Marist Softball Signs Three To NLIs For 2012 Season

Taylor Kuzma, Janine Lalli And Melanie White All Sign With Red Foxes

 Feb. 16, 2011

 POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Marist softball head coach Joe Ausanio signed three players to National Letters of Intent for the 2012 season. The trio of new players includes New York native Janine Lalli, Taylor Kuzma from New Jersey and Melanie White who now hails from Highlands Ranch, Colo.

“We are really excited with the incoming freshman class,” Ausanio said of the group. “With no graduating seniors we felt the need to balance our classes, and feel we have accomplished that goal by bringing in these three outstanding student-athletes.”

Janine Lalli – 5-8 – Bats: Right/Throws: Right – P/INF – Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester/Hudson Valley Hurricanes Gold

In addition to playing five years of varsity softball at Eastchester High School, Lalli also lettered in basketball. She is a two-time All-State, All-Section, All-County and All-League. As a junior she compiled a record of 10-1 and struck out 134 batters in 66 innings pitched. Her earned run average was 0.32. Lalli is a two-time recipient of the New York State Scholar-Athlete Award. On the club level, Lalli and the Hudson Valley Hurricanes Gold went undefeated at the 2010 ESPN Rise/PGF Midwest Qualifier and advanced to the PGF National Tournament in Huntington Beach, Calif. Scholastically, Lalli was a member of the National Italian Honor Society.

Ausanio on Lalli: “I am excited to get Janine’s athleticism into our program. She has the potential to be a top pitcher and a dangerous hitter.”


Taylor Kuzma – 5-9 – Bats: Right/Throws: Right – OF/INF – Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck/Nightmare Gold

Kuzma is a four-year varsity starter at Colts Neck High School who has been named All-Shore, All-County and All-Regional during her scholastic career. In 18 high school games as a junior Kuzma stole 30 bases, notched seven home runs and maintained a .537 batting average. She played five years of 18u softball, four of which were spent with Nightmare Gold.

Ausanio on Kuzma: “Taylor is an all-around outstanding athlete. She brings outstanding speed and power to the table. She has the versatility to play all positions on the field.”

Melanie White – 6-0 - Bats: Right/Throws: Right – P/UTIL - Highlands Ranch, Colo./Rock Canyon/Colorado Styxx


White was a two-time team MVP and was also honored as league player of the year as a senior. She was a First Team All-League honoree as a junior and a First Team All-State choice following her senior season. The all-state accolade came at the 5A division. White helped her high school team to the state finals this year, where it finished as the runner up. Her club team, the Colorado Styxx, are the three-time state champions. Academically, White was a First Team All-State Academic honoree as a junior.

Ausanio on White: “Melanie is another player who shows extreme versatility both in the circle and the batter’s box. We expect big things from her during her time at Marist.”

Marist, which was picked to finish seven in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll, begins the 2011 season on Friday, Feb. 25 at the College of Charleston Cougar Classic. The Red Foxes will take on Iowa State and Drexel on the first day of the three-day event.