FORT MYERS, Fla.- Two more Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneer Softball players will be making their way to the NCAA Division I level next season as shortstop Rebeca Laudino signed with Louisiana-Lafayette and utility player Haley Ellefson inked with the University of Maryland Wednesday in a signing ceremony in Suncoast Credit Union Arena.
Laudino put together the best freshman season in program history a year ago, earning the trifecta of NJCAA, NFCA, and Fastpitch News 1st Team All-American honors. She set FSW single season records for hits (98), runs (80), and batting average (.527) while playing in 56 of 57 contests. Even more impressive is how she started her collegiate career, hitting in 49 straight games to set an all-level collegiate softball record. A unique combination of power and speed, Laudino led the team with 43 stolen bases and also slugged .694 with nine doubles, five triples, and four home runs.
She will head to Louisiana to play for the Ragin' Cajuns who finished the season ranked 7th nationally a year ago, putting together a 52-6 record including a perfect 25-0 mark in Sun Belt play. Louisiana has played in an incredible 13 straight NCAA Regional Finals, making their way to the Super Regional round seven times, and the Women's College World Series twice during the stretch.
Ellefson had a big freshman year of her own, earning 1st Team All-Conference and 2nd Team All-State honors in 2019. A two way threat, Ellefson appeared in 31 games as a hitter and 24 as a pitcher last season. In the circle, Ellefson finished a perfect 14-0 with a 1.39 ERA in 75 2/3 innings pitched, starting 17 contests and coming out of the bullpen for seven others. A power threat from the left side of the plate, Ellefson hit .401 as a freshman, smacking 10 doubles and six home runs while driving in 39 for the Bucs.
Maryland finished their fifth season of Big 10 competition in 2019, going 20-31 overall and 4-19 in conference play. The Terrapins will be under new direction in 2020 after hiring 2019 Conference USA Coach of the Year Mark Montgomery from Louisiana Tech to take the reins this season.
Laudino, Ellefson, and the rest of the Bucs will kick off their 2020 season February 1st in Clearwater where they will take on Seminole State and Lake-Sumter before opening their home schedule on February 4th against Broward at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers.