KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island softball coach
Whitney Goldstein announced eight players who each signed a National Letter of Intent for the 2024-25 season.
The coaching staff spanned the United States for this year's class, bringing in players from California, Florida, Georgia, Maine, New York, Texas and locally in Rhode Island. As diverse as the class is geographically, the newest additions to the program are equally diverse in skillset. Most of the signees can play multiple positions, and they offer a mix of speed, power, game IQ and defense that will continue to elevate the program moving forward.
"Introducing our third recruiting class is very special," Goldstein said. "This is the class we have had the most time to research, evaluate, and truly be able to continue to find those that align with our program's values mixed with their personal recruiting search needs. We have been extremely fortunate to bring these eight to Rhode Island from seven different states.
"This is our most well-rounded class athletically that will bring us to new heights and help us compete at the top of the Atlantic 10. They also all can play 2-4 positions which gives us depth all over the field. These eight can't wait to get to Kingston and get to work as students, athletes, and community members."
Cali DeLawder
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Hyde Park, N.Y.
C/UTIL | R/L
DeLawder is a six-year varsity starter in softball for Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School. She was the 2023 Poughkeepsie Journal Player of the Year and a three-time Section IV All-Section honoree. A 2022 N.Y. All-State selection, DeLawder represented the Northeast in a home run derby at the Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. She already owns FDR's career- and single-season home run records of 21 and 11, respectively. She also is her school's career leader in runs batted in with 131, despite still having one season to go. She led FDR to Section IV High School titles in 2021 and 2023, and in 2018 she won a Little League Majors Division Softball District 17 title.
Coach Goldstein on DeLawder
"Cali is a very special hitter and a force to be reckoned with as a power lefty. She has exceptional hand-eye coordination and will be someone to watch in many offensive categories over her four years. Long balls, clutch hitting, and RBI opportunities will be fun to watch when Cali is up to bat, as I believe she will be a prolific hitter for our program. An Empire State Huskies program player, we can't wait to have Cali and her family in Rhody."
Brooke Gerry
Windham High School
Windham, Maine
LHP | L/L
Ranked as the No. 79 pitching recruit in this year's class by Extra Innings, Gerry is the current back-to-back Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, winning the award in 2022 and 2023. Already a three-time All-State selection, she is a three-time SMAA Pitcher of the Year and was a Second Team Extra Innings All-American in both 2022 and 2023. With one more season to go, she already has more than 500 strikeouts in the circle while leading Windham to a 2023 Class A State Championship and a Class A Regional title. Gerry had 177 strikeouts in 85 innings of work, posting a 0.165 earned run average. Her mother, Raquel, played softball for Monroe Community College from 2000-02.
Coach Goldstein on Gerry
"When we met, Brooke we knew immediately we found a great match. She is a very talented lefty pitcher who is a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year from the state of Maine. Although not large in stature, she can throw balls in the mid 60s. Her ability to locate, spin, and compete is very impressive. We love her work ethic, her ability to lead from the mound and help her team every pitch she throws. We can't wait for her to bring that fire to Kingston. Brooke plays for New England Elite, and we can't wait to welcome her and her family."
Giuliana Ialongo
La Salle Academy
Cranston, R.I.
INF | R/R
A local product, Ialongo is a multiple-time All-State selection in both softball and tennis out of La Salle Academy. She is a three-time All-State selection in both sports, earning First Team honors in softball twice and second-time honors once. As a junior, she led her team to a state title as she batted .453 with 39 hits, 35 runs scored and 28 runs batted in in 24 games.
Coach Goldstein on Ialongo
"Giuls - our local Rhode Island gem - is one of the state's best players, and we are so lucky to have her complete our class this past summer. A defensive specialist with a great glove and smooth hands, she knows how to compete, and lead the infield. A passionate, fiery player coming from Bombers Elite, we can't wait to have Giuliana and her family a part of her home team in Rhode Island."
Allison Jones
Union Grove High School
Conyers, Ga.
OF | R/B
As dynamic a recruit as there is, Jones is ambidextrous and a switchhitter. Powerful from the right side of the plate and a game-changing slap hitter from the left side, Jones was the No. 52 ranked outfielder by Extra Innings in this year's class. As a junior at Union Grove, she batted .507 with 38 hits, 32 stolen bases and 44 runs scored. The 32 steals were a single-season school record. Jones also won a Gold Glove for her defense in the outfield. She has made three appearances in the Georgia State Super Regionals. She hails from an athletic family. Her mother, Sabrina, was a basketball player at Georgia Southern, while her father Teiresias, played football there as well. Her sister, Alexis, plays softball at Florida A&M.
Coach Goldstein on Jones
"Allison, an elite outfielder from Georgia, is probably our most unique player in this class, being a switch hitter. A fearless athlete in the outfield, she can come up as a lefty slapper, or a power righty. She is tall in stature, and very knowledgeable on the base paths. She is always thinking, 'How can I take the next base?' Allison competes every play and we can't wait to see her passion and work ethic take the field in Rhode Island. We can't wait to welcome her and her family."
Katie Knarr
Robert A. Millikan High School
Long Beach, Calif.
1B | R/R
A Top 50 first baseman according to Extra Innings, Knarr is the No. 49 ranked recruit at her position in this year's recruiting class. A First Team Extra Innings High School All-American in 2023, she also was the All City Athlete of the Year, the Long Beach Century Club Player of the Year, the Moore League Player of the Yearand a First Team All-California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section selection. She has led Millikan to three consecutive Moore League championships (2021, 2022, 2023) as well as a CIF Division 2 runner up finish in 2022.
Coach Goldstein on Knarr
"As soon as Katie came to campus, it was instant connection and the right fit mutually. Katie has the quickest hands I've seen for a hitter her age, and she can hit with the best of them in the country. There is no doubt in my mind she will be an award-winning hitter and in many categories for years to come offensively. She is an excellent first basemen and can play outfield. She is a great student in the classroom as well. A top player ranked in the country from USA Athletics Rogers, Katie will be doing special things in Kingston on the field and in the country. We can't wait to welcome Katie and her family."
Ella Morris
Fleming Island High School
Fleming Island, Fla.
OF | R/L
With a .367 career batting average who has 73 hits, 60 runs scored and 47 stolen bases in 66 games, Morris is a speed demon out of Fleming Island. A two-time Second Team All-County selection, she has competed around the country for the Strykers club team along with fellow 2024 signee Ella Sulkazi. Their team went undefeated at the Top Gun tournament in Kansas City, placed second at Top Club Nations in Oklahoma City, placed second at Colorado Sparkler and were the co-champions at the ASA/USA JO Cup.
Coach Goldstein on Morris
"Ella is a versatile outfielder and will bring speed, athleticism, and tenacity from the left side of the plate, offering small ball and some pop. Playing travel ball with Ella Sulkazi, and coming from Strykers Esparza, her ability to track down balls, at ease to cut down base hits will be a great addition to our outfield. Ella is also an excellent student and leader and we look forward to her bringing everyday intensity to our lineup. We are thrilled to welcome Ella and her family."
Ella Sulkazi
Los Fresnos High School
Los Fresnos, Texas
INF | R/R
The No. 56 ranked middle infielder in this year's recruiting class according to Extra Innings, Sulkazi is a defensive wizard. As a junior, she recorded 46 putouts and five assists without committing an error. She also batted .564 with 13 home runs, 39 runs batted in and eight stolen bases, showing pop in her bat. She is a two-time USSSA Select 30 invitee who earned 2023 First Team All-District honors. Sulkazi is a two USSSA All-American.
Coach Goldstein on Sulkazi
"Ella is truly an elite utility player who athletically could almost play every position on the field. Specializing in the infield, Ella will be someone you see early and often ready to compete in Keaney and navy. Her high-level travel ball experience mixed with her outstanding instincts will be a terrific energy each day to help our team continue to compete at a high level. We can't wait to welcome Ella and her family."
Julianne Torres
Chaparral High School
Winchester, Calif.
INF | R/R
A two-time All-Southern League Selection, Torres earned first-team honors in 2023. As a junior, she batted .466 with seven doubles, one triple and two home runs while scoring 23 times and driving in 12 runs. Torres has spent three years with the Athletics Jendro Premier 18u club program. Her older sister, Samantha, played softball at Arkansas
Coach Goldstein on Torres
"Our first verbal commitment of this class, JJ is a pure athlete, a bull dog in the middle infield. She will add speed, agility, and a high softball IQ to our infield while mixing contact and power to our lineup. She's a natural leader on the field, and I can't wait to see her patrol our infield the next four years in Rhode Island. Coming from Athletics Jendro out of California, we are thrilled to welcome JJ and her family to Rhody."
