University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gopher Softball Adds Three to 2021 Roster
11/11/2020 2:46:00 PM | Softball
University of Minnesota softball head coach Piper Ritter has announced three additions to the Golden Gopher 2021 roster. Minnesota welcomes Kayla Chavez (Chino Hills, Calif.), Brynn Hostettler (Northfield, Minn.) and Emily Leavitt (Chino, Calif.) to the program.
"We are excited to make our class of 2025 official," Ritter said. "This group is composed of high level pitching, speed, and overall athleticism. These young women have the ability to make an immediate impact on our program. We have worked very hard to establish a culture of excellence at Minnesota. In addition to their abilities on the field, they are all equally dedicated in the classroom and will be great students who are excited about continuing their journeys here at the U."
Chavez, a 5-6 third base/shortstop, plays for Chino Hills High School in California. Chavez was named a MaxPreps All-American her sophomore year and is a two-time all-state and all-conference selection. As a junior, Chavez hit .562 and had six home runs in 10 games during the COVID-shortened season. Her sophomore year, she batted .421 and had 13 home runs. She led her teams to conference championships both her freshman and sophomore years. Chino Hills also took third in the CIF Division I during her freshman season and fifth as a sophomore. Chavez is also a part of the Athletics Mercado Gold club team. The daughter of Rudy and Amanda, Chavez is a scholar athlete and will graduate from Chino Hills High School in 2021.
"Kayla is a very competitive, versatile infielder who is going to make a difference in the lineup," Ritter said. "Kayla's best softball is yet to come because she will get stronger. Her work ethic will allow her to succeed."
"Coach Piper, Coach Wynn, and Coach Rich were the No. 1 reason I chose the University of Minnesota," Chavez said. "They really made me feel like part of the Gopher family from day one. That was a huge factor in choosing to become part of the family. In addition, I will receive a great education and get to play Division I ball. It's a dream come true."
Hostettler, a 5-9 pitcher, plays for Northfield High School in Minnesota. An all-state, all-section and all-conference selection in 2019, Hostettler was also a 2019 All-State Tournament Team selection. She was a 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year nominee, a 2019 Most Valuable Player and a 2019 Prep Spotlight Player of the Game. She also tied the state record with 19 strikeouts in a single game. Hostettler aided Northfield High School to a section and state championship in 2019. She also played with the Minnesota Elite Travel team in 2020. Prior to her time at Northfield, Hostettler played at Winona High School, where she helped her team to a section championship. The daughter of Jamie Hostettler and Eric Hostettler, she is an A honor roll student and will graduate from Northfield in 2021.
"Brynn is a strong pitcher, who has the ability to succeed in the circle," Ritter said. "Brynn is from Minnesota and has the potential to be great here in her home state."
"The University of Minnesota has been a dream of mine ever since I started my club softball journey," Hostettler said. "The school itself is amazing, and it is a huge perk that it is close to home. After my visit, I knew it was going to be my new home for the next four years. I knew this was the school I wanted to continue my education and softball career. I wanted to be a Gopher!"
Leavitt, a 5-6 pitcher, plays for Ruben S. Ayala High School in California. In her shortened junior year, Leavitt had 78 strikeouts, held her opponents to just a .199 batting average and a 1.77 ERA. An all-conference selection her freshman and sophomore seasons, she held 157 strikeouts in 98.2 innings pitched as a freshman. She followed that with 111 strikeouts in 89 innings and a 0.71 ERA as a sophomore. She guided her team to a league championship in 2019. Leavitt also played 16U and 18U ball with Athletics Mercado. In 2019 and 2020, Athletics Mercado finished third at Top Club Nationals and placed fifth at the 2019 PGF Nationals. In 2019, Leavitt was ranked by Extra Innings Softball as the 21st overall player in the nation in the 2021 class. The daughter of Alisha Leavitt and Jim Leavitt, she has received a varsity letter with a 3.5 grade point average. Leavitt is set to graduate from Ruben S. Ayala this summer.
"Emily is one of the top pitchers in her class and has had success at every level," Ritter said. "She brings a lot of energy and intensity to the circle and moves the ball extremely well."
"The University of Minnesota has everything I was looking for in a school," Leavitt said. "I wanted to be in a big city, get a good education, and play top-level softball. It's also so different from my home in California and I cannot wait to explore so many new things."
"We are excited to make our class of 2025 official," Ritter said. "This group is composed of high level pitching, speed, and overall athleticism. These young women have the ability to make an immediate impact on our program. We have worked very hard to establish a culture of excellence at Minnesota. In addition to their abilities on the field, they are all equally dedicated in the classroom and will be great students who are excited about continuing their journeys here at the U."
Chavez, a 5-6 third base/shortstop, plays for Chino Hills High School in California. Chavez was named a MaxPreps All-American her sophomore year and is a two-time all-state and all-conference selection. As a junior, Chavez hit .562 and had six home runs in 10 games during the COVID-shortened season. Her sophomore year, she batted .421 and had 13 home runs. She led her teams to conference championships both her freshman and sophomore years. Chino Hills also took third in the CIF Division I during her freshman season and fifth as a sophomore. Chavez is also a part of the Athletics Mercado Gold club team. The daughter of Rudy and Amanda, Chavez is a scholar athlete and will graduate from Chino Hills High School in 2021.
"Kayla is a very competitive, versatile infielder who is going to make a difference in the lineup," Ritter said. "Kayla's best softball is yet to come because she will get stronger. Her work ethic will allow her to succeed."
"Coach Piper, Coach Wynn, and Coach Rich were the No. 1 reason I chose the University of Minnesota," Chavez said. "They really made me feel like part of the Gopher family from day one. That was a huge factor in choosing to become part of the family. In addition, I will receive a great education and get to play Division I ball. It's a dream come true."
Hostettler, a 5-9 pitcher, plays for Northfield High School in Minnesota. An all-state, all-section and all-conference selection in 2019, Hostettler was also a 2019 All-State Tournament Team selection. She was a 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year nominee, a 2019 Most Valuable Player and a 2019 Prep Spotlight Player of the Game. She also tied the state record with 19 strikeouts in a single game. Hostettler aided Northfield High School to a section and state championship in 2019. She also played with the Minnesota Elite Travel team in 2020. Prior to her time at Northfield, Hostettler played at Winona High School, where she helped her team to a section championship. The daughter of Jamie Hostettler and Eric Hostettler, she is an A honor roll student and will graduate from Northfield in 2021.
"Brynn is a strong pitcher, who has the ability to succeed in the circle," Ritter said. "Brynn is from Minnesota and has the potential to be great here in her home state."
"The University of Minnesota has been a dream of mine ever since I started my club softball journey," Hostettler said. "The school itself is amazing, and it is a huge perk that it is close to home. After my visit, I knew it was going to be my new home for the next four years. I knew this was the school I wanted to continue my education and softball career. I wanted to be a Gopher!"
Leavitt, a 5-6 pitcher, plays for Ruben S. Ayala High School in California. In her shortened junior year, Leavitt had 78 strikeouts, held her opponents to just a .199 batting average and a 1.77 ERA. An all-conference selection her freshman and sophomore seasons, she held 157 strikeouts in 98.2 innings pitched as a freshman. She followed that with 111 strikeouts in 89 innings and a 0.71 ERA as a sophomore. She guided her team to a league championship in 2019. Leavitt also played 16U and 18U ball with Athletics Mercado. In 2019 and 2020, Athletics Mercado finished third at Top Club Nationals and placed fifth at the 2019 PGF Nationals. In 2019, Leavitt was ranked by Extra Innings Softball as the 21st overall player in the nation in the 2021 class. The daughter of Alisha Leavitt and Jim Leavitt, she has received a varsity letter with a 3.5 grade point average. Leavitt is set to graduate from Ruben S. Ayala this summer.
"Emily is one of the top pitchers in her class and has had success at every level," Ritter said. "She brings a lot of energy and intensity to the circle and moves the ball extremely well."
"The University of Minnesota has everything I was looking for in a school," Leavitt said. "I wanted to be in a big city, get a good education, and play top-level softball. It's also so different from my home in California and I cannot wait to explore so many new things."
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