Valpo softball head coach Mike Armitage announced today that three additional newcomers have joined the program this fall and will be eligible for the 2025 season. Mack Gallagher and Azalya Lopez come to Valpo as transfers from Minnesota State University Moorhead, while Sophia Leitzen is entering her freshman season.
Mack Gallagher – 5'7" – Jr. – IF – Frankfort, Ill. – Lincoln-Way East H.S. – MSU Moorhead
Gallagher stood out in her two seasons at MSU Moorhead, earning First Team All-Conference accolades as a rookie and following that up with a Second Team All-Conference selection last season. Also an NFCA Second Team All-Region selection as a freshman in 2023, Gallagher hit .417 and OPSed at a 1.192 clip while setting single-season program records for home runs (11) and RBIs (50). Last season, Gallagher OPSed .838 and led the Dragons with 34 RBIs, 12 doubles and six home runs.
Armitage on Gallagher: "Mack is an excellent young person and outstanding ball player. I have no doubt she will help our team be better both offensively and defensively. Mack played a big role in our team's success and revitalizing a program at MSUM. Her experience in that environment will be leaned on through the fall and spring seasons as our team attempts to guide the Valpo softball program to greater success."
Sophia Leitzen – 5'8" – Fr. – IF – Orfordville, Wis. – Brodhead H.S. – Team Heat Tri-State
Leitzen helped lead Brodhead to a state title in 2023 and back-to-back regional and sectional championships in her final two seasons. A Second Team All-State selection as a senior, she was a four-time All-Conference infielder and picked up All-District honors as well. Leitzen played her travel ball for Team Heat Tri-State, winning the USSSA Great Lakes National Championship with them in the summer of 2023.
Armitage on Leitzen: "Sophia is a very talented young ball player who had a ton of success with her high school team, competing at the state tournament multiple times in her career. She was a mainstay in the batting order with the ability to drive the ball and found herself on base a high percentage of the time. Soph is a winner and she knows what it takes to accomplish a goal. I believe her goal is to help this team/program change the way outsiders look at Valpo softball."
Azalya Lopez – 5'8" – Jr. – P/IF – Corona, Calif. – Eleanor Roosevelt H.S. – MSU Moorhead
Lopez proved herself to be a stellar two-way player in her two collegiate seasons at MSU Moorhead. A First Team All-Conference and All-Defensive Team selection last season, Lopez posted a .309 batting average and an .818 OPS with 30 RBIs and 22 runs scored at the plate. But her more impressive work came in the circle, where she went 19-6 — matching a program record for single-season wins — with a 2.06 ERA, striking out 130 batters in 149.2 innings of work. As a freshman in 2023, Lopez hit .370 and OPSed .881 with 31 RBIs and 18 runs scored at the plate while posting a 9-1 record in 17 appearances in the circle.
Armitage on Lopez: "AZ is a ball player. She is unique as she will pitch and play shortstop defensively when not pitching — obviously not a common combination at this level. AZ is an accomplished pitcher who earned First Team All-Conference honors at P/UT last year. We will also lean on AZ's experience, as she played a very important part in turning MSUM's softball program around."
The addition of the three newcomers brings Valpo's incoming class to 11 student-athletes, joining eight previously announced freshmen.
