DePaul University Athletics
Beep-Beep: DePaul Recruits Fastest Class in Years
11/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Nov. 17, 2011
CHICAGO - A smile comes across Eugene Lenti's face as the DePaul softball coach warms to the topic of his recruiting class of 2012.
"This is the fastest recruiting class we've had in years," Lenti said. "Three of the kids have legit track-type speed, and we have two with pop in their bat.
"Our team speed hasn't been what we wanted it to be the last couple of years. You'd like to see 80-100 stolen bases a year. Now, we've added three kids with the potential to steal a lot of bases.
"We wanted to make our team faster by design, but also have some recruits with long-ball potential."
Representing the "beep-beep" side of the recruiting class are left-handed hitting outfielders Marsha (pronounced Mar-SHAY) Pendilton from Jefferson City (Mo.) High School and Cherelle Chambers of Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees, N.J. along with lefty all-around St. Ignatius standout Gena Lenti, the coach's daughter.
Providing the power is Chicago Tribune Player of the Year Morgan Maize of Leyden High School and Texas slugger Kali Gardner from Klein Oak High School.
"Marsha is the fastest player we've had in quite a while---the fastest since Liz (Bouck) Jagielski played for us (2000-03)," Lenti said of the Class 4 All-Region First Team selection who is one of the top players in central Missouri.
"Marsha's exceptional outfield speed will separate her from a lot of other players. She's going to come in and wreak havoc on the bases.
"Cherelle is similar to Marsha, and they both also ran track in high school. She is an excellent outfielder with explosive speed. Her base-stealing is going to be very distracting to pitchers."
Chambers hit .365 with a .459 on-base percentage and was also a standout on Eastern Regional's indoor track team.
Gena Lenti batted over .400 as an All-GCAC selection at shortstop last season while leading St. Ignatius in runs and stolen bases. She is a two-time, all-conference choice in softball and all-conference in basketball last winter. Lenti is also a straight-A student with a 4.0-plus grade-point average.
"She has a lot of experience up the middle, playing center field for her summer team," coach Lenti said. "Gena can play shortstop, second base, third base, catcher and all three outfield positions. She is a fearless type of player with surprising power for her size.
"Marsha, Cherelle and Gena still have a long way to go, but they could wind up being the fastest outfield we've ever had."
They'll also be setting the table for Maize and Gardner.
As a junior, Maize led Leyden to a 27-8 record and a regional title after batting .427 with 18 home runs and 77 RBIs. As a pitcher, Maize was 23-6 last season and held No. 1 Conant to two hits while belting a pair of two-run homers in a 4-1 upset for the Class 4A regional title.
Maize is also a top student who scored a 29 on her ACT.
"Morgan has excellent versatility and can play pitcher, catcher, first or third base," Lenti said. "She has a great swing and a natural feel for the game. She brings a lot to the power side of our team and is like a right-handed version of Kirsten Verdun."
Gardner is from the same high school as Blue Demon junior pitcher Bree Brown and played on the same summer team as DePaul sophomore outfielder Megan Coronado. Gardner hit .493 last season with 11 home runs and 46 RBIs. The catcher-outfielder-third baseman also had a 1.130 slugging percentage and a .617 on-base percentage for Klein Oak.
Academically, Gardner is a High Honor Roll student with a 4.22 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
"Kali will compete for playing time right away because of her offense," Lenti said. "She is an excellent hitter with a great swing who will probably spend much of her time behind the plate.
"All five of our recruits provide us with depth and versatility. None of them will be intimidated by anything they will face."
