MIAMI (Sept. 26, 2019) – With fall ball just around the corner for the FIU softball team, we take a look at some incoming Panthers that will be donning the Blue & Gold for the first time in 2019.
 
The FIU softball team will feature eight newcomers in 2019, with seven being true freshmen and one transfer.
 
The young group of Panthers include: Jocelyn Alonso, Alexis Ross, Amelia Varela, Makayla Garcia, Jordyn Reese, Jojo Urso and Madison Mendez along with transfer Brianna Hill.

FIU kicks off the 2019 fall ball season on Friday, Oct. 4 as the Panthers welcome Florida Southwestern State, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. ET. 

SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIUSoftball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.

Player Bios

1- Jocelyn Alonso
5-6​​​​​​, SS/2B,  Freshman
Clearwater, Fla./Canterbury School

Prep: Attended Canterbury School of Florida in St.Petersburg, Florida… Named State Champion in 2017 while at Canterbury High School... Was named First Team All-Conference.

Academics/Community Service: Is undecided on her major at FIU.

Personal: Born in Miami, Florida… Daughter of Andys and Felix Alonso... Has one brother, Jonathan… Besides softball, she enjoys playing volleyball… Favorite movie is The Blindside… Favorite food is steak.

3- Alexis Ross
5-1, OF, Freshman
Jacksonville, Fla. / Trinity Christian Academy

Prep: Attended Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida... Her high school team won the 2019 State Champs-TCA... Named to First Team All-American and First Team All-State... Named Miracle Sports Athlete of the Week in 2017.

Academics/Community Service: Majoring in Business at FIU… Was a member of the National Honor Society... Has volunteered at bake sales and has done volunteer coaching.

Personal: Born in Orange Park, Florida.. Daughter of Tasandra and Carl Ross… Has three younger siblings, CJ, Xander, and Kalani… Tried out for Disney and made it on the program… One of her favorite movies is The Great Gatsby... Favorite place to eat is Chick-fil-A.

9- Brianna Hill
5-4, UTIL, Junior
Portland, Ore. / Lincoln HS

2018 (Sophomore at Gulf Coast State College): Played in 54 games.. Tallied 41 runs, 70 hits, 18 doubles, and four triples on the year... Held a batting average of .395… Ranked fourth on her team in runs and third in home runs (4) and RBIs (51)… Ranked second in hits, doubles, and triples.

2017 (Freshman at UTEP): Played in 14 games as a freshman... Tallied four runs, one hit, a triple, and three RBIs.

Prep: Attended Lincoln High School, where she graduated in 2017… Played all four years on the varsity squad… Has a .427 batting average with six home runs, 27 RBIs, 23 runs, four doubles and three triples… Named All-City first team infield in 2017... Named PIL Player of the Year in 2016 after hitting .415 with six long balls, 25 RBI, four doubles, two triples and 18 runs scored… Named to 2015 PIL All-League second team infield as a sophomore.

Academics/Community Service: Majoring in sports management at FIU.

Personal: Born and raised in Portland, OR… Daughter of Derek and Cindie Hill.. Has one older sister, Brandie, who was a D1 volleyball player at Rider University… Can also play tennis, volleyball, and basketball… Favorite movie is A Few Good Men… Likes country music and sushi.

12- Amelia Varela
5-8, SS, Freshman
Miami, Fla. / Doral Academy

Prep: Attended Doral Academy in Doral, Florida.. Was a four time District Champ... Named to the Flo-Softball All-American Watch List.

Academics/Community Service: Majoring in biology at FIU.

Personal: Born and raised in Miami, Florida… Daughter of Rolando and Leslie Varela… Has one brother, Jose Varela, who plays baseball for FIU… Besides softball she like to play soccer and volleyball… Favorite movie is Inception.

13- Makayla Garcia
5-5, C, Freshman
Buckeye, Ariz. / Yongker HS

Prep: Attended Yongker High School in Buckeye, Arizona...Won the A2 Outlaws Championship in 2015 and A2 Suncats Championship 2018... Was named MVP and lead homerun hitter for 1A Region.. Named to first team All-Region and Player of the Year...Named to first team region in soccer... Ranked second in the state for the Javelin.

Academics/ Community Service: Majoring in recreation and sports management at FIU… Earned honor roll at Yongker High School... Was a member of the Athlete Book Club where she read to elementary school kids... Was a recreation sports facilitator.

Personal: Born in Phoenix, Arizona.. Daughter of Jackie and Hank Garcia.. Has two younger siblings, Jeremiah and Alex… Besides softball she enjoys playing soccer, javelin, and badminton.. Favorite movies are Unbroken and Malcolm in the Middle.

16- Jordyn Reese
5-4, 3B, Freshman
Conowingo, Md. / Perryville HS

Prep: Attended Perryville High School in Perryville, Maryland... Won the 2016 1A State Championship with her high school softball team.

Academics/ Community Service: Majoring in biomedical engineering at FIU.

Personal: Born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Conowingo, Maryland... Daughter of Tammy and Jimmy Reese... Has an older brother, Bryce... Favorite food is pasta... Favorite place to eat in Miami is Diced.

18-Jojo Urso
5-4, C, Freshman
Plantation, Fla. / Western HS

Prep: Attended Western High School in Davie, Floirda... Won the 2018 9A State Championship for softball with her high school team.

Academics/Community Service: Majoring in biology at FIU.

Personal: Born and raised in Plantation, Florida… Daughter of Wendy and Sam Urso… Has one sibling, Sam... Enjoys swimming and going to the beach… Likes country music and sushi.

21- Madison Mendez
5-10, P/1B, Freshman
San Diego, Calif. / Santana HS

Prep: Attended Santana High School in Santee, California... Won the CIF D2 and PGF championships... Was named MVP of her team… Holds the record for home runs at her high school... Named Pitcher of the Year... Named to First Team All-CIF with her high school team.

Academics/Community Service: Majoring in criminal justice at FIU …Earned honor roll at Santana High School… Has volunteered feeding the homeless.

Personal: Born and raised in San Diego, California, where she attended Santana High school and graduated in 2019… Daughter of Erica and Todd Mendez… Has two older brothers, Junior and Christian… Besides softball she enjoys playing badminton… Favorite TV show is Riverdale.