UCLA Softball Announces #1-Ranked Signing Class

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UCLA head softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez has announced her 2017 signing class, as Megan Faraimo (Vista, Calif./Cathedral Catholic HS/Corona Angels), Kelly Flynn (Scottsdale, Ariz./Arcadia HS/Oro Valley Suncats), Kelli Godin (Seal Beach, Calif./Mater Dei HS/So Cal Athletics), Shea Moreno (Sacramento, Calif./Sheldon HS/Sorcerer), Colleen Sullivan (Poway, Calif./Poway HS/OC Batbusters) and Anna Vines (Temecula, Calif./Vista Murrieta HS/Firecrackers) have each signed their National Letters of Intent. The group of six will join the Bruins for the 2018-2019 season.

"I'm very fortunate to have the most decorated player in the history of our game, Lisa Fernandez, in charge of recruiting for UCLA softball," Inouye-Perez said. "She covers the country looking for the best talent on the field who also excel in the classroom. We are proud to say we have the #1 recruiting class in the country, according to FloSoftball. We welcome six new Bruins to the family who bring championship experience on the field. This class represents our UCLA softball tradition of excellence and will impact the program immediately."

Faraimo, a right-handed pitcher and first baseman, will begin her fourth year on the Cathedral Catholic softball team this spring and also played three seasons on the women's volleyball squad (2014-2016). The #1 player ranked for the 2018 class, according to FloSoftball, Faraimo was the 2017 San Diego Union Tribune/San Diego Hall of Champions Prep Female Athlete and Pitcher of the Year, '17 Gatorade Player of the Year nominee and 2017 NFCA Second Team All-American and First Team All-Region selection. In her junior campaign, she went 27-1 with a 0.60 earned run average and 251 strikeouts in 175 1/3 innings, adding a .402 batting average, three home runs and 26 runs batted in.

"Megan is a fierce competitor who has championship experience on the mound," Inouye-Perez said. "Megan is the top pitcher in her class and will bring great confidence to our program both as a pitcher and hitter."

The Dons, under coach Margaret Mauro, won the 2017 Western League title and the All-CIF SDS Open Division, as Faraimo was the league MVP, All-CIF Pitcher of the Year and Cal-Hi Sports and MaxPreps All-State. She enters her senior campaign as the school-record holder in strikeouts for a career and strikeouts and wins for a single season. Faraimo plays travel ball with Corona Angels 18 Gold under coach Marty Tyson. The team captain went 4-1 with a 0.21 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 33 innings at the 2017 PGF National Tournament. Corona Angels won the 2014 PGF 14U National Championship and was also runner-up at the 2017 PGF 18U.

"I love the academic and athletic excellence that UCLA offers and the championship culture that UCLA represents and stands for," Faraimo said.

Flynn has played center field and second base for three years at Arcadia under coach Jason Foster. She has been named Scottsdale All-City and MaxPreps All-Section First Team three times, as well as MaxPreps and Arizona Republic All-State First Team as a junior and senior. Flynn was listed by FloSoftball as #40 on the 2018 Hot 100. As a junior, Flynn hit .608 with four homers, 46 RBI, 48 runs, 12 doubles and 10 stolen bases. The Titans finished in third in Arizona Division 5 in her sophomore season. She also holds a 4.3 grade point average, ranking in the top five percent of the AHS class of 2018.

"Kelly is a solid utility player who will help our team in many ways," Inouye-Perez said. "She will add speed on the bases and she has a work ethic that will inspire everyone around her."

Flynn currently plays travel ball with Oro Valley Suncats under coach Todd Judge, helping them to an invite to 2017 PGF Nationals, as well as a title at the '17 PGF Fall Shootout. Flynn also played in the PGF National Qualifier in 2013, 2015 and 2016 with Arizona Hotshots Elite under coach Todd Mabrey.

"I got on campus when I was 14 and I knew right away this was the school I was going to," Flynn said. "It's hard to describe, but it was a feeling that this was the one."

Godin is a two-sport star at Mater Dei, having played three years of left-side infield and outfield for the softball team and two seasons as a relay and long jumper on the track squad. She has been named a two-time MDHS Offensive Player of the Year, as well as two-time Second Team All-County and First Team All-Trinity League. As a junior, Godin hit .424 with a .486 on base percentage and 22 stolen bases. Godin helped the Monarchs to a CIF Division I title in her sophomore season. She has been coached at Mater Dei by Jessica Foley and Tia Meza. With the track team, Godin has been a five-time CIF finalist, CIF Champion in the 400 Relay as a junior and two-time Orange County Champion.

"Kelli is very athletic and one of the fastest players in the country," Inouye-Perez said. "She can play any position on the softball field and will be a great strength to our lineup offensively and defensively."

Godin currently plays travel ball with So Cal Athletics under coach Bruce Richardson. Her team finished fifth at the 2017 PGFs, where she hit .520 with 11 runs scored and seven steals. This fall, Godin has hit .507 with 21 runs and 16 steals in 23 games. She has also played travel ball with USA Athletics under coach Terry Thompson.

"I chose UCLA because of the competition on the field and in the classroom," Godin said.

Moreno is a two-sport athlete at Sheldon High, about to begin her fourth season on the softball team under coach Mary Jo Truesdale and having just completed her third year on the volleyball squad. She has been named First Team All-Delta League and All-Metro each of the last two softball seasons, while also earning First Team All-City as a junior and Second Team All-City as a sophomore. Last season, Moreno was Second Team All-State, First Team All-State Underclassman and Best Offensive Player, as she hit .430. The Huskies have won three Section Championships in softball.

"Shea is a very strong and versatile athlete," Inouye-Perez said. "She hits for power and has a strong arm at third base and behind the plate. Shea has been coached and mentored by one of our Bruin greats, Lyndsey Klein.

"I chose UCLA because of the family environment and the legacy," said Moreno, who plays travel ball with Sorcerer. "UCLA was my dream college since I was nine years old. I watched them play in the 2010 Women's College World Series and saw their passion and love for the game, and all I could think was how bad I wanted to be a part of a program like that. I also chose UCLA because of the coaches. They are the best coaches in the world and I can't imagine being coached by any other staff."

Sullivan, who missed her junior season at Poway, will return for her third and final season behind the plate this spring under coach Jim Bennet. Owner of a 4.8 grade point average, Sullivan was Honorable Mention All-CIF and Palomar League as a sophomore, as the Titans were CIF Open Division runners up. As a freshman, she was Second Team All-CIF and Honorable Mention All-League, helping PHS to a CIF title, while recording seven home runs and 33 runs batted in.

"Colleen brings big game experience, as she has helped her club team win championships with her powerful swing," Inouye-Perez said. "Sully has a high-level softball IQ and can be the quarterback behind the plate and at first base for us."

Sullivan, who is ranked #24 in the nation for the 2018 class by FloSoftball, plays with Orange County Batbusters under coach Mike Stith. She helped her team to a victory at Nationals in 2015, a year she hit .466 with 18 homers.

"UCLA has the ultimate combination of a stellar education, a championship softball program, a beautiful location close to home and a family environment," Sullivan said.

Vines has prepped at Vista Murrieta for the last three seasons under coach Katy Torazas. She has been a First Team All-Southwestern League honoree each year and helped the Broncos to a league title in 2017. Vines plays travel ball with Firecrackers under coaches Tony Rico and Rob Wild. She is ranked 17th in the FloSoftball Hot 100.

"Anna will bring speed and athleticism to our lineup," Inouye-Perez said. "She is a true triple threat who can hit, slap and bunt to get on base. Anna has experience in the infield and outfield and will impact our lineup."

"I decided to attend UCLA because of the great academics, athletics and environment," Vines said.

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UCLA Softball Announces #1-Ranked Signing Class

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