Six high school standouts -- including a pair of local prep talents -- have signed a National Letter of Intent to attend and play softball for the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2016-17. The recruiting class is the first for Jen Walter, who took over as the Bulldog head coach this past July.

The group includes second baseman/outfielder Lauren Greeder of Stillwater High School, third baseman/catcher Lexi Janigo of Northwestern High School (Wis.), outfielder Jayme Langbehn of Elk River High School, shortstop Lauren Oberle of Eden Prairie High School, pitcher/first baseman Breanna Swint of Lindhurst High School (Calif.) and pitcher Ashley Taipale of Duluth Denfeld High School.

"I'm excited for this my first recruiting class at UMD," said Walter. "They bring us both quality and quantity and fill the needs we have with the loss of five seniors.  With our goal of competing for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and a national championship, we need talented athletes such as these who have the ability to make an immediate impact. They are all tremendous student-athletes and I believe will fit into our already great team culture."

Greeder, who will be embarking on her fourth season of starting duty at Stillwater High School in 2016, captained the Ponies last spring while attaining All-Suburban East Conference and All-Section recognition. She also has been bestowed with a Team Igniter award in each of the past three seasons, a Golden Glove citation as a sophomore and junior, and the Rookie of the Year honor in 2013. In addition to her time on the diamond, Greeder is a four-time hockey letterwinner with the Ponies (forward) and a captain of that team as well.

Janigo is a three-time All-Heart O' North Conference selection who one year ago helped lead Northwestern High School to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Regional title as well as its third straight conference championship. She has made the Superior Telegram All-Area Team three times and has twice been voted the Tigers' Most Valuable Defensive Player. Janigo, who played for her father Scott (a Duluth native) at Northwestern High School, also lettered the last three years in volleyball (outside hitter).

Langbehn cracked the Elk River High School starting lineup as a ninth grader and since that time has proceeded  to collar four All-Northwest Suburban Conference citations (first team in 2015 and 2013 and honorable mention in 2012 and 2014). A member of the Minnesota State High School Class AAA Tournament champions in 2013, Langbehn has also been bestowed with All-Section praise on three occasions and this spring, she's been entrusted with team captaincy responsibilities.  Langbehn, who is 2012 established team single-season records for stolen bases and triples, is also a four-time basketball letterwinner (forward) at Elk River High School.

Oberle has been a fixture in the the Eden Prairie High School infield since her freshman year and is a three-time All-Lake Conference and All-Section honoree. As a team captain in 2015, she paced the Lake Conference champion Eagles in both home runs and triples and was rewarded with program's Most Valuable Player award. Oberle, whose father (Jon) and mother (Karen) played baseball and volleyball, respectively, at Minnesota State University-Mankato, is currently in her fourth season of competition with the Eagle hockey team.

Swint, a native of Marysville, Calif. (and the first Californian to enlist her services with the softball Bulldogs), was selected the Golden Empire League's Most Valuable Player in 2015 after laying claim to that circuit's Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Player awards  the previous spring. This spring, she'll captain Lindhurst High School for the fourth successive year. Swint, a starter since her freshman year, helped lead the Blazers to a second-place finish in the 2014 Sac-Joaquin Section finals.

Taipale, the reigning Duluth News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year, posted a 1.61 earned run average with 200 strikeouts, eight shutouts and two no hitters (including a perfect game) in 143.2 innings of work last spring for Duluth Denfeld High School.  She also more than earned her keep at the plate, hitting .521 with eight homers and 37 RBI. A four-year starter who will captain the Hunters for a third consecutive season in 20016, Taipale has twice earned All-Lake Superior Conference acclaim (2014 and 2015) and was a member of the 2015 Minnesota Fastpitch Softball Coaches' Association All-State Team (honorable mention). She is also made her mark in both volleyball (outside hitter) and basketball (point guard) at Duluth Denfeld High School.

All signings are contingent upon admission to UMD and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearinghouse.