Pitt Softball Adds Six Transfers to 2024 Roster
8/28/2023 1:28:00 PM | Softball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt softball head coach Jenny Allard added to the 2024 roster with the signing of six transfer student-athletes. The Panthers will have two pitchers, two infielders, a catcher and an outfielder join the squad for the upcoming 2024 season.
The six roster additions consist of outfielder Alena Ball (George Mason), infielder Caroline Deem (Massachusetts), catcher KK Esparza (Ole Miss), infielder Desirae Martinez (Bethune-Cookman), pitcher Kyra Pittman (Maryland), and pitcher Olivia Stefanoni (Akron).
ALENA BALL
Alena Ball comes to Pittsburgh from George Mason after playing in 35 games for the Patriots, notching 25 starts her freshman season. Ball finished her only season with the Patriots batting .289 along with 25 runs, 22 hits, and five RBIs. She made her collegiate debut against Ohio where she was able to record her first hit, run, and RBI all together.
CAROLINE DEEM
First base talent Caroline Deem joins the Panthers from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Deem batted .290 (61-for-210) with 44 RBI in three seasons with the Minutewomen. During her sophomore season, Deem hit .318 (56-for-176) with 21 RBI, 18 runs scored, and 24 walks. In a winning effort against Bryant, she drove in four runs on three hits with a home run and two runs scored.
Deem collected numerous accolades during her high school career at Bishop Freehan, including being named to the 2018 Boston Herald Player to Watch List. She was a three-time Eastern Athletic Conference All-Star, two-time Sun Chronicle All-Star, and three-time Offensive Award Winner at Bishop Freehan. She was also earned Softball Factory All-American honors.
KK ESPARZA
Esparza joins the Panthers squad after playing three seasons with Ole Miss. Esparza was named to the 2023 Top 5 Catchers to Watch by Extra Innings Softball and started five games in 2023 before redshirting for the season.
As a freshman, Esparza helped lead Ole Miss to its sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth ever 40-win season. Esparza appeared and started in 56 games behind the plate and logged a .988 fielding percentage with 300 putouts, 16 assists and caught nine runners stealing. Off the field, she was named Easton/NFCA Scholastic All-American and to the SEC First-Year Honor Roll.
The Friendswood, Texas, native finished high school ranked tied for 69th in Extra Innings Softball's Recruiting Rankings and was named the Defensive Player of the year as well as First Team All-County and Texas Sportswriters All-State in 2019.
DESIRAE MARTINEZ
Desirae Martinez joins the Panthers from Bethune-Cookman after batting .261 (73-for-280) with 12 doubles, three home runs, and 48 RBI in two seasons with the Wildcats. Martinez played and started in 50 games in the infield as a freshman, posted a .262 batting average along with a .303 slugging percentage. Martinez registered 87 putouts and 61 assists for a field percentage of .961. Had a perfect 4-for-4 outing against Florida A&M and had three RBIs in the contest.
The California High School native won several awards during her high school career, including 2016 USA Elite Select Defensive MVP, 2020-21 Iron Woman Award, and 2020-21 California High School Female Athlete of the Year.
KYRA PITTMAN
In two seasons with Maryland, Kyra Pittman recorded a 4.35 ERA (17 ER/27.1 IP). As a sophomore, she started two games while appearing in six. The Terps were victorious in both her starts as she ended the season with a 3.57 era. She also tallied an impressive three-strikeout contest against North Dakota. In Pittman's freshman season she appeared in 11 games, pitching 12.0 innings with four strikeouts.
Pittman was an incredible prospect out of high school, achieving a ranking as high as No. 48 in the class of 2021 Extra Elite 100. She posted 486 strikeouts, a 0.67 era, and record of 44-4.
OLIVIA STEFANONI
In four seasons in the circle for the Zips, Olivia Stefanoni recorded a 5.60 ERA (119 ER/148.2 IP) with 129 strikeouts in 62 games.
In high school, Stefanoni posted a 1.64 era, 102 strikeouts, and pitched 89 innings. She received honors of Suburban League All-Star as well as First Team All-Conference.