Foothill softball alums excelling as NCAA Division 1 freshmen

Four former Foothill League softball players are wasting no time making an impact on the NCAA Division 1 softball scene. Jessie Harper, Mariah Lopez, Cayla Kessinger and Amanda Doyle started their college softball careers in early February and have already accomplished a lot in their freshman year. Harper, a West Ranch High grad now at Arizona, was named the Pac-12 player and freshman of the week for the week of March 13-19. She had a season-high five RBIs and four hits against Hartford on March 11. In total this season, Harper has 35 hits, 28 RBIs, 10 home runs and a .380 batting average for the Wildcats, who are ranked second in the Pac-12. Saugus High’s Mariah Lopez, now at Oklahoma, recorded a career-high eight strikeouts against Western Kentucky on March 5. Nearly a week later on March 14, she pitched a no-hitter against Long Beach State.