Northwestern University Athletics
#B1GCats Sign Talented Trio to National Letters of Intent
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan announced today the signing of a trio of future Wildcats to National Letters of Intent. Paulina Anasis (Santa Ana, Calif./Canyon), Kenzie Ellis (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) and Morgan Nelson (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Prep Academy) will join NU in the fall of 2015.
"We are excited to welcome Kenzie, Paulina and Morgan to our Northwestern family," Drohan said. "They each bring unique abilities to our program but a shared passion for what it means to wear Purple. Their impact will be felt immediately."
Anasis has found success at every level of softball she has played, winning multiple major club championships with the Corona Angels while leading Canyon High School to the CIF semifinals in 2014. Named by the Orange County Register as both a top-five freshman and sophomore in softball-rich Orange County, Anasis has averaged a .398 clip at the plate with 22 runs, 26 RBIs and four home runs per high school season.
"Paulina was the first to commit in our class and will excel in our system," Drohan said. "She has tremendous power and an excellent approach in the batter's box. Defensively, Paulina has terrific hands and will be an anchor for our infield at one of the corner positions."
Ellis is a power pitcher in the small-town, Midwestern vein of 2014 Northwestern ace Kristen Wood. A starting varsity pitcher at Indianola High School as an eighth grader, Ellis led her high school to a state title as a freshman before focusing solely on club ball following the 2013 season. Ellis also possesses a powerful bat in addition to her arm, hitting .388 and driving in 49 runs in her final high school season.
"Kenzie is a tough, hard working pitcher who throws a heavy ball," Drohan said. "Her strength and power from the circle and the batter's box will make an immediate impact on our program."
Nelson is a pure athlete from a family that lives on the diamond. Nelson's Arizona high school did not have a softball program, so she competed in track and field where she won the Arizona state 100-meter championship. Also a state runner-up in the sport of sand volleyball, Nelson's softball experience has been solely through club competition. Coached by her father, Wayne, her entire life, Nelson has an older sister who currently plays at Arizona Christian University.
"Morgan plays the game of softball with speed and power," Drohan said. "She is competitive and has an excellent softball IQ. Morgan is the kind of player who elevates the play of all those around her. We are excited she will be wearing purple."
Complete bios for the current Northwestern signing Class of 2019 are below:
Paulina Anasis
5-10 • IF
Santa Ana, Calif./Canyon
High School: Two-time All-Century League first-team selection with Canyon High School ... Played her freshman season at El Modena High School ... 2014 All-CIF first-team and Orange Country Register and Orange County Sidelines All-County first-team choice ... Named a top-five freshman and sophomore in back-to-back years by the Orange County Register ... In 2014, batted .667 in the Michelle Carew Classic, the toughest high school tourney in the country ... Has a career .556 average in that event ... Has led her team deeper in the CIF playoffs each season, qualifying for the field in 2012 with El Modena before advancing to the quarterfinals in 2013 and the semifinals in 2014 with Canyon ... Has batted at least .383 with 22 RBIs, 21 runs and four home runs in all of her high school seasons ... Has played club with the Batbusters, Corona Angels and Explosion Gold ... Named co-MVP of the Boulder Independence Day Tournament after leading Corona to the team title in 2014 ... Also won tournament championships with Corona at the 2014 Triple Crown National Championship and Champions Cup while finishing second at the Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championship ... Two-time Scholar Athlete.
Personal: Born Paulina Nicole Anasis ... Daughter of Nick and Emmy Anasis ... Chose Northwestern over California, LSU and Texas ... Vinyl record collector with almost 1,000 Vinyls ... Self-described "music enthusiast," writes plays and records music ... Anticipated major is undecided.
Kenzie Ellis
6-0 • P
Indianola, Iowa/Indianola
High School: Three-year all-conference, all-district and two-year unanimous all-state first-team selection ... Started on her school system's varsity team as an eighth-grader, playing through her sophomore season before deciding to focus on club ball as a junior and senior ... Before leaving, led her high school to a state championship as a freshman and a third-place finish as a sophomore ... Compiled a 0.99 ERA as a sophomore while driving in 49 with a .388 batting average at the plate ... Plays club with the DeMarini Aces, qualifying for the Premier Nationals ... Captain of the Indianola Debate and Mock Trial teams ... National Honor Society member ... Gold honor roll.
Personal: Born Kenzie J Ellis ... Daughter of Ryan and Traci Ellis ... Chose Northwestern over Harvard, LSU and Missouri ... Anticipated major is political science with the goal of attending law school.
Morgan Nelson
5-6 • OF
Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Prep Academy
High School: Prep start in track and field and sand volleyball because school had no softball program ... Arizona state champion in the 100-meter and bronze medalist in the long jump ... Team finished fourth in the 4x100 relay ... Sand volleyball program finished as runners-up at the Arizona state championship ... Played club softball with the Birmingham Thunderbolts ... Has been trained by her father, Wayne, since she was four ... Father played baseball at Long Beach City College.
Personal: Born Morgan Leilani Nelson ... Daughter of Wayne and Kelly Nelson ... Moved from Cerritos, Calif., to Scottsdale, Ariz., when she was 14-years-old ... Sister, Meaghen, plays softball at Arizona Christian University ... Plans to major in industrial engineering.
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