CU Softball Signs Catcher from California

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Campbell University softball team added catcher Laraine Fraijo from Covina, Calif., to its 2002-2003 roster Head Coach Drew Peterson announced, Monday.
Fraijo, a 5-6 catcher who also played some first and third base during her prep career at Western Christian High School in Covina, was a four-year letterwinner for coach Adam Barthozomew. Fraijo was a first-team all-league player in 2000, leading the conference with a .405 batting average. In 2001, the team captain was a second-team all-league honoree and a CIF semifinalist. In her last season, Fraijo batted .389 and served as the team captain.
Fraijo also played AAU ball for the Southern Cal Bike/Thunder from 2000-2001. Prior to playing with the 18 gold team, she also played for the American Pastime (1998-1999), Infinity (1999-2000) and the Pirettes Under-18 (2000-2001) teams.
Fraijo is also a two-year letterwinner in basketball and is a member of the honor roll and the National Honor Society.
"Laraine is the answer to a question we have had for some time," Peterson said. "We needed someone who we felt could step in and be a great competitor at the catching position right away. We wanted a strong leader both by example and with verbal skills, someone who could be an offensive threat and who possessed great character and academic prowess. We feel that Laraine meets all those needs and will be a point of light for Campbell in the future."
Fraijo will have the opportunity to fill the catcher position at Campbell that was vacated by departing senior Carolyn Fortney. Fortney was one of five seniors to complete their respective collegiate careers earlier this spring.
Fraijo is Peterson's second signee out of California since he came to Campbell two years ago. Fresno-native Brooke Bennett just completed her freshman year for Peterson. Fraijo is the sixth signee for the 2002-2003 campaign. She joins Erica Willis (Erwin, N.C./Triton High), Lexi Myers (Hanover, Pa.), Kristina Schmallen (Avondale, Ariz.), Lindsey Landry (Hope Mills, N.C.) and Keely Brewer (Wake Forest, N.C). Myers, Schmallen, Landry and Brewer all signed during the fall signing period, while Willis and Fraijo were both spring signees.
The daughter of Tom and Paula Fraijo, Fraijo has one sister, Alexandra, and a brother (Thomas). She selected Campbell over Belhaven and Mississippi University for Women. Fraijo plans on majoring in pre-med at Campbell and hopes to become a pediatric oncologist after college.