The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball inks four players to its 2019-20 signing class
11.14.2018 | Softball
Corona, Green, Marder and Popelka sign NLI’s to join Texas Softball
AUSTIN, Texas – Head softball coach Mike White and the University of Texas softball program announced on Wednesday the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLI) for the 2019-20 academic school year.
Signees include (Position/Hometown/High School/Travel Ball Team): Camille Corona (IF/Dripping Springs, Texas/Dripping Springs High School/Texas Bombers & Blaze United), Grace Green (LHP/North Richland Hills, Texas/Birdville High School/Team Mizuno Impulse), London Marder (C-UTIL/Humble, Texas/Atascocita High School/Scrap Yard Internationals) and Alyssa Popelka (IF-UTIL/Austin, Texas/Westwood High School/Texas Premier Fastpitch).
"We're excited to bring in our first Texas class as a coaching staff," White said. "This group includes pitching, infield, outfield and hitting depth for our program. Overall, we're very pleased with this class. It will help us as a complete unit, and we see them as being immediate contributors for our squad."
Texas Softball Signing Class (as of Nov. 14, 2018)
Camille Corona
Position: Infielder
Hometown: Dripping Springs, Texas
High School: Dripping Springs H.S.
Travel Ball: Texas Bombers & Blaze United
A local product and three-sport standout at Dripping Springs H.S., Corona heads to the Forty Acres with an impressive list of accolades in tow. Her school's career record holder for hits (180), batting average (.483) and stolen bases (106), Corona is a two-time Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) and Texas Sportswriters Association (TXSWA) 5A All-State selection (2017, 2018), a three-time Austin American-Statesman All-Centex honoree and a three-time Texas UIL All-District First Team choice (District 25-5A in 2016, District 26-5A in 2017 & 2018). While helping Dripping Springs to a Bi-District title and into the state playoffs as a junior, the 2018 TGCA 5/6A All-Star and District 26-5A Defensive MVP set a school record with a .577 batting average and 64 hits (broke her own hit record) to go along with 36 runs scored, 22 steals, nine doubles, 10 triples and 29 RBIs while registering a .593 on-base percentage. During her sophomore campaign in 2017, she helped lead Dripping Springs to a third-place finish in the state 5A playoffs while hitting .447 with 63 hits, 48 runs scored and a school-record 57 stolen bases. With her club team, the Texas Bombers, Corona contributed to top five finishes at the 2018 PGF Premiere (third), 2018 USSSA WFC (third), 2018 ASA National (fifth) and the 2016 Top Gun Invitational (fourth). For batting .556 overall at the 2018 PGF Premiere, she was named to the event's all-tournament team. Off the field, Corona has proven equally adept, earning three Texas UIL Academic All-District honors while being named to the National Honor Society.
Mike White on Camille Corona: "Camille is a very talented middle infielder who will be a triple threat for our program."
Grace Green
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Hometown: North Richland Hills, Texas
High School: Birdville H.S.
Travel Ball: Team Mizuno Impulse
Rated the No. 10 prospect on Extra Inning Softball's Extra Elite 100 list and twice at No. 11 in FloSoftball's Hot 100 rankings, Green helped lead her Birdville H.S. softball team to the school's first state title as a freshman with an 8-7 win over Gregory-Portland H.S. in the 2016 Texas UIL Class 5A State Championship at Red & Charline McCombs Field. During that season, Green was named to the TGCA All-State 5A and UIL State All-Tournament Teams and was chosen as the Dallas Morning News Newcomer of the Year and the Dallas-Fort Worth Freshman Pitcher of the Year after posting a 1.42 ERA and 229 strikeouts while also batting .418 overall. As a sophomore, Green was again named to the TGCA All-State 5A squad and tabbed as both district and DFW Metroplex MVP while striking out 211 batters, posting a 1.42 ERA and hitting .383 in helping Birdville to a UIL regional semifinal. Green was forced to miss her entire junior campaign because of knee surgery. She has played travel softball with Team Mizuno Impulse and head coach Jason Gwyn. Off the field, Green has been an academic all-district choice as well as member of the National Honor Society.
Mike White on Grace Green: "Grace is a very crafty left-handed pitcher that possesses a strong mix of speed and movement."
London Marder
Position: Catcher/Utility
Hometown: Humble, Texas
High School: Atascocita H.S.
Travel Ball: Scrap Yard Internationals
Listed at No. 38 on Extra Inning Softball's Extra Elite 100 list, Marder is fresh off helping guide Atascocita H.S. to the first UIL Texas Class 6A State Softball Championship in school history with a 5-3 win over Comal Canyon H.S., which was listed as MaxPreps No. 1 ranked team in the nation. During the run, she was named to the UIL Class 6A State All-Tournament Team as well as first-team all-district after batting a career-best .321 with 35 hits, 11 doubles, two HR's and 28 RBIs as a junior. She was also part of Atascocita's UIL Class 6A State semifinal run in 2016 and a regional semifinalist in 2017. For her career, Marder is a .299 hitter with 58 runs scored, 21 doubles and 45 RBIs. With her club team, the Scrap Yard Internationals, she was part of the 2018 16-Under TCS National Champions and visited Japan in August 2018 on a trip to play the Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education over four games. Marder has also been a standout on the volleyball court at Atascocita, earning a pair of all-district accolades while helping her team to a 2016 Bi-District title.
Mike White on London Marder: "London is going to add more depth for us at catcher. She possesses a strong bat that will contribute to our offense."
Alyssa Popelka
Position: Infielder/Utility
Hometown: Austin, Texas
High School: Westwood H.S.
Travel Ball: Texas Premier Fastpitch
Another local product out of Westwood H.S., Popelka is coming off a junior season in 2018 that saw her bat .592 overall with 45 hits, 29 runs scored, nine extra-base hits and 30 stolen bases on the way to earning TXSWA All-State 6A Third Team, Austin American-Statesman All-Centex Second Team and All-District 13-6A First Team and Co-Offensive Player of the Year accolades. As a freshman, she was tabbed TXSWA All-State 6A Honorable Mention, second team Austin American-Statesman All-Centex and first team All-District 13-6A after batting .342 with 27 hits, 26 runs, 28 steals and a .453 OBP. Popelka has played travel ball with the Wildthings, Texas Stix and currently with Texas Premier Fastpitch and head coach Mark Short. Academically, she is a two-time Academic All-District 13-6A choice, a National Honor Society member and has earned three Westwood H.S. 4.0 Academic Awards.
Mike White on Alyssa Popelka: "Another speedster from the left side of the plate, Alyssa is an athletic talent with excellent speed. She possesses both middle infield and outfield ability, so she is a true utility player."