Sorcerer 18 Gold - Mumma

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SEATTLE - Washington softball head coach Heather Tarr announced the signing of four high school seniors to National Letters of Intent this week, all of whom will join the Huskies next fall as the class of 2014.

The signees include infielder Marki Creger-Zier (Steilacoom, Wash.), outfielder Victoria Hayward (Mountain View, Calif.), pitcher Kaitlin Inglesby (Portland, Ore.) and pitcher/outfielder Whitney Jones (Upland, Calif.).

"This recruiting class has the potential to rival some of our best here at Washington," Tarr, who enters her sixth season as the Huskies head coach in 2010, said. "There is a great mixture of speed and power, with two left-handed short-game offensive threats, and two power-hitting righties. We expect all four of these young ladies to come in next year and immediately compete for playing time right away."

Hayward, who carries a 4.4 grade-point average, is a three-year captain of the Mountain View softball team, earning All-State honors in her junior year. She is a two-time De Anza league MVP and three-time All-League selection and has been named to the All-Mercury News team in each of the last two seasons. She batted .644 her junior year.

Born in Toronto, Canada, Hayward joined current Huskies Danielle Lawrie and Jenn Salling on the Canadian National Team this past summer, becoming the youngest player ever named to the National Team. She played for Team Canada in this summer's Canada Cup, KFC World Cup and Pan-Am Championships.

"We were lucky to find Victoria Hayward a bit late in the recruiting process this summer when she played with Danielle Lawrie and Jenn Salling for the Canadian National Team," Tarr said. "She's a tremendous student who will be able to achieve greatness in some of the toughest academic programs here at UW. Victoria's speed and versatility at the plate will be game-changing at this level."

Hayward plays for the Sorcerer club team, which won the 2009 ASA 18-and-under Gold National Championship. In addition to playing softball Mountain View, she is also a three-year varsity soccer player, being named an all-league defender in each of the last two seasons.

"I chose Washington for its long-standing tradition of academic excellence and commitment to providing academic support to athletes," Hayward said. "I also chose it for the spectacular campus, the quality of the softball program and the opportunity to play for Coach Tarr and her coaching staff at the highest level of college softball."

The 2009 Nation Champion Huskies begin their 2010 title defense, Feb. 11-14, at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. To view the complete schedule, go to www.GoHuskies.com.