Young Inks No. 4 Recruiting Class on National Signing Day

DURHAM, N.C. – Head coach Marissa Young inks seven future Blue Devils on National Signing Day for the fourth-ranked 2021 Signing Class in the country per Extra Innings Softball.

"I am extremely excited about our 2021 class," Young said. "It's our highest-ranked class with each player recognized as a top-100 national recruit. We knew when several were very young, their freshman and sophomore years of high school, that they had tremendous potential. It has been awesome to watch them grow and develop into the players we envisioned they would become."

The 2021 class ranks behind No. 1 Louisiana-Lafayette, No. 2 Auburn and No. 3 Oklahoma while ahead of No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 LSU, No. 7 Texas, No. 8 Oklahoma State, No. 9 Kentucky and No. 10 Ole Miss.

Young's signing class includes Jada Baker, Taylor Krapf, Kennedy Barron, Ana Gold, Leah Jarnac, Kelsey Zampa and Mariah Headen.

"It's a group that has played at an elite level, facing the best in the country, week in and week out," said Young. "I know they are mentally and physically prepared to contribute to a top-25 program. We can't express enough how excited we are that they recognized the Duke Difference and have chosen to be a part of the Duke softball family."

Jada Baker
Extra Innings Ranking: 3rd
Position: Shortstop
Height: 5'4"
Hometown/High School: Longwood, Fla. / Lyman High School
Career Highlights/Honors:

First Team All-Conference as a sophomore and junior
Four-year letterwinner
Compiled a .304 batting average as a freshman, .475 as a sophomore with 12 doubles and 31 runs batted in, and 439 as a junior with three homers and 16 RBIs
Plays travel ball for Lady Dukes Lamar

Coach Young's Thoughts: "Jada is the ultimate gamer at shortstop. A true athletic five-tool player with speed, hits for average and power, has a cannon for an arm and a gold glove. She exemplifies the caliber of the player and young woman we look to have join our program. Jada's work ethic, high character and toughness are a reflection of her amazing mother. She is a gifted player that we expect to make an immediate impact on the field and in the locker room."
Why Jada chose Duke: "I chose Duke, because as soon as I stepped on campus, I knew it was the one for me. I felt the family and I instantly picture my future here. Another reason why I chose Duke is when I met Coach Young. I met her and I saw myself in her. It's like she took me in and made everything feel like family. I love how the whole team has the family life. The biggest factor for me was family and I felt that as soon as I talked to all the coaches. If we lose, everyone loses and if we win, everyone wins. I love the 'Together as One' motto."

Taylor Krapf
Extra Innings Ranking: 18th
Position: Catcher
Height: 6'0"
Hometown/High School: Oviedo, Fla. / Winter Springs High School
Career Highlights/Honors:

FHSAA Regional Champion and FHSAA 8A State Champion (Hagerty High School) as a freshman
Four-year letterwinner for softball and weightlifting
Improved from a .275 batting average as a freshman to .577 as a senior with four home runs and 13 RBIs
Two-time Seminole County Athletic Conference All-Academic Honors and Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Academic Team
Plays travel ball for Tampa Mustangs – TJ; team was Triple Crown 2020 Southeast National Champions and named USA Elite World Fastpitch Championship Defensive MVP
Member of the Science National Honor Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society, Biology and Medicine Club and Beta Club

Coach Young's Thoughts: "Taylor will bring a great presence behind the plate. Combined with her elite level arm strength, her abilities as an elite receiver are why she's ranked as a top-20 player in the country. Taylor's player growth is not limited to her catching prowess. She has successfully worked to make herself a power threat at the plate with the ability to drive the ball to all parts of the field. She is battle tested against elite competition and has experienced great individual and team success on the travel ball circuit that will have her ready to compete in the ACC on day one. Off the field, she shows her strength as she has competed in power lifting and placed sixth in the state of Florida."
Why Taylor chose Duke: "I chose Duke, because it gives me the opportunity to receive a great education to prepare me for the future, while also being able to play for an amazing softball program and competing at the highest level."

Kennedy Barron
Extra Innings Ranking: 32nd
Position: Pitcher/Utility
Height: 5'10"
Hometown/High School: Section, Ala. / Pisgah High School
Career Highlights/Honors:

Two-time Alabama Class 3A State Champion and runner-up in seventh grade
Five-time Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) All-State selection, five-time Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) All-Region selection and two-time Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) All-Tournament Team selection
Lettered in softball, basketball and indoor track – played varsity softball since seventh grade
Three-time basketball state champion and three-time state qualifier for indoor track
Recorded a .633 batting average with 17 RBIs in 11 games before her junior season was shortened by COVID-19
Career totals of 34 home runs and 226 RBIs while tallying 67 wins in the circle with 433 strikeouts
Plays travel ball for Birmingham Thunderbolts

Coach Young's Thoughts: "A two-sport standout, Kennedy has won two softball state titles and three consecutive basketball state championships. Kennedy is a two-way player – a pitcher and corner that hits for power. A hard-throwing pitcher that effectively changes speed and planes vertically, she will bring additional depth to our pitching staff. On the offensive side, Kennedy fits into our offensive system as another player that can drive the ball to all parts of the field while possessing the ability to send the ball out of the park at any time."
Why Kennedy chose Duke: "I was initially drawn to Coach Young's program, because I was intrigued by the world-class academic reputation with elite athletics programs for which Duke is renowned. From the moment I first stepped on campus, I fell in love with the amazing atmosphere. I love the passion and enthusiasm that Coach Young and her staff bring to softball, creating a legacy of excellence for student-athletes, both on and off the field. Combing an outstanding academic reputation with an exceptional athletic program that competes at the highest level makes Duke the perfect place to call home for the next four years."

Ana Gold
Extra Innings Ranking: 39th
Position: Middle Infield/Third Base
Height: 5'7"
Hometown/High School: Ballston Spa, N.Y. / Ballston Spa High School
Career Highlights/Honors:

Three-time First Team Times Union All-Star, three-time First Team Suburban Council and two-time Second Team New York All-State
Five-year softball letterwinner, including eighth grade
Two-year varsity letterwinner for basketball
Batted .411 with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs as a freshman before improving to .418 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs as a sophomore
Lady Dukes Lamar
Member of National Honor Society, Student Council and High Honor Roll

Coach Young's Thoughts: "Ana is a power-hitting middle infielder/third baseman with a cannon for an arm and cat-like reflexes. A true example of a 'student of the game,' Ana's softball IQ is impressive. She has made a name for herself with her ability to hit eye opening home runs and will bring immediate power to our offense. Her versatility on the defensive side of the ball will provide depth at several positions. The potential for additional growth as a player is one of the most exciting aspects of Ana's game. She will join her brother in the ACC as he plays baseball for Boston College."
Why Ana chose Duke: "I chose Duke, because it is truly the best of both worlds when it comes to athletics and academics. I wanted to be able to play the game I love at a program where we have the opportunity to compete for a national title. Seeing the program's success the past few years is very exciting, and I cannot wait to be a part of such a special team. Also, I believe the coaching staff is a step above the softball world, and I know they will help me reach my goals on and off the field."

Leah Jarnac
Extra Innings Ranking: 51st
Position: Utility
Height: 5'6"
Hometown/High School: Safety Harbor, Fla. / Calvary Christian High School
Career Highlights/Honors:

Three-Time FACA All-Academic Team and two-time FACA All-State Team
4A Player of the Year runner-up as a junior
Four-year letterwinner
Has batted over. 530 all three years in high school, compiling 69 RBIs with 44 extra-base hits and 42 stolen bases through 54 games
Plays travel ball for the Birmingham Thunderbolts who finished second at the 2020 USA Nationals
Finished third at the 2019 PGF 16U Platinum with Georgia Impact
Member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Science National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Key Club

Coach Young's Thoughts: "Leah is a versatile utility player that can catch, play in the middle infield or shift to the outfield. Her versatility fits with our philosophy of finding players that can contribute at multiple positions. Leah is another veteran of competing at the highest level on the travel ball circuit. She's had consistent success against top tier pitchers in the country and will provide another extra base hit threat in our lineup. It's always a goal to bring in players that are used to having success and the commitments that go along with it. She fits that mold as she helped her Thunderbolts 16U Team to a second-place finish at the 2020 ASA Nationals."
Why Leah chose Duke: "Duke has always been my dream school. Since the first time I stepped onto campus, I knew that Duke University was where I was supposed to be. As a Christian, I understand that I need people in my life to help shape me to be a light and leader in this world. The culture that Duke softball partakes in is very attractive to me, and I know that I will be shaped into a strong leader throughout my years at Duke. Family is also very important to me. The softball team is a very tight family that I cannot wait to be a part of. I can't wait to have sisters that will encourage me and help me grow. Also, touring the campus, I have seen the amazing connections that all 6,000+ students have with each other."

Kelsey Zampa
Extra Innings Ranking: 68th
Position: Outfield
Height: 5'8"
Hometown/High School: Hartland, Mich. / Hartland High School
Career Highlights/Honors:

Earned All-District, All-Regional and First Team All-State as a sophomore while her team was State runners-up as a freshman
Improved at the plate during her sophomore season, batting .453 with 53 hits, including 21 extra-base hits, 39 RBIs and 61 runs scored
Four-year letterwinner
Michigan Finesse Dreher
Member of National Honor Society, Student Council, Unified Club and on the Honor Roll

Coach Young's Thoughts: "Kelsey is a spark plug in the outfield that goes all out to consistently make ESPN's top plays look routine. She is a five-tool leadoff with speed, a strong arm and exceptional glove that can hit for average and power. Kelsey plays with great passion and energy that spreads throughout her teammates."
Why Kelsey chose Duke: "The reason I chose Duke, was because the campus and family atmosphere while I was around the team and coaches stood out. I couldn't believe how beautiful that campus was, and the size is perfect. I also love that to campus is very close to my cousins, so I feel close to family even though I am far away from home. Finally, the academics are outstanding and I'm so excited to be pushed to my full potential."

Mariah Headen
Extra Innings Ranking: 70th
Position: Utility
Height: 5'11"
Hometown/High School: Greensboro, N.C. / Western Guilford High School
Career Highlights/Honors:

Three-time All-Conference and All-Academic honoree
Four-year letterwinner for both softball and volleyball
Plays travel ball for the Lady Dukes
Member of the National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars and Beta Club

Coach Young's Thoughts: "Mariah will be the first North Carolina player to compete in a Blue Devil uniform. Her softball IQ allows her to play fast and aggressive on the big state in big moments. Mariah's athleticism and versatility enables her to contribute anywhere in the infield, as well as in the outfield. Versatility is always a characteristic we look for in players and Mariah fits that trait to a tee. As she continues to develop physically, her impact on the field will grow exponentially."
Why Mariah chose Duke: "Ever since I have been able to think or even talk, Duke has been the college of my dreams. There is no other place I would want to call home."

The 2021 class steps onto campus next fall while their first spring season will be in 2022.

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Young Inks No. 4 Recruiting Class on National Signing Day

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