Nov. 11, 2011
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State softball team has signed four players to National Letters of Intent, head coach Kathy Van Wyk announced today. The group includes Kayla Bufardeci (Castro Valley, Calif./Castro Valley HS), Monica Downey (San Diego/Madison HS), Danielle O'Toole (Upland, Calif./St. Lucy's HS) and Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif./Chino HS).
"I am thrilled with the potential of this class," head coach Kathy Van Wyk said. "We addressed all our needs, landing all-around players with power, speed and defense. I think we also got one of the top pitching prospects in the game in Danielle O'Toole and one of the top defensive shortstops in Southern California in Monica Downey. I can't wait until they join us in the fall (of 2012)."
A power-hitting utility player, Bufardeci plays her club ball for Lady Hustle Gold in Pleasanton, Calif. Over her career at Castro Valley High School, where she has led the Trojans to three consecutive Hayward Area Athletic League titles, Bufardeci is hitting .480 with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, seven triples and 69 RBIs, while owning a .774 slugging percentage.
Last year, Bufardeci hit .486 with seven homers and 30 RBIs en route to being named HAAL Player of the year. She's also been a first-team all-East Bay selection and two-time all-league pick, while also excelling in basketball and baseball at Castro Valley HS.
Downey, a shortstop with tremendous speed, joins the Aztecs from nearby Madison High School. Downey led Madison to a 70-15 record of the past three years, including a 28-1 mark and a trip to the CIF Finals in 2011. Over her career, Downey has hit .490 with seven homers, 74 RBIs, 125 runs and 74 stolen bases.
Downey garnered Central League Player-of-the-Year honors last year after hitting .538 with 55 runs and 43 stolen bases. She was also a member of the all-San Diego Section team. Downey played her club ball at The Next Level, and also competed in volleyball and basketball at Madison HS.
O'Toole comes to The Mesa after excelling for the Corona Angels club team and at St. Lucy's High School. A left-handed pitcher and a first baseman, O'Toole went 13-10 last year with a 2.39 ERA over 146 2/3 innings. She struck out 149 batters and had five shutouts.
A two-time all-Sierra League selection, O'Toole went 11-11 with a 1.52 ERA and 156 strikeouts over 151 2/3 innings in 2010. O'Toole also was a member of the soccer team at St. Lucy's HS.
Rounding out the quartet is Ruiz, a middle infielder who played for Chino High School and the Lakewood Firecrackers club team. Ruiz earned first-team all-Mt. Baldy league accolades for three consecutive years, compiling five career home runs, 70 RBIs and 94 runs.
Last season, Ruiz hit .437 with a homer, eight doubles, three triples, 27 RBIs and 38 runs. A scholar-athlete, Ruiz also competed in cross country and soccer at Chino HS.
SDSU opens its 2012 schedule at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., beginning with a game against Texas Tech on Feb. 9.