Sacramento State’s softball signed three new recruits to national letters of intent for the 2015 roster who all know each other pretty well.

The three future Hornets include second baseman Zamari Hinton, shortstop Marissa Maligad and first baseman/third baseman Cassidy Martin. All three were teammates with the Lady Magic, a travel team in Elk Grove.

“I like that all three are local players from the Sacramento area,” said Sac State head coach Lori Perez. “It is really cool to see that they all want to play at Sac State and wear that Hornet uniform.”

Hinton, Maligad and Martin will come into the 2015 season as highly decorated high school players.

Hinton has played three years at Sheldon High School where she accumulated three all-Delta River League selections. Hinton’s best year was as a junior in which she hit .400 and was an all-city selection.  

“Zamari (Hinton) has great speed, that could stretch those doubles into triples for us,” Perez said. “She is good defensively because she can reach and grab balls that most players can’t get.”

Maligad, from Pleasant Grove High School, is also a three-time all-Delta River League selection. She was selected to the first team in league after leading her team to a Delta River League championship.

“Marissa, like Zamari, can hit from the left side really well,” Perez said. “She can hit to the opposite side of the field and hit for average.”  

Martin, the Hornets’ third signee, will enter her senior season hitting .419 career batting average with 19 stolen bases, 16 doubles and three home runs at Center High School.

“Cassidy can be a RBI producer for us and I expect that she will build up to be a power hitter for us her junior and senior years,” Perez said.

Perez said that the three future Hornets could make an immediate  impact for the team.

“All of them come in and have the potential to start for us, but they will have upperclassmen that will have more experience,” Perez said. “I believe all three will see playing time when their careers start here, but how much playing time, I have no clue.”

Sac State will open its season Feb. 8 in a double-header against the University of Pacific.