics: National Honor Society member, 3rd in class, We The People Unit 3 First Place, Scholar Athlete
Emily Lampela – Outfielder from Alexandria, Va. (Hayfield High School)
Club: Orion Hunter Elite
Prep:
- Four year letterman at Hayfield Secondary School Awarded 1st team all region for 2022 and 2023 seasons 2nd team all state 2022
- #38 Player Nationally in the Class of 2023 by Extra Inning Softball (2021-2022)
- Played for Virginia Glory Mertz and Orion Hunter Elite Murphy
- Named MVP for high school seasons 2022 and 2023
- Has a career high school BA of .643
Kaleigh Friend– First baseman from West Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines Christian School)
Club: Iowa Gold
Prep:
- Five-year letters earned in softball and two-year letters earned in Track at Des Moines Christian School…Infielder
- Named West Central All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2019
- Named to IGHSAU 3A 3rd Team All-State and KMA Land 3A Offensive All-State in 2020
- Named to IGHSAU 3A 3rd Team All-State, 3A Central All-District Team, received the "Coach's Award", and 2nd Team West Central All-Conference in 2021
- Named to 2nd Team West Central All-Conference in 2022
- Named to IGHSAU 1st Team All-State, KMA Land 3A Offensive All-State, 3A Central All-District Team, 1st Team West Central All-Conference, and Academic All-State in 2023
- Team Captain 2022-23
- Career Batting Average .456
- Holds 9 Softball School Records at DMCS
- Record Holder for the Discus at DMCS
- Qualified for IGHSAU State Track for Discus in 2023
- Played for Iowa Gold club team
- Was part of National Honors Society and many other clubs
Kylie Wilkerson– Pitcher from Warrenton, Va. (Kettle Run High School)
Club: Rock Gold VA
Prep:
- Four-time varsity letter earner in softball
- Two-time First Team All-District (2022 & 2023)
- Two-time Second Team All-Region (2022 & 2023)
- Academic: National Honor Society member
