WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNC Wilmington softball head coach Melissa Jarrell has announced the signing of five prep softball standouts to National Letters of Intent (NLI) for the 2008-09 academic year. Current high school seniors Amanda Davenport (Raleigh, N.C./West Johnston), Kelsey Eddinger (Raleigh, N.C./West Johnston), Katelyn Houmard (Greenville, N.C./J.H. Rose), Jennifer Ladd (Durham, N.C./Riverside), and Stacey Pinno (Nottingham, Pa./Oxford) will join the Seahawks on campus in the fall of 2008.

"Amanda, Kelsey, Katelyn, Jennifer and Stacey are all impact players that will come in and make an immediate difference in our program," Jarrell said. "This is a group that will bring a lot of versatility to our team and make significant contributions both offensively and to our pitching staff."

Davenport, a right-handed pitcher, is a three-year starter at West Johnston, where she has compiled a 43-8 record in circle with a 0.81 earned run average and eight no-hitters. The 2007 Greater Neuse River Conference Player-of-the-Year, Davenport has led the Wildcats to back-to-back Greater Neuse River Conference Championships.

Houmard, meanwhile, is a teammate of Davenport’s on the Carolina Flames club team out of Durham. They will be the fourth and fifth players from the Flames on the Seahawks 2009 roster, joining current Seahawk sophomores Morgan Walters, Michelle Harrison and Rachel Sawyer.

"We are very excited about adding two more Flames to our roster,” Jarrell said. “Amanda will give us much some needed depth on our pitching staff. In the outfield, Katelyn will help fill the void left by the graduation of two seniors."

A teammate of Davenport’s at West Johnston, Eddinger is a three-year letter-winner for the Wildcats and coach Wayne Collins. The three-time All-Greater Neuse River Conference honoree is also a three-time all-academic team recipient.

Ladd, a teammate of Ladd’s on the Cape Fear Storm travel softball team is expected to provide power to the Seahawks' lineup.

"Jennifer will compliment our pitching staff in that she throws hard and has good command of her pitches,” Jarrell said. “She also has the ability to be an offensive threat at the plate."

Pinno is a three-time all-league honoree and two-time team MVP at Oxford. Pinno, who played her summer ball with the Maryland Legends, will rejoin former Legends teammates and incoming UNCW freshman Allison Lanouette on the 2008-2009 Seahawk squad.

"We are very excited about Stacey’s abilities behind the plate as well as the plate as a hitter," Jarrell said. “She will be a valuable addition to our lineup.”

The Seahawks open the 2008 season Feb. 13 when it hosts UNC Chapel Hill in a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader at Boseman Field.