KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan softball head coach Kathy Leitke will welcome a quartet of freshmen to the program in 2011 with the addition of Marisa Belpedio (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park & River Forest), Tara Buchanan (La Porte, Ind./Kankakee CC/La Porte), Allie Carlson (Gladstone, Mich./Gladstone) and Myranda McDonald (LeRoy, Mich./Pine River).
The Broncos will solidify their infield four the next four years as Buchanan and Belpedio play shortstop and first/third base, respectively and both McDonald and Carlson have experience behind the plate.
Belpedio, who is coached by former Bronco Gina Dobbs, hit .327 with a .561 slugging percentage, two home runs, five doubles, six triples and 17 RBIs in 2009. She is also a member of the Illinois Bandits travel team, batting .397 with 23 RBIs and seven home runs during the team's last season. Belpedio has been a member of a pair of AFA National Championship teams, winning the 10U title in 2002 and 14U in 2006.
Coach Leitke on Maris Belpedio
"Marisa swings a strong batand has a great deal of excitement for the game."
Buchanan joins the Broncos after a stint at Kankakee Community College where she earned First Team NJCAA All-American and NFCA All-American honors. She hit .442 with 17 doubles and home runs to go along with 66 RBIs, drawing 44 walks. She was First Team All-Region IV and was named to the all-tournament team in the regional.
Coach Leitke on Tara Buchanan
"Tara is a strong, intense all around player. She has power and has proven herself at the junior college leve and we are looking forward to her transition to Division I softball."
Carlson's high school team won the Division III state championship with her as the starting catcher this past year and she received honorable mention for all-state. She led her team in home runs (7) and doubles, batting .333.
Coach Leitke on Allie Carlson
"We are looking forward to Allie stepping in and taking charge behind the plate. She has proven herself to be strong in the batter's box as well as behind the plate during her high school career."
McDonald is a three-sport student-athlete at Pine River High School, serving as captain on her softball and basketball teams as third baseman/catcher and point guard, respectively. She is an all-conference outside hitter on her volleyball team as well. McDonald has earned all-conference, all-district and All-Area Dream Team three years in a row and was a member of the Pioneer Dream Team as a junior. She is all-conference in basketball as well, earning the honor twice so far.
Coach Leitke on Myranda McDonald
"Myranda brings a great deal of power and a 'bulldog' approach to the game."
Western Michigan opens the 2010 campaign at the Kajikawa Classic (Feb. 11-14) where the team will face five opponents, including Arizona, which advanced to the Women's College World Series and finished the year ranked No. 7, and California, which advanced to the Super Regional and finished 2009 ranked No. 11.
