Lobo softball inks nine to incoming class
Nov. 8—University of New Mexico signed nine players to national letters of intent on Wednesday.
The class features two outfielders, two infielders, two pitchers, a pitcher who can also be a utility player, a catcher who can also play as an infielder and a utility player. Additionally, the newest Lobos span from coast to coast with a player from Virginia, four from Texas, two from New Mexico, one from Arizona and one from California.
Joining the Lobos in the fall of 2024 will be Caprice Barela, Ava Castillo, Ella Dawson, Jessica DeLeon, Natalie Fritz, Jasmyn Lloyd, Miracle Moeitai McKenzie, Mya Pacheco and Allie Williams.
Entering her second season at UNM, head softball coach Nicole Dickson noted that, "our focus for the 2024 class was adding high-level pitching and key offensive pieces with power and speed.
"I love the athleticism and competitiveness of this group- they train and play at a high level year-round. The class that we brought in has the opportunity to come in and be impact players immediately for our program," she said
Barela, a right-handed pitcher and utility player from Centennial in Las Cruces, helped lead the Hawks to two 5A district championships (2022, 2023) and in 2022, the team was the 5A state runner-up. Last year, Barela carried a 1.11 ERA with 134 strikeouts while hitting .426 behind seven doubles, four triples, seven home runs and 43 total hits.
Pacheco, also from New Mexico, is a star infielder at Cleveland. She was named the District 1-5A Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 after hitting .538 that season. In 2021, Pacheco was a part of the state and district championship team.
Dawson, a pitcher from Aldie, Virginia and Williams, an outfielder from Houston, are ranked among the top 100 high school softball players nationally.
In her most recent season, Dawson finished with a 1.786 ERA and is ranked 57th in the country.
Williams, who has a career batting average of .446 was ranked as high as 45th, nationally, in 2022.
