In Melyssa Lombardi’s first signing period as Oregon Softball’s head coach, three top-ranked recruits signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to join the Ducks’ roster for the fall of 2019.
Come next year, Oregon will add infielder Ariel Carlson, utility player Deijah Pangilinan and right-handed pitcher Megan Kliethermes to its roster. All three players are ranked within the top-35 of the nation’s recruits according to FloSoftball.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Ariel, Deijah and Makenna to our Duck family,” Lombardi said. “These are three really talented players who are going to be able to make an impact for us as soon as they arrive on campus.”
Currently a senior at Marist Catholic High School in Eugene (located five miles north of Oregon’s campus), Carlson will join the Ducks ranked No. 21 by FloSoftball. The Eugene native was named the Gatorade Oregon player of the year last season after hitting .682 with 19 home runs and 71 RBIs. As a Spartan, Carlson recorded 51 home runs and 195 RBIs over her past three years on the school’s team. She also spent time playing for the Beverly Bandits club team, where numerous Oregon players, both current and former, have been a part of.
“When I think of Ariel Carlson, I think of legitimate power at the plate,” Lombardi said. “She has the ability to drive the gaps, and she can also leave the ballpark. She will be a big run producer for us who will provide power, and I have also been very impressed with her defensively as well as her versatility as an athlete.”
Carlson said Eugene’s strong community support for the sport, both at a high school and collegiate level, was one of the reasons she chose to pursue her softball career at Oregon.
“I chose Oregon for many reasons,” she said. “First is the simple fact that I want to win a national championship, and I know I can accomplish that at Oregon. I also chose Oregon because of the overwhelming amount of support I will receive from the coaches, teammates and University, but also from the entire community of Eugene. When I first committed I never thought too much about how close to home I was, but now I am so grateful that the eighth-grade Ariel chose a school that allows my family to be in the stands at every home game. Lastly, I chose Oregon knowing that when I graduate four years later, I will be the best softball player and the best woman that I can be.”
Pangilinan follows Carlson in the rankings, coming in at No. 28. The Vallejo, California native played for St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School as an outfielder. She also played for the California Cruisers club team, where current Ducks Jasmine Sievers, Rachel Cid and Mia Camuso spent time as well.
“Deijah is an elite athlete who excels both on offense and defense,” Lombardi said. “Defensively she has a strong arm and great range in the outfield, and offensively she is an athlete who will hit for power and for average. Deijah is a complete player who is going to be able to set the table for us as well as drive in runs. She’s the total package.”
For Pangilinan, choosing Oregon was a dream come true as she fell in love with the campus during a middle school visit.
“I chose Oregon because it was my dream school,” she said. “I love how the team plays the game, as well as their vibes and swag. I have always felt like the University of Oregon was the right place for me, and that motivated me to work hard in my own softball career to give myself a chance to make it to my dream school. I visited UO when I was entering my eighth-grade year, and I immediately fell in love with the campus, the beauty of the town and, of course, the energy the two brought to the athletic team’s games. It was then that I knew I wanted to go there and nowhere else.”
Right-handed pitcher Kliethermes will join the Ducks coming from Wardsville, Missouri and ranked at No. 31. At Blair Oaks High School, she was twice ranked a first-team all-state honoree. She helped Lady Falcons to their second district championship in the last three years, by leading the team to a 24-1 record last season. Kliethermes played club softball for the DeMarini Aces.
“Makenna is a right-handed pitcher who creates a ton of spin on the ball, which allows her to have excellent movement on all of her pitches,” Lombardi said. “She is a fierce competitor who knows what it takes to win, and her composure on the mound and ability to lead is very impressive. I expect Makenna to make an impact for us from the very start.”
Kliethermes knew she wanted to attend Oregon from the moment she stepped on campus.
“I chose the University of Oregon because when I stepped foot on the campus, it felt like home to me,” she said. “Everyone was so nice and friendly that I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.”
Follow Maggie Vanoni on Twitter: @maggie_vanoni
