University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Christopher Mitchell / Sport Sho
Softball Welcomes Five on National Signing Day
11/10/2021 1:59:00 PM | Softball
Minnesota softball coach Piper Ritter unveiled her 2022 signing class Wednesday, announcing the addition of five student-athletes.
The newest Gophers boast impressive individual and team achievements at the high school and club levels.
"I'm happy to announce the signings of Sydney, Jess, Breezy, Billi and Addison," Ritter said. "Today is a special day. This is an athletic, competitive, high-performing and high-character class. I'm really looking forward to having the opportunity to coach these young women starting next fall and helping them achieve their goals both on and off the field."
Sydney Schwartz | Pitcher/Utility | Victoria, Minn. | Chanhassen High School
"Minnesota is my home, it is where I wanted to be and I am excited to represent my home state," Schwartz said. "The quality education and leadership opportunities will allow me to grow as a player and as a person. Softball has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I am blessed to be able to continue that journey for a program with great coaches, a competitive environment and a culture that I am excited to be a part of."
Schwartz was named Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year last year and was named to the 2021 All-State team. She earned All-Area and All-Section honors in 2018, 2019 and 2021 at Chanhassen High School and was a two-time Dean's List honoree. She's ranked No. 54 in the 2022 Extra Innings Softball rankings and helped her high school team win three conference championships. She played for the South Dakota Renegades (2017-18), Midwest Speed (2019) and Beverly Bandits (2020-21) during her club career. Her sister, Maddie, currently plays softball at the University of Wisconsin.
"Sydney is a no-nonsense pitcher that has really come on in the last year," Ritter said. "She has a love for pitching and is a great competitor on the mound. She is a product of Minnesota and watching her play at home will be very exciting. We are grateful Sydney is going to wear a Gopher Jersey."
Breezy Burnett | Outfielder | Jacksonville, Fla. | Trinity Christian Academy
"The people were amazing and 'Minnesota nice' is actually true. The education opportunities lined up with my interests and the support system is outstanding," Burnett said. "The softball coaches are top-notch people that can help me develop in all areas of my life. It felt like the perfect fit and I just knew it was the right decision for me."
Burnett signs as the No. 4-ranked outfielder and the No. 29 overall player for the class of 2022, according to Extra Innings Top 100 National Ranking. She's a 2021 All-State First Team selection in Florida and was a four-time district champion with her high school team, while also winning a Florida Class 4A State Championship her freshman season. She has earned four letters in softball and another in cheerleading.
"Breezy will help lock down the outfield, while creating runs at the plate," Ritter said. "She is fast, explosive and will make her presence known right away in the Maroon and Gold."
The Jacksonville, Fla., native, was twice selected for the U.S. Elite All-American Southeast Team and played her club ball with the Lady Dukes Lamar Gold team (2019-21). With her club team, Burnett was the 2019 team captain and team MVP while helping the team to a PGF Nationals runner-up finish in 2021. Her father, Brian Burnett, played football at Colorado State, while her brother, Brian Burnett Jr. , played football at Jacksonville University and played professionally in the German football league with the Ascendia Cardinals for two years.
Billi Connell | Outfielder | Luverne, Minn. | Luverne High School
"The University of Minnesota has always been my dream school because of the location and education opportunities it offers," Connell said. "When I received the opportunity to represent my home state of Minnesota, I knew it was the best place for me to continue my next four years. When I visited campus, it felt very welcoming. and I loved the idea of being close to the City, but not being overwhelmed by it."
Connell will join the Gophers as a two-time All-State selection out of Luverne, Minn. She helped her high school team to a section runner-up finish her freshman season. Connell has played both softball and hockey in high school and was named to the All-Conference team in softball four-straight seasons from 2018-21.
"Billi is an athletic player who is driven by hard work and continuous improvement," Ritter said. "We are excited to get Billi on campus and watch her soar."
Addi (Addison) Leschber | First Base/Outfielder | Thrall, Texas | Thrall High School
"The first time I walked campus, it just felt like the place for me," Leschber said. "The atmosphere at the University of Minnesota is beyond amazing and the people are even better. My goal, since I was little, has been to win a national championship while getting a great education. I believe we can do this at the University of Minnesota with the great coaching staff, players and community behind us. Go Gophers!"
Leschber has been a five-sport athlete while in high school, earning letters in volleyball, basketball, track, powerlifting and softball. She is a nine-time Academic All-District honoree across volleyball, basketball and softball. The Thrall, Texas, product earned Texas Girls Coaches' Association All-State honors in 2019 and 2021, earned All-State First Team accolades as a catcher in 2021 and was the Lone Star Prep Top First Basemen in 2022.
Leschber finished her junior season with 17 home runs in 73 at bats with a total of 49 hits and 57 RBIs. She hit .687 her junior season with an OBP of .775, accounting for 65 runs and 25 stolen bases. Leschber was named to the Extra Innings Softball Extra Elite Class of 2022 for an outfielder and earned a spot on the 2020 Extra Innings All-Summer Team. She also helped her team finish third at the 2019 World Fastpitch Championships.
"Addison is strong, powerful and poised while on the field," Ritter said. "She brings infectious enthusiasm to the game and her teammates. She is a person we all need as a teammate. Addison makes everyone around her better just by being herself and we are thrilled to have her as a Gopher."
Jess Oakland | Middle Infielder | San Jose, Calif. | Saint Francis High School
"I loved the atmosphere when I visited and the players and coaches are amazing," Oakland said.
Oakland was a MAXPREPS All-American in 2021 and earned Player/Athlete of the Year honors from four different publications in 2021. During her junior season, Oakland helped her high school team finish undefeated with a record of 26-0 and won the CCS Open Division title. She was named the Extra Innings National Player of the Week in July of 2021 and is ranked as the No. 43 middle infielder by Extra Innings Rankings. Oakland also has a background in basketball, earning All-WCAL second-team honors during her career. Her mother, Dina, was a track and field athlete at Cal Poly, while her father, Mike, played baseball for the Colorado Rockies minor league affiliates.
"Jess is an athlete with a golden glove," Ritter said. "She has great instinct for the ball and possesses the skills to make any play that comes her way. The sky's the limit for this young lady and we are looking forward to getting her in a Minnesota uniform."
The newest Gophers boast impressive individual and team achievements at the high school and club levels.
"I'm happy to announce the signings of Sydney, Jess, Breezy, Billi and Addison," Ritter said. "Today is a special day. This is an athletic, competitive, high-performing and high-character class. I'm really looking forward to having the opportunity to coach these young women starting next fall and helping them achieve their goals both on and off the field."
Sydney Schwartz | Pitcher/Utility | Victoria, Minn. | Chanhassen High School
"Minnesota is my home, it is where I wanted to be and I am excited to represent my home state," Schwartz said. "The quality education and leadership opportunities will allow me to grow as a player and as a person. Softball has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I am blessed to be able to continue that journey for a program with great coaches, a competitive environment and a culture that I am excited to be a part of."
Schwartz was named Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year last year and was named to the 2021 All-State team. She earned All-Area and All-Section honors in 2018, 2019 and 2021 at Chanhassen High School and was a two-time Dean's List honoree. She's ranked No. 54 in the 2022 Extra Innings Softball rankings and helped her high school team win three conference championships. She played for the South Dakota Renegades (2017-18), Midwest Speed (2019) and Beverly Bandits (2020-21) during her club career. Her sister, Maddie, currently plays softball at the University of Wisconsin.
"Sydney is a no-nonsense pitcher that has really come on in the last year," Ritter said. "She has a love for pitching and is a great competitor on the mound. She is a product of Minnesota and watching her play at home will be very exciting. We are grateful Sydney is going to wear a Gopher Jersey."
Breezy Burnett | Outfielder | Jacksonville, Fla. | Trinity Christian Academy
"The people were amazing and 'Minnesota nice' is actually true. The education opportunities lined up with my interests and the support system is outstanding," Burnett said. "The softball coaches are top-notch people that can help me develop in all areas of my life. It felt like the perfect fit and I just knew it was the right decision for me."
Burnett signs as the No. 4-ranked outfielder and the No. 29 overall player for the class of 2022, according to Extra Innings Top 100 National Ranking. She's a 2021 All-State First Team selection in Florida and was a four-time district champion with her high school team, while also winning a Florida Class 4A State Championship her freshman season. She has earned four letters in softball and another in cheerleading.
"Breezy will help lock down the outfield, while creating runs at the plate," Ritter said. "She is fast, explosive and will make her presence known right away in the Maroon and Gold."
The Jacksonville, Fla., native, was twice selected for the U.S. Elite All-American Southeast Team and played her club ball with the Lady Dukes Lamar Gold team (2019-21). With her club team, Burnett was the 2019 team captain and team MVP while helping the team to a PGF Nationals runner-up finish in 2021. Her father, Brian Burnett, played football at Colorado State, while her brother, Brian Burnett Jr. , played football at Jacksonville University and played professionally in the German football league with the Ascendia Cardinals for two years.
Billi Connell | Outfielder | Luverne, Minn. | Luverne High School
"The University of Minnesota has always been my dream school because of the location and education opportunities it offers," Connell said. "When I received the opportunity to represent my home state of Minnesota, I knew it was the best place for me to continue my next four years. When I visited campus, it felt very welcoming. and I loved the idea of being close to the City, but not being overwhelmed by it."
Connell will join the Gophers as a two-time All-State selection out of Luverne, Minn. She helped her high school team to a section runner-up finish her freshman season. Connell has played both softball and hockey in high school and was named to the All-Conference team in softball four-straight seasons from 2018-21.
"Billi is an athletic player who is driven by hard work and continuous improvement," Ritter said. "We are excited to get Billi on campus and watch her soar."
Addi (Addison) Leschber | First Base/Outfielder | Thrall, Texas | Thrall High School
"The first time I walked campus, it just felt like the place for me," Leschber said. "The atmosphere at the University of Minnesota is beyond amazing and the people are even better. My goal, since I was little, has been to win a national championship while getting a great education. I believe we can do this at the University of Minnesota with the great coaching staff, players and community behind us. Go Gophers!"
Leschber has been a five-sport athlete while in high school, earning letters in volleyball, basketball, track, powerlifting and softball. She is a nine-time Academic All-District honoree across volleyball, basketball and softball. The Thrall, Texas, product earned Texas Girls Coaches' Association All-State honors in 2019 and 2021, earned All-State First Team accolades as a catcher in 2021 and was the Lone Star Prep Top First Basemen in 2022.
Leschber finished her junior season with 17 home runs in 73 at bats with a total of 49 hits and 57 RBIs. She hit .687 her junior season with an OBP of .775, accounting for 65 runs and 25 stolen bases. Leschber was named to the Extra Innings Softball Extra Elite Class of 2022 for an outfielder and earned a spot on the 2020 Extra Innings All-Summer Team. She also helped her team finish third at the 2019 World Fastpitch Championships.
"Addison is strong, powerful and poised while on the field," Ritter said. "She brings infectious enthusiasm to the game and her teammates. She is a person we all need as a teammate. Addison makes everyone around her better just by being herself and we are thrilled to have her as a Gopher."
Jess Oakland | Middle Infielder | San Jose, Calif. | Saint Francis High School
"I loved the atmosphere when I visited and the players and coaches are amazing," Oakland said.
Oakland was a MAXPREPS All-American in 2021 and earned Player/Athlete of the Year honors from four different publications in 2021. During her junior season, Oakland helped her high school team finish undefeated with a record of 26-0 and won the CCS Open Division title. She was named the Extra Innings National Player of the Week in July of 2021 and is ranked as the No. 43 middle infielder by Extra Innings Rankings. Oakland also has a background in basketball, earning All-WCAL second-team honors during her career. Her mother, Dina, was a track and field athlete at Cal Poly, while her father, Mike, played baseball for the Colorado Rockies minor league affiliates.
"Jess is an athlete with a golden glove," Ritter said. "She has great instinct for the ball and possesses the skills to make any play that comes her way. The sky's the limit for this young lady and we are looking forward to getting her in a Minnesota uniform."
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