WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Head coach Boo De Oliveira and the Purdue softball program welcomed in 10 Boilermakers on National Signing Day. Combined, the incoming 2022 recruiting class ranks as No. 5 in the nation, according to Extra Inning Softball.
"We are excited to welcome this special group of players," De Oliveira said. "To collectively rank as a top-five recruiting class is not an easy feat, but they have not just competed against the best teams, but excelled against them. This is a gritty and smart group - they know how to compete and get results, both on the field and in the classroom."
Bella Bacon
Position: 1B/3B
Hit/Throw: R/R
Hometown: Omaha, Neb.
High School: Millard West
Intended Major: Pre-Dentistry
Club Team: Iowa Premier
Quick Hits:
Coach De Oliveira on Bacon: "Bella has played at the highest level. She is a 2021 PGF National Champion. She is solid first basemen who will add championship experience and power to our line up."
Emma Bailey
Position: RHP
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN.
High School: North Central High School
Intended Occupation: Civil Engineering
Club Team: Beverly Bandits
Quick Hits:
De Oliveira on Bailey: "Emma is a gritty pitcher. She does a great job of feeding the defense and keeping the ball in the park. We look forward to seeing this Indiana native get it done on the mound for her home state."
Khloe Banks
Position: OF
Hit/Throw: L/R
Hometown: Orange Park, Fla.
High School: Oakleaf
Intended major: Pre-Med
Club Team: Santa Fe Inferno
Quick Hits:
De Olivera on Banks: "Khloe has real deal speed. She is a 'gaser' both in the outfield and on the base paths. She will definitely cause defenders to be at their best."
Olivia Cainey
Position: LHP
Hometown: Huntersville, N.C.
High School: Hopewell
Intended Major: Political Science/Environmental Science
Club Team: Team NC Eaton
Quick Hits:
Cainey on opportunities as a Boilermaker: "This allows me to get a great education and be a part of something bigger than myself."
De Oliveira on Cainey: "Liv is a top-15 pitcher who has many tools – spin, movement, speed, and competitive drive. She will make an immediate impact on our pitching staff and we look forward to her making her mark on Purdue's record books."
Alivia Meeks
Position: SS/UT
Hit/Throw: R/R
Hometown: Hurricane, W.Va
High School: Hurricane
Intended Major: Animal Sciences
Club Team: Team NC
Quick Hits:
Meeks on being a Boilermaker: "It gives me a sense of pride knowing I'm with a bunch of super talented people that have my back."
De Oliveira on Meeks: "Meeks is a stud on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. She truly understands the game and makes elite plays look routine. She will make an immediate impact on our lineup and on our team's overall toughness."
Rita Nuss
Position: 3B/UT
Hit/Throw: R/R
Hometown: Bloomsburg, PA.
High School: Bloomsburg Area High School
Intended Occupation: Physician Assistant
Club Team: Lady Dukes Lamar (3 years) Stars National (Senior Year)
Quick Hits:
De Oliveira on Nuss: "Rita is a fast and strong versatile athlete. She plays solid on both infield corners and hits for power. Her travel ball experience has been competing with and competing against the best. She is ready to help us win championships."
Jordyn Ramos
Position: OF/SS/UT
Hit/Throw: R/R
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.
High School: Somerset Sky Pointe
Intended Major: Undecided
Club Team: Explosion Hagberg
Quick Hits:
Ramos on goals for year one as a Boilermaker: "Work on improving my speed and strength. I was to be the fastest."
Coach De Oliveira on Ramos: "Jordan is top utility who can legitimately play outfield and middle infield at the collegiate level. She hits for power and average, as well as runs with above average speed. She has a ton of passion and will make her mark known on Purdue Softball."
Sage Scarmardo
Position: MIF/UT
Hit/Throw: L/R
Hometown: College Station, Texas
High School: College Station
Intended Major: Business Communications
Club Team: Texas Bombers 18U Gold American
Quick Hits:
De Oliveira on Scarmardo: "Sage is a gritty middle infielder who has the ability to play both short-stop and 2nd base. She is a catalyst offensively and causes chaos on the base paths. Sage's confidence is contagious and she will elevate our team immediately."
Summer Scarmardo
Position: C/3B
Hit/Throw: R/R
Hometown: College Station, Texas
High School: College Station
Intended Major: Business
Club Team: Texas Bombers 18U Mckorckle
Quick Hits:
Scarmardo on being a Boilermaker: "It means everything. I'm very blessed to get a great scholarship education and one of the best academic schools."
De Oliveira on Scarmardo: "Summer is a versatile defender who plays catcher and third base. Offensively, she has power and is clutch. She has played high caliber softball in Texas and is ready for the challenge of being a Boilermaker."
Julianna Verni
Position:
Hit/Throw:
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.
High School: Nardin Academy
Intended Major: Health and Kinesiology
Club Team: Top Gun 18U National - Turner
Quick Hits:
Coach De Oliveira on Bacon: "Julianna is a pitcher whose strengths are working vertically – rise, drop, and change. She gets a lot of swing and misses and changes speeds effectively. We know her spin and movement will help her succeed at Purdue."
"We are excited to welcome this special group of players," De Oliveira said. "To collectively rank as a top-five recruiting class is not an easy feat, but they have not just competed against the best teams, but excelled against them. This is a gritty and smart group - they know how to compete and get results, both on the field and in the classroom."
Bella Bacon
Position: 1B/3B
Hit/Throw: R/R
Hometown: Omaha, Neb.
High School: Millard West
Intended Major: Pre-Dentistry
Club Team: Iowa Premier
Quick Hits:
- Ranked No. 53 in the nation among first basemen by Extra Inning Softball
- Nebraska Super-State Second Team and Class A Second Team selection during senior year
- Nebraska Super-State First Team and Class A First Team selection during junior year
- Helped Iowa Premier to a 2021 PGF Premier National Championship and 2021 Boulder IDT Championship
- Appeared on the Extra Innings Softball Extra Elite Top 200 list as a sophomore
- Four-time letter recipient
- Metro Coaches First Team and All-Academic selection during senior year
Coach De Oliveira on Bacon: "Bella has played at the highest level. She is a 2021 PGF National Champion. She is solid first basemen who will add championship experience and power to our line up."
Emma Bailey
Position: RHP
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN.
High School: North Central High School
Intended Occupation: Civil Engineering
Club Team: Beverly Bandits
Quick Hits:
- Ranked as the No. 52 pitcher in the 2022 signing class by Extra Inning Softball
- Spent her first two years of High School at Herron High School
- Earned All-City team award her Freshmen Year
- Was Named to the All-Academic State team her Junior year
- Throughout her four years of High Schools she has always been on High Honors
- She also has been named to
- the National Honor Society
- Before joining the Beverly Bandits she played for three other club teams (Indiana Gators, Indy Crush, and Lady Dukes Lamar)
- Helped the Lady Dukes Lamar win the Triple Crown Nationals in 2020
- Helped the Beverly Bandits win the King of the Hill Tournament in 2021
De Oliveira on Bailey: "Emma is a gritty pitcher. She does a great job of feeding the defense and keeping the ball in the park. We look forward to seeing this Indiana native get it done on the mound for her home state."
Khloe Banks
Position: OF
Hit/Throw: L/R
Hometown: Orange Park, Fla.
High School: Oakleaf
Intended major: Pre-Med
Club Team: Santa Fe Inferno
Quick Hits:
- Ranked No. 60 among all outfielders and No. 108 overall recruit by Extra Innings Softball
- During her junior year, posted a .402 batting average
- Totaled 41 runs in 26 games as a junior
- Posted eight triples and three home runs in 2020-21
- Owns a .966 fielding %
- Registered 26 RBI over the last two seasons
- Over the last two seasons, Banks has made base .488 %
- As a freshman, averaged a .435 batting averaging, including 16 runs and 20 hits
De Olivera on Banks: "Khloe has real deal speed. She is a 'gaser' both in the outfield and on the base paths. She will definitely cause defenders to be at their best."
Olivia Cainey
Position: LHP
Hometown: Huntersville, N.C.
High School: Hopewell
Intended Major: Political Science/Environmental Science
Club Team: Team NC Eaton
Quick Hits:
- Ranked as one of the nation's top-15 pitchers among all 2022 recruits and No. 31 overall
- Helped Team NC Eaton win 2019 TCUSA National Championship
- All-Conference Award winner for softball as a freshman
- All-Conference Award winner for tennis as a senior
- 4-year letter-winner in Softball and Tennis at Hopewell High School
Cainey on opportunities as a Boilermaker: "This allows me to get a great education and be a part of something bigger than myself."
De Oliveira on Cainey: "Liv is a top-15 pitcher who has many tools – spin, movement, speed, and competitive drive. She will make an immediate impact on our pitching staff and we look forward to her making her mark on Purdue's record books."
Alivia Meeks
Position: SS/UT
Hit/Throw: R/R
Hometown: Hurricane, W.Va
High School: Hurricane
Intended Major: Animal Sciences
Club Team: Team NC
Quick Hits:
- Ranked No. 45 in her position and No. 67 overall recruit by Extra Innings Softball
- Four-year letter-winner in Softball at Hurricane High School
- Helped Hurricane win 2019 State Championship
- Named on 2019 State All-Tournament Team
- 2020 First Team All-State Award winner
Meeks on being a Boilermaker: "It gives me a sense of pride knowing I'm with a bunch of super talented people that have my back."
De Oliveira on Meeks: "Meeks is a stud on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. She truly understands the game and makes elite plays look routine. She will make an immediate impact on our lineup and on our team's overall toughness."
Rita Nuss
Position: 3B/UT
Hit/Throw: R/R
Hometown: Bloomsburg, PA.
High School: Bloomsburg Area High School
Intended Occupation: Physician Assistant
Club Team: Lady Dukes Lamar (3 years) Stars National (Senior Year)
Quick Hits:
- Ranked as the No. 3 third baseman in the nation and is a top 63 overall recruit by Extra Innings Softball
- 2019 and 2021 First Team All-State honoree
- Named a 2-year High School team captain
- Helped the Lady Dukes Lamar win the 2020 Triple Crown
- Helped Bloomsburg earn the title of District Champion in 2019
- National Honors Society member
De Oliveira on Nuss: "Rita is a fast and strong versatile athlete. She plays solid on both infield corners and hits for power. Her travel ball experience has been competing with and competing against the best. She is ready to help us win championships."
Jordyn Ramos
Position: OF/SS/UT
Hit/Throw: R/R
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.
High School: Somerset Sky Pointe
Intended Major: Undecided
Club Team: Explosion Hagberg
Quick Hits:
- Ranked as a top-14 outfielder and as the No. 31 overall recruit by Extra Innings Softball
- Two-time Extra Innings Softball Top 100 selection
- Extra Innings Softball All-American as a junior
- Extra Innings Softball Player of the Week runner-up as a junior
- 3-time Nevada Rising Star Award winner
- First Team All-Region selection as a junior
- 2021 USSSA West Coast Nationals Tournament MVP
- Helped Mercado/Grey Club Team win 2021 IDT Championship
- FloSoftball Top 100 selection
- Recorded the highest ODM Allister Index of 100.94 as a sophomore
Ramos on goals for year one as a Boilermaker: "Work on improving my speed and strength. I was to be the fastest."
Coach De Oliveira on Ramos: "Jordan is top utility who can legitimately play outfield and middle infield at the collegiate level. She hits for power and average, as well as runs with above average speed. She has a ton of passion and will make her mark known on Purdue Softball."
Sage Scarmardo
Position: MIF/UT
Hit/Throw: L/R
Hometown: College Station, Texas
High School: College Station
Intended Major: Business Communications
Club Team: Texas Bombers 18U Gold American
Quick Hits:
- Ranked No. 45 in her position and No. 67 overall in the
- First Team All-District for three consecutive years
- Competed with the USA Softball Gulf Coast team as a junior
- Was named Best Texas Bomber Gold Offensive Player as a junior
- Named Offensive Player of the Year and Offensive MVP as a sophomore
- Helped College Station to a Regional championship title as a freshman
- Received the team's Hustle Award as a sophomore and freshman
- Three-time Academic All-District honoree
- Will play alongside her twin, Summer Scarmardo for the Boilermakers
De Oliveira on Scarmardo: "Sage is a gritty middle infielder who has the ability to play both short-stop and 2nd base. She is a catalyst offensively and causes chaos on the base paths. Sage's confidence is contagious and she will elevate our team immediately."
Summer Scarmardo
Position: C/3B
Hit/Throw: R/R
Hometown: College Station, Texas
High School: College Station
Intended Major: Business
Club Team: Texas Bombers 18U Mckorckle
Quick Hits:
- Ranked No. 34 among all catchers and No. 83 overall in the Extra Innings Softball 2022 recruiting class rankings
- Named a Texas Bomber U18 Gold All-American
- Received defensive MVP accolades in 2021
- Earned All-District Team nods as a junior in 2021
- Helped College Station HS to a 2019 district championship title and area titles
- Named a 2018 All-American at Colorado Sparkler tournament
- Two-time Academic All-District in 2019 and 2020
- Will play alongside her twin, Sage Scarmardo for the Boilermakers
Scarmardo on being a Boilermaker: "It means everything. I'm very blessed to get a great scholarship education and one of the best academic schools."
De Oliveira on Scarmardo: "Summer is a versatile defender who plays catcher and third base. Offensively, she has power and is clutch. She has played high caliber softball in Texas and is ready for the challenge of being a Boilermaker."
Julianna Verni
Position:
Hit/Throw:
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.
High School: Nardin Academy
Intended Major: Health and Kinesiology
Club Team: Top Gun 18U National - Turner
Quick Hits:
- Ranked by Extra Inning Softball as a top 60 pitcher in the nation among 2022 recruits
- 2021 MMHSAA Pitcher of the Year Award Winner as a junior
- Led MMHSAA in strikeouts, ERA, and shutouts as a junior in 2021
- All WNY First Team selection and All State selection as a junior
- Recorded 89 strikeouts in 44 innings as a junior
- Helped Nardin Academy win MMHSAA Regular Season Championship in 2021
- Helped Top Gun 18U National win PGF Premier Qualifier Championship in Kansas City, Kansas
- Lettered in Volleyball and Softball at Nardin Academy
Coach De Oliveira on Bacon: "Julianna is a pitcher whose strengths are working vertically – rise, drop, and change. She gets a lot of swing and misses and changes speeds effectively. We know her spin and movement will help her succeed at Purdue."