Bucknell University Athletics
Skrenta Announces Bucknell Softball Class of 2018
11/25/2013 9:40:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – As her team prepares for its upcoming season, Bucknell softball head coach Bonnie Skrenta has announced that six talented student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Bison for the 2014-15 season. Celina Antonellis, Paulina Gutkin, Meghan Kovac, Taylor Langtry, Kamille Larrabee and Maddie Minneci have all announced their intention to wear the orange and blue uniform as members of the class of 2018.
“We are very excited about this new group of talented student-athletes that will be joining our team in the fall,” said Skrenta. “Each one of them is athletic and versatile, and they are all strong intellectuals who are eager to join Bucknell and our softball program. Each of these student-athletes takes great pride in their team and their training, and they have all shown strong leadership qualities. The coaching staff is excited about the potential of these student-athletes, and we believe they will combine well with our returning team members to help elevate Bucknell Softball to new heights.”
Celina Antonellis, a native of Groton, Mass., is a four-year varsity letterwinner in softball and a three-year letterwinner in basketball at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School. A captain of both her softball and basketball teams, she has been named a two-time league All-Star for her exploits on the diamond. Antonellis has also competed for the Concord Raiders and the Westford Waves when playing travel ball, earning an ASA Massachusetts State Championship (2010), an ASA New England Regional Championship (2010) and a WFC US National Championship (2011) during her time with the Raiders.
“We are very lucky to have Celina join the class of 2018,” commented Skrenta. “Her determination, both on and off the field, is outstanding. Celina is going to add the element of speed to our lineup, and while her biggest impact will likely be in the outfield, her versatility gives her the potential to take her game to whatever heights she sets her mind to.”
A four-year member of the varsity softball team at Tappan Zee High School, Paulina Gutkin helped her squad to conference, sectional and regional championships in the 2013 season. After earning honorable mention All-State honors as a freshman and sophomore, she received a first team selection last spring and was named the MSG Varsity Player of the Year as well as the Hudson Valley Player of the Year. Gutkin, a first team All-Region, All-Conference and All-County honoree during her sophomore campaign, was named Rookie of the Year in 2011.
“Paulina has a wide range of dominating pitches and will complement our strong pitching staff,” added Skrenta. “She brings a great work ethic to the team and we are very happy to have found her.”
Meghan Kovac, a native of Warren, N.J., is a four-year member of the varsity softball team at Watchung Hills Regional High School. A three-time selection to both the All-Skyland Conference and the All-Somerset County first team, she earned first team All-Area accolades for the past two years and first team All-State honors as a junior. Kovac also competes for the NJ Venom travel program, and has led her squad in batting average, RBIs and home runs in each of the last three seasons.
“We met Meghan early on in the recruiting process and have been excited about her ever since,” said Skrenta. “Her development over the last year alone has been impressive. Meghan is versatile on defense and aggressive at the plate, and she is someone who can make an impact the minute she steps on campus. We are very happy to have on the team and are excited about her potential.”
A four-year member of the varsity softball team at Glenbard West High School and a native of Glen Ellyn, Ill., Taylor Langtry helped her high school team to the West Suburban Conference co-Championship in the 2012 season. She has experienced considerable success as a pitcher at Glenbard West, setting the school's strikeout record in each of her three seasons with the squad. An All-Conference selection and an All-Area Honorable Mention recipient in 2012 and 2013, Langtry was also named Glenbard West's most valuable pitcher as a sophomore and a junior. As a member of the Illinois Chill travel team, she has competed in the Colorado National Jamboree Invitational and the 2012 Colorado Fireworks All-Star game.
“Taylor has the potential to develop into a Patriot League pitcher we talk about for years to come,” reflected Skrenta. “She is joining a strong, seasoned and sizable bullpen that has set ambitious goals to help increase our winning percentage by decreasing the pitching staff's ERA.”
A native of Ashburn, Va., Kamille Larrabee is a four-year member of the varsity softball team at Broad Run High School. A captain of the squad for her senior season, she was named the team's defensive MVP as a sophomore and earned All-District team honors in 2012 and 2013. Larrabee also competes for the Vienna Stars, and has attended both the PGF Nationals and the ASA Nationals with her travel team.
“Kamille is an outstanding softball player with a tremendous work ethic and a contagious passion for what she does,” commented Skrenta. “She is an extremely competitive person and her infectious attitude will really help this team. We are so excited to have her at Bucknell.”
Rounding out the class of 2018, Maddie Minneci has won two varsity letters in softball at Lake Zurich High School and serves as the co-captain of the Illinois Bash 18U Gold team. She rediscovered the sport as a freshman in high school, and has improved in leaps and bounds since recommitting herself to the game. An extremely active member of her community, Minneci is a member of the National Honor Society and the Lake Zurich High School PE Leadership, and also volunteers at Kildeer Country Side Preschool.
“Maddie is a talented athlete with a ton of potential, added Skrenta. “She has a lot of promise as a middle infielder and in the outfield as well. We can't wait to get Maddie on campus and see her impact on our team.”
Bucknell softball will open its 2014 campaign at the Cleveland State Dome Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 8, with a 9 a.m. game against the host school.
