In a festive celebration at her home today, Maya Burns signs a NLI to attend Stanford University. Maya, who attends St. Ignatius College Prep. in San Francisco, chose the Cardinal, coached by John Rittman, from a host of schools across the nation who were interested in bringing her into their programs.

Stanford is the right combination of academic excellence and top-echelon softball, she said, and it is actually located closer to her San Mateo home than her high school. Burns loves the opportunity to attend school in the Bay Area, and also cites the coaching staff, softball facility, and chance to play in the Pac 10 as athletic reasons for her selection. And, “It is really hard to beat a Stanford education,” Maya said.

Burns’ offer from Stanford is the result of marked improvements on her part, both in the classroom and on the field. She earned a 4.0 GPA throughout her junior year at one of the region’s strongest academic high schools, achieved a dramatic increase in SAT scores, and became a much more accomplished hitter and receiver.

“We are incredibly proud of Maya for elevating her academics, for vast improvements in her hitting and catching, and for becoming a team leader,” Sorcerer coach Phil Mumma said.