Softball Signs Seven for 2016 Season

TUCSON – Arizona has received National Letters of Intent from seven players who have committed to play softball at the University of Arizona, head coach Mike Candrea announced Thursday.

The Wildcats have received NLIs from catcher Hillary Edior (Lynwood, Calif.), infielder Joelle Krist (Cotati, Calif.), pitcher Taylor McQuillin (Mission Viejo, Calif.), outfielder Merrilee Miller (Tucson, Ariz.), outfielder Alyssa Palomino (Mission Viejo, Calif.), infielder/outfielder Monica Pasillas (Redlands, Calif.) and pitcher Tamara Statman (Phoenix, Ariz.).

The seven players make up one of the elite classes nationally, headlined by two of the top players in the country – pitcher Taylor McQuillin and outfielder Alyssa Palomino. High school teammates at Mission Viejo, McQuillin and Palomino represent one of the best pitching/power hitting tandems in the nation. The duo led Mission Viejo to a 26-1 record, a CIF Championship and No. 3 national ranking by MaxPreps in 2014. McQuillin was named the 2014 Gatorade National Player of the Year.  The tandem was also teammates this past summer playing for the OC Batbusters and won the Premier National Championship.

Hillary Edior – A catcher from Lynwood, Calif. … Attends Carson High School … Hit .539 with nine homers, 13 doubles and 48 RBI in 32 games as a junior … A career .445 hitter with 12 career homers … Awarded first-team all-L.A. City Section …Plays for the Firecrackers coached by Tony Rico…. Has a GPA of 3.83 … Daughter of Hilton Edior and Anita Wright.

Candrea says: “Hillary is an outstanding young catcher with good skills. She has a bright future for the Wildcats.”

Joelle Krist – An infielder from Cotati, Calif. … Attends Petaluma High School … Hit .529 with 11 home runs and 11 doubles in 2014 … Named all-league performer … Carries a 3.6 GPA … Plays volleyball and basketball at Petaluma … Family friends with current UA football player Scooby Wright … Cousin of former Wildcat Sam Bannister … Daughter of Jim and Geri Krist.

Candrea says: “Joelle has very good power and can play both corners; we look forward to having her.”

Taylor McQuillin – A pitcher from Mission Viejo, Calif. … Attends Mission Viejo High School … National Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014 … A member of the Orange County Batbusters, the 2014 Premier National Champions coached by Gary Haning and Mike Stith … Went 26-1 with a 0.69 ERA in 2014, a season in which she struck out 316 batters to just 18 walks … Helped lead Mission Viejo to the CIF Championship … Daughter of Ron and Petra McQuillin.

Candrea says: “Taylor is an outstanding pitcher that will make an immediate impact for the Wildcats. I feel we have one of the very best pitchers, if not the best in this class. Taylor is proven and has a chance of being a dominate force in the circle.”

Merrilee Miller – An outfielder from Tucson … Attends Ironwood Ridge High School … Led the Nighthawks to the 2014 State Championship … Daughter of Seth and Irene Miller.

Candrea says: “Merrilee is a left-handed slapper with tremendous speed and is a very competitive athlete.”

Alyssa Palomino – An outfielder from Mission Viejo, Calif … Attends Mission Viejo High School … Won Premier National Championship with Orange County Batbusters coached by Gary Haning and Mike Stith, and CIF Championship with Mission Viejo … Broke Lauren Chamberlain’s Orange County record with 17 home runs in 2014 and has 42 career homers, four shy of Chamberlain’s career record … Niece of former Arizona great Toni Mascarenas and granddaughter of boxing great Carlos Palomino … Daughter of Jesse and Leslie Cardoza.

Candrea says: “Alyssa has outstanding power and will provide the Wildcats with great home run and RBI potential. She has the skills and passion to be a great player at this level.”

Monica Pasillas – An infielder/outfielder from Redlands, Calif. … Attends Redlands High School … Hit .578 in 83 at-bats in 2014 … Doubled eight times while hitting one triple and a home run as a junior … Has a 3.57 GPA … Works with former Wildcat Wendy Allen-Hauser…… Daughter of Rodney Pasillas and Michelle Cabral.

Candrea says: “Monica plays both second base and outfield at Redlands High School. She is a very versatile player with good skills and a hard worker.”

Tamara Statman – A pitcher from Phoenix, Ariz. … Attends Horizon High School and played for former Wildcat Jackie Coburn and works with Wildcat great Becky Lemke-Blatnick… Second-team Max Preps All-American … First-team student sports All-American … Has a 4.0 GPA and would like to pursue a degree in political science … Plays golf at Horizon … Has a black belt in Tae kwon do … Daughter of David and Maura Statman.

Candrea says: “T is a very determined young lady that will work hard, a great student, and will develop into a good college player.”