LA JOLLA, Calif. - Patti Gerckens, head coach of the UC San Diego softball team, announced Tuesday that the Tritons have signed six high school seniors to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period.

Caitlin Brown, a catcher from Rancho Palos Verdes; Jennifer Manuel, a right-handed pitcher from Camarillo; Em McQuaid, a utility player from Monrovia; Mandy Natsuhara, an outfielder from Anaheim; Mo Omori, a corner infielder from Rancho Santa Margarita; and Mya Romero, a middle infielder from Woodland, will join the UCSD squad for the 2011 season as true freshmen.

"We are extremely excited about the six student athletes that we have signed," Gerckens said. "Each one of the girls brings a tremendous amount of depth and talent to our program. I think that this is one of the most talented recruiting classes that we've ever had."

Brown, adept at fielding the catcher and first base positions, has captained the varsity softball team at Palos Verdes High School the previous three seasons. Helping the squad to its first-ever Bay League championships this past spring, Brown earned All-League First Team honors while being named the team's top defensive player. On the honor roll, she is also a member of the California Scholarship Federation. Outside of playing for her high school team, Brown also competes for the Mizuno Pride Gold.

"Caitlin will be battling for a position in our catching rotation," Gerckens said. "She is extremely athletic with an amazing attitude. She poses a threat every time she steps in the batter's box."

Manuel, a senior at Adolfo Camarillo High School, contributes at the plate and on the mound. Guiding the squad to conference titles in 2007 and 2008, Manuel has earned Pacific View All-League honors the previous three seasons. This past spring she was named the most valuable player of Adolfo Camarillo's team. Outside of high school competition, Manuel plays for the SoCal Pumas, a squad that took third place at the 18 Gold Nationals in Oklahoma City, Okla., and finished fifth at the Louisville Slugger Independence in Boulder, Colo.

"Jenn is a solid and skilled pitcher who will add depth to our pitching rotation," Gerckens said. "She is also a great contact hitter with the potential for power."  

McQuaid, a left-handed hitter, has contributed a great deal to the success of Arcadia High School's team. Helping the squad to a Pacific League championship in 2007, McQuaid has gone on to earn All-League Second Team honors in 2008 and 2009. Staying active with community service, she has received top marks in the classroom. McQuaid is also a co-captain of the California Rage Gold club softball team that took fifth- and 12th-place finishes respectively at the 2008 and 2009 AFA Nationals.

"Em is a scrapper," Gerckens said. "Every time I have seen her play her uniform has been covered from head to toe in dirt. She is a highly aggressive and intelligent baserunner with solid fundamentals. She brings speed and a tremendous amount of heart to our team."

Natsuhara, also a left-handed hitter, put together an impressive junior season for Canyon High School. After missing the previous year because of injury, she bounced back to take the leadoff and starting leftfield spots en route to helping the squad to a Century League championship. Natsuhara was rewarded for her play with All-League First Team and Coaches Award honors. Through each of her first three years of high school she has been named to the honor roll and selected as a scholar athlete.

"With Mandy comes a lot of speed and intelligence," Gerckens said. "She is an aggressive outfielder as well as a left-handed slapper. She has the potential to be a triple threat in the box as her power slapping continues to improve. She definitely has the capability to fight for a starting position in the outfield in her freshman year."  

Omori, typically fielding the first base and third base positions, has played a large role in the success of Tesoro High School's softball team. Helping the squad to a CIF Division III Southern Section title in 2009, she earned All-League Second Team and Coaches Award honors along the way. Omori has been named a scholar athlete the past two seasons.

"Mo is an experienced corner who will be fighting for a position at both first and third base next year," Gerckens said. "She is a danger to opponents in the batter's box and brings a great deal of intensity to the field."

Romero, playing for St. Francis High School and the California Grapettes Gold, is a force at the middle infield positions. Named the co-MVP of the St. Francis squad in 2009, Romero helped the team to a second-place finish at the NorCal High School Softball Classic this past spring. Serving as the starting shortstop for St. Francis, Romero has tallied a fielding percentage of .965 the previous two years.

"Mya is going to bring a great deal of versatility and depth to our middle infield," Gerckens said. "We are looking for her to be an impact player immediately."

The Tritons will open their 2010 campaign at the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational on Feb. 5, before playing their first official game at their new home field on Feb. 12 against Chico State.