HARRISONBURG, Va., Nov. 25, 2009 - James Madison softball head coach Katie Flynn announced today the signing of five student-athletes to national letters of intent to join the Dukes for the 2010-11 academic year.

"This is a very versatile and athletic class of future JMU softball players," said Flynn.  "They are all solid defensively and gifted offensive players.  They are multi-sport athletes at their high schools and most of them play shortstop - where the best athlete on the diamond is usually found - for their high schools."

The five newly-signed Dukes all have the ability to play multiple positions.  They include Cassidy Clayton (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough), Catherine Clavin (Puquoson, Va./Puquoson), Anna Klumpp (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View), Caitlin Sandy (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) and Lindsey Tomasz (Newburyport, Mass./Newburyport).

Clayton played her club ball for both the Concord Raiders and the South Carolina Elite.  She is a utility player who can play all of the infield positions as well as the outfield.

"Cass worked with Coach Tucker at camp this past summer and was one of two players, along with Cat Clavin, that she loved from summer recruiting and camps," commented Flynn, who enters her ninth year at the helm for the Dukes.  "She brings a powerful lefty bat to the lineup and can play any number of positions."

Clavin was all-state as a junior and is a three-time all-district and all-region selection for Puquoson High School.  She is a three-time Daily Press first-team selection, while leading her high school to back-to-back regional championships.  Clavin plays her club ball for the Virginia Legends.

"Cat is a true utility kid who impressed us with her power over the summer," said Flynn.  "She batted .389 in summer ball with four doubles, four home runs and .529 on-base percentage."

Klumpp hit .341 in summer ball for the Richmond Storm after finishing her high school season with a .571 average.  She received first-team all-district and all-region honoree, as well as an honorable mention all-state selection.  She was named Eastern View's offensive player of the year as well as a team captain.

"We found Anna at our Skyline Softball Camps.  She has great speed and a very strong arm and we think she can develop into a very good outfielder," said Flynn.

Sandy was an all-conference and all-region selection as junior at Jack Britt High School after hitting .308 with 23 RBI, 38 runs scored and a .365 on-base percentage.  She played her club ball for the North Carolina Wildcats.

"Caitlin stands out as an exceptional player at third base and reminds us defensively of Amber Kirk (2005-09)," commented Flynn.  "She is very quick with great reactions and has an amazing arm."

Tomasz was a three-sport star at Newburyport High School, playing softball, soccer and basketball.  She was named the Cape Ann League as well as the Newburyport Daily News player of the year as well as to the Boston Globe All-Scholastic team.  In 2009 she hit .667 with eight home runs and four triples and in 2008 she hit .463 with five home runs.  She played her club ball for the Massachusetts Polar Crush.

"We found Lindsey later this fall and think she is going to be a terrific shortstop," said Flynn.  She has exceptional power and overall athleticism as a soccer and basketball player."

The Dukes finished 2009 with a 35-16 record and won the program's first-ever Colonial Athletic Association Championship.  They are scheduled to open their 2010 campaign Feb. 19-21 at the College of Charleston Classic in Charleston, S.C.

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