Eastern Illinois University Athletics

2012:  Saw action in left field in 13 games during her final year as a Panther... batted at the 9th spot in 17 games... finished with seven hits and an RBI versus Austin Peay... went 7-for-8 in base thefts to finish with an 18-26 career mark... also had seven multiple hit games in her career, touching home 38 times while in an EIU uniform... OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll.

2011:  Started 48 of her 50 total games played in left field... hit .260 for the year which included 26 total singles... came home 22 times... battled the majority of the season in the No. 9 spot of the lineup... earned six multiple hit games... touched home base for the eventual game winner twice, first against TSU and again at SIUE... went 4-for-7 in stolen bases... had a career-high six put-outs versus Northwestern State in EIU's season opener... Season Rankings:  T-8th in being hit-by-pitch (4)... OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll... Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-District V. 

2010: Saw limited season play as a sophomore as she was injured by a pitch against Jacksonville State to open OVC action... while at bat a throw from the JSU pitcher knocked her down, resulting in a broken jaw that required stitches and ultimately surgery... prior to that season-ending injury, she played some in both the left field and at second base... also batted mostly in the last spot of the rotation... went 2-for-3 in stolen bases.

2009: Saw action in 37 games, starting 20 times... played mostly in the outfield, with 15 starts... also listed as designed player... batted in the sixth thru ninth spot in the lineup, finishing with a .191 average off nine hits... recorded nine total bases and two RBIs... tallied five stolen bases out of eight attempts... successful in advancing runners 13 times at the plate... the Panthers went 7-1 overall when Maria played at right field... touched home for the winning run in two games, first in EIU’s eight-inning season-opening win over Sacred Heart and again at IUPUI in the fourth... both times she scored from third base... one of fourth players who were utilized as pinch-runners... as she replaced the original base-runner 15 times, scoring five runs.

HS: Maria was a four-year varsity letter-winner for coaches Pam McCarrel and Barry Burmeister… also was a three-year varsity letter-winner in basketball… three-time team MVP and All-Fox Valley Conference pick by the Northwest Herald… twice named All-Area by the Northwest Herald as an upperclassman… team captain as a senior… two-time Northwest Herald Player of the Week… led McHenry West to a conference and regional championship in 2007… class secretary and student council treasurer as a senior… National Honor Society… Spanish Honor Society… 2008 Illinois State Scholar and Prairie State Achievement Award winner… perfect attendance as a senior.

PERSONAL: Majoring in business finace with minors in both accounting and Spanish... daughter of William & Lori Sorrentino... her no. 1 sports highlight was her first day of EIU softball camp when “I knew I wanted to come to Eastern”… her neighborhood in McHenry has been a major influence on her sports career because “we played different sports all day, everyday”… most admires coach Burmeister because “he always put his heart into everything and truly cared about his players.”

OFF THE FIELD WITH MARIA:  Chose EIU “because there are a lot of great people here and a lot of school spirit”... her favorite food dishes include apples & cookies, but dislikes dining on seafood... while her favorite building on campus is Lincoln Hall... her hobbies are spending time with family & friends... has already set her goal of being on an EIU squad that wins the OVC championship... her must-see tv & actor are Friends and Jennifer Anniston, respectively... her favorite quotes from via Hannah Montana -- “life’s what you make it”... she's currently driving a 1997 Honda Accord... recently enjoyed taking professor Scott Stevens' business class... also enjoys playing basketball & volleyball... one of her hidden talents is being able to knit... her advice for a younger athlete would be “if you want to play in college, go for it... there is a school for everyone, you just need to find which is best for you"... name of her families' dog is 'Hannah'.