PIKE CREEK, Del. – Head coach Jerry Grasso announced Thurs., June 17 two additions to the Goldey-Beacom College softball team. Michelle Foster (Overbrook High School) and Ashley Zaccaria (Gloucester City High School) have committed to the school to join the Lightning for the 2011 season.

These two recruits will join a young and promising Lightning squad that finished 16-23 this past season with just two seniors on the roster. All but three players on the 2010 roster will be back next season, including Second Team All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference designated hitter Danielle Rice, fourth-year senior pitcher Heather Draper (five wins, four complete games, 63 strikeouts), and junior reliever Sadie Jones (three saves).

Michelle Foster (Overbrook HS)

An outstanding three-sport athlete at Overbrook HS, Foster boasts a long list of athletic and academic accomplishments. She earned four varsity letters in soccer, basketball and softball; meanwhile, she earned a People's Choice Award for excellence in English in 2008, participated in an RYLA Youth Leadership Conference at Stockton College, and was highlighted in May-June as the “Senior Spotlight.”

In softball, she led Overbrook to back-to-back South Jersey titles and its first-ever State championship game this past June where the Rams were on the short-end of a 1-0 score against Indian Hills. Foster had Overbook's only hit in that game as the Rams ended the season 26-3 and ranked No. 4 in South Jersey's top-20 rankings.

Earlier in the season, Foster provided a two-out, bases-loaded single to bring home the lone run of the game in a 1-0 win over conference foe Sterling. She would go on to set the school's single-season record for hits with 52 and the career mark with 142.

At the conclusion of her senior campaign, Foster was named All-South Jersey First Team by the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Courier Post, All-Group II First Team (Courier Post), All-Conference First Team (Colonial Conference) and Defensive Player of the Year (coaches' award). She also earned spots on the Camden County and NJSIAA All-Star Team.

Her junior season she earned All-South Jersey First Team (Philadelphia Inquirer), All-South Jersey Third Team (Star Ledger), All-Group II Second Team (Courier Post) and All-Conference First Team. That season, Overbrook won the Colonial Conference championship with a 16-0 record and the South-Jersey championship with a 23-4 record.

Foster was also named Tri-County Second Team All-Conference and Offensive Player of the Year her sophomore year, and Tri-Country First Team All-Conference and Defensive Player of the Year her freshman season.

In soccer she was named Second Team All-Conference and NJSCA All-State South Jersey during her senior season. She was also a two-year captain on the basketball team and took home the Coaches' “Better/Best Award” her junior and senior seasons. Foster was named the Tournament of Peace most valuable player in 2008, and she finished her senior basketball season with 330 points.

At 5-foot-6, Foster can play an assortment of positions including shortstop, second base, left field and right field.

Ashley Zaccaria was a two-sport star at Gloucester City High School who participated in softball and field hockey. She recently received the Carmen Palmiero Award given to the Outstanding Male and Female Athlete at GCHS.

In softball, Zaccaria led the Lady Lions to a remarkable 29-1 record and the school's fourth NJSIAA Group 1 state title in 2009. They were named the Courier Post “Team of the Year.”

Her senior season (2010) saw GCHS claim the Tri-County Championship. Zaccaria was named All-Group 1 First Team, All-Tri-County First Team, and the team's most valuable player. She finished with a season batting average of .545 and collected over 100 hits for her career.

In field hockey, her team won the Tri-County Championship as well. She was named All-Tri-County Second Team and the team's most valuable player.