French announces six signees to Class of 2025
Smithfield, R.I. – Bryant University softball head coach Nick French announced six new Bulldogs in the class of 2025 who will be joining Bryant softball next fall.
"I am super excited to bring this class to Bryant. They are elite in the classroom as well as on the softball field," Coach French said. "On the field, it's a versatile group that between them can play every position on the field so they give us a lot of options. They all swing the bat extremely well and will bring a lot of power and excitement to Conaty Park."
Madison Fitzgerald – Middle Infielder | Bethel, Conn. | Saint Joseph High School | (R.I. Thunder Gold)
Before Bryant: Four-year varsity starter at shortstop… A two-time FCIAC Champion… Helped her team win the State Championships in 2018… As a freshman, Fitzgerald racked up a .449 batting average and tallied 40 hits, three HRs, 26 RBIs, and 24 runs (second-most hits and second-highest batting average on the team)… During her sophomore season, she led the team in hits (44) and batting average (.464) as well as recording three HRs, 30 RBIs, and 29 runs… Made the All-FCIAC and the All-State first-team in 2018 and 2019… As a member of the R.I. Thunder Gold, Fitzgerald batted .381 with two HRs, eight RBIs, and 12 runs…
Personal: Daughter of Tamara, who played field hockey at SUNY Cortland and Robert Fitzgerald… Has two brothers.
French on Fitzgerald: Maddy is a solid infielder with a lot of pop. She is an upbeat personality who will be a strong contributor in the future.
Alyssa Garabedian – Infield | Coventry, R.I. | Coventry High School | (R.I. Thunder Gold)
Before Bryant: Four-year varsity letter winner at Coventry High School… Led her team to a third-place finish in 2018 and a second-place finish in 2019… Has played for the R.I. Thunder Gold club softball team since 2015… Honor roll student and member of the National Honors Society… Volunteered at Central Falls High School as a teacher's assistant and tutor during summer school.
Personal: Daughter of Pam and Jeff Garabedian… Has one sister.
French on Garabedian: Alyssa is extremely versatile, she can play a bunch of positions and swings a solid bat with power potential. She comes from a great travel program along with McKenzie and Maddy which has taught all of them how to win and play at a high level.
Josie Gex – Pitcher/Utility | Germantown, Tennessee | Saint Benedict at Auburndale | (Germantown Red Devils)
Before Bryant: Played four years of varsity softball for the Eagles… Posted a career batting average of .407 and a career ERA of 2.1… Was selected to the All-Division team in her freshman and sophomore year… Gex won the All-Region MVP award during her freshman season… Named the Commercial Appeal Player of the Week twice in her career… Has been a member of the Germantown Red Devils club softball team since 2012.
Personal: Her mother Amanda, threw the first pitch in Ole Miss Softball history. Her father Correy Gex, played football at Ole Miss. … She also has two sisters.
French on Gex: I've known Josie since she was 9 years old. She is a fierce competitor and comes from a great softball family. She can hit, pitch, and play the field, and I'm excited to see what she brings to our program.
McKenzie McAloon – Catcher/Infield | Taunton, Mass. | Taunton High School | (R.I. Thunder Gold)
Before Bryant: A four-year varsity starter at Taunton High School… Batted .431 with 16 RBIs her freshman season and helped her team win the D1 State Championship… As a sophomore, McAloon led the team in doubles and posted a .353 batting average and knocked in 17 RBIs, and managed to strike out only twice at the plate, which led to a Hockomock League All-Star honorable mention… Her team won the Hockomock League in 2019 and she was named to the Taunton All-Scholastic first-team… Has played club softball for the R.I Thunder Gold since 2019… Was a volunteer coach for Taunton youth softball and a youth hitting clinic.
Personal: Daughter of Jennifer and Daniel McAloon Jr… Has two sisters.
French on McAloon: McKenzie brings a ton of power to the team, but more importantly she brings such a positive attitude that lifts those around her. She will be a great influence and bring energy to our pitching staff as a catcher.
Amira Rainer – Outfield | Chesterfield, VA. | Monacan High School | (Virginia Legends)
Before Bryant: Played varsity softball for four-years at Monacan High School… Batted .374 as a freshman and followed that with a .474 batting average as a sophomore… Hit third most triples in the state of Virginia as a freshman… Named team captain during her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons… A member of the Virginia Legends club softball team since 2015… Amira's father Wali Rainer was drafted by the Cleveland Browns and played six years in the NFL.
Personal: Daughter of Brandi and Wali Rainer… Has four brothers.
French on Rainer: Amira is another super positive, outgoing personality who is always hyping her teammates up. She has a great athletic background and hits the ball extremely hard while covering a lot of ground in the outfield. She has a bright future here in our program.
Morgan Tesser – 3B/2B | Merrick, N.Y. | Belmore John F. Kennedy | (Jersey Intensity National)
Before Bryant: four-year varsity letter winner… Posted a .495 career batting average with six HRs, 48 RBIs, and three triples… Made the All-County team in 2018 and 2019… Received the honor of the top 100 players on Long Island in 2019 and 2020… Won the USSSA National Championship in 2017 with the Jersey Intensity National club softball team... Member of the National Honor Society… Ran a youth softball clinic.
Personal: Daughter of Lawrence and Fara Tesser… Has one sister.
French on Tesser: Morgan is an extremely hard worker who loves to swing and swing and swing. She is always taking extra cuts and working to perfect her swing or taking extra ground balls to get better in the infield. I can't wait to see the results of that hard work.