Softball Announces NLI Signing Class

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UCLA head softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez has announced the signing of six high school seniors to National Letters of Intent. Joining the Bruins next fall will be pitcher Holly Azevedo (San Jose, Calif./Pioneer HS/All American Sports Academy), outfielder Zia Norris (Harbor City, Calif./Bishop Montgomery HS/Ohana Tigers), infielder Briana Perez (Martinez, Calif./Alhambra HS/OC Batbusters), infielder Malia Quarles (Cerritos, Calif./Gahr HS/Ohana Tigers), pitcher-outfielder Julie Rodriguez (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan HS/NJ Intensity KOD Premier) and infielder Kinsley Washington (Whitter, Calif./La Salle HS/Corona Angels).

"This class has been voted number one by FloSoftball because this group can impact our program and help win a championship," Inouye-Perez said. "The athleticism and competitive mentality of this class will join our Bruin family and impact the lineup immediately. They all have a strong desire to succeed on the field and take pride in competing in the classroom for that UCLA degree. I am proud to confidently say that this group will represent the four letters with class."

Azevedo has gone back-to-back (2015-2016) with several awards over the last two seasons when she has posted the lowest earned run average in the state of California, including: Gatorade Player of the Year candidate, Mercury News Softball Player of the Year and First Team, Cal-Hi Bay Area Spring POY Central Coast Section and Prep2Prep CCS Softball POY. As a junior, she went 25-3 with a 0.18 ERA, 18 shutouts and 334 strikeouts in 191 innings. Azevedo was a MaxPreps First Team All-American in 2016, as well as a Cal-Hi Ms. Softball State POY Finalist, after earning FloSoftball and MaxPreps Second Team All-American accolades as a sophomore. She is a three-year All-Mount Hamilton League First Team and two-time league MVP honoree, having helped the Pioneer Mustangs to three CCS Championship games and three league titles. An eight-time Mercury News Santa Clara Valley Athlete of the Week, Azevedo has a three-year record of 73-7, a 0.35 ERA, 50 shutouts and 788 strikeouts in 519 innings. She is coached at Pioneer by Ernie Garcia.

"Holly is an excellent pitcher with a great presence on the mound," Inouye-Perez said. "She throws all pitches and has a wicked change up."

Azevedo, who was invited to this year's USA Softball Junior Women's National Team Selection Camp, currently plays travel ball with All American Sports Academy under coach Bryan Merrida. Her team won the 2016 PGF Ultimate Challenge, as she was the winning pitcher in the championship game. She also previously played three years with Sorcerer Gold, which finished third at the ASA/USA Champions Cup in 2016. "I decided to attend UCLA because of the academics, location and the championship softball," Azevedo said.

Norris has participated in three sports during her prep career, playing three years of softball, two seasons of track (100 meters/4x100 relay) and one year of golf. She played at Bishop Montgomery for her freshman and sophomore campaigns and at Rolling Hills Prep as a junior before returning to Bishop for her upcoming senior season. As a junior, Norris was named All-Coastal League, Daily Breeze All-Area, Cal-Hi Sports and MaxPreps All-State, MaxPreps All-American and MaxPreps Scholar-Athlete. She helped the Rolling Hills Huskies to CIF Division 7 and Coastal League titles, hitting .596 with 11 home runs, 41 runs batted in and 12 stolen bases. As a sophomore with the Bishop Montgomery Knights, she was a team captain, earning All-Camino Real League and Daily Breeze All-Area Honorable Mention accolades, also receiving Defensive Player of the Year honors. Norris hit .622 with six homers, 13 RBI and 16 steals.

"We are excited to add Zia to our roster," Inouye-Perez said. "She brings speed and athleticism to the lineup that can help us succeed."

Norris plays travel ball with Ohana Tigers under coach Shawn Quarles. "I chose to attend UCLA because it is the perfect atmosphere for me with great traditions, athletics, academics and it's a home away from home."

Perez, whose older sister, Kylee, will be entering her senior campaign when Briana joins the team next fall, is a three-time First Team All-Diablo Athletic League honoree, earning league Most Valuable Player accolades as a sophomore when she hit .608 with 14 home runs. A team captain as a junior, Perez has helped the Bulldogs to three North Coast Section and league titles. Last season, she recorded a .613 batting average with six homers. Perez, who also played one season of varsity basketball as a freshman, is coached at Alhambra by Paul Buccellato.

"Briana is an all-around phenomenal athlete," Inouye-Perez said. "She has a high softball IQ and has all parts of the game with speed, power and a cannon on defense."

Perez, who was invited to this year's USA Softball Junior Women's National Team Selection Camp, plays travel ball with OC Batbusters under coach Mike Stith. "I chose UCLA to earn a degree from one of the nation's top public universities while competing for a national championship," Perez said.

Quarles was named First Team All-Area and All-San Gabriel Valley League as a junior. She has helped the Gladiators to back-to-back, league titles, including a perfect record in 2016. Quarles plays travel ball with the Ohana Tigers.

"Malia is a pure hitter," Inouye-Perez said. "She has proven to have tremendous power and likes pressure situations, coming through in the clutch in big games."

Rodriguez has earned a pair of FloSoftball First Team All-American, All-State and All-County awards. The three-time All-Big North selection was also a 2016 MaxPreps First Team All-American, hitting .590 with a .750 on base percentage and 22 walks. Rodriguez was dubbed the #7 recruit by FloSoftball and will serve as a team captain during her senior campaign. As a sophomore, she posted new school records with a .658 batting average and 31 runs batted in, adding five home runs. Rodriguez is coached at Old Tappan by Melissa Landeck.

"Julie is one of those diamonds in the rough you always look for when recruiting," Inouye-Perez said. "She is an amazing athlete and left-handed hitter who will impact the lineup immediately."

Rodriguez plays travel ball with NJ Intensity KOD Premier under coach Kevin O'Donnell, who has called her the best hitter the organization has ever had. She has consistently hit over .450 during her time, and in her younger days, was a member of the championship team (SoCal Athletics) at the 14U ASA Nationals.

"I knew as soon as I arrived on campus that UCLA was the school for me," Rodriguez said. "The weather was perfect and the family atmosphere from the coaches and players made me feel welcome. I couldn't be happier with my choice to attend UCLA."

Washington has played on two athletic teams at La Salle, beginning her fourth year with softball next spring, while earning one letter on the varsity basketball squad. She has twice been named to the All-Del Rey League Team, while also earning team MVP, Best Defensive Player and captain honors. As the Lancers' starting shortstop for the last three years, she has a career .484 batting average, .544 on base and .762 slugging, adding eight home runs and 35 stolen bases. Washington is coached by Julie Ward.

"Kinsley comes from Bruin DNA and knows how to compete," Inouye-Perez said of Washington, whose parents met while they were undergrads at UCLA. "She is very athletic and is a great leader on the field."

Washington plays travel ball with Corona Angels under coach Marty Tyson. A team captain, she helped the Angels to a PGF Shootout Championship in 2015 and a runner-up showing at the '14 PGF National Championship. "I decided to attend UCLA because of the excellent academics, amazing athletics and great location."

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