2007: Played and started in 44 games...second on the team with .244 batting average...had 29 hits...three doubles and one home run...had 10 runs batted in...forced 16 walks.

2006: Finished season fourth on the team with a 2.78 batting average...started all but two games...had four doubles, one triple, two homruns and 15 RBI...had .383 slugging percentage and .366 on base percentage...went 2-5 on the mound...pitched 40.2 innings striking out 13 and allowing 53 hits.

Before Holy Cross: Four-year member of the softball team and captain her senior year for Head Coach Lombardi at Red Bank Catholic H.S....as a pitcher and shortstop led the Red Bank Catholic "Casey's" to their first Parochial "A" State Championship in 2005...pitched a no hitter in the state semifinals and drove in the three winning runs in the state finals...in 2005 batted .381 with 32 hits and 17 RBI's, while she had a pitching record of 14-5 with six shut outs, 194 strikeouts and a 0.94 ERA...earned 2005 First Team All-New Jersey State Parochial, First Team All-Monmouth County, First Team All-Shore Conference and First Team All-Coaches/Division honors...selected to the 2005 Monmouth County All-Star Team...in 2004 as a pitcher led the "Casey's" to #6 in the state and #2 in the Shore Conference...batted .377 with 29 hits and 23 RBI's...had a pitching record of 24-4 with 14 shut outs, 231 strikeouts and a 1.03 ERA...earned 2004 Second Team All-Monmouth County, Third Team All-Shore Conference and First Team All-Coaches/Division accolades...in 2003 as a pitcher and third baseman helped lead the "Casey's" to the Monmouth County Championship and was awarded the MVP...batted .410 with 34 hits and 20 RBI's...had a pitching record of 12-0 with eight shut outs, 134 strikeouts and a 0.91 ERA...named to the 2003 Third Team All-New Jersey State Parochial, Second Team All-Monmouth County, Second Team All-Shore Conference and First Team All Coaches/Division teams...as a freshman in 2002, she batted .346 with 22 hits and eight RBI's as a designated hitter...has played ASA/NSA/PONY summer ball since she was 10 years old...in 2005-NSA 18u New Jersey State Champion Indian Mills Mystics Red...2004-Mid Atlantic Regional Gold Champion, NY/NJ Beach Girls...played in the 2004 Gold Nationals in Marietta Georgia...2003-NSA and ASA 18u New Jersey State Champion New Jersey Breakers...four-year Honor Roll Student...placed Silver Medal and Magnum Cum Laude on the National Latin Exam.

Personal: Full name is Natalie Anne Cruz...born on June 24, 1987...daughter of John Cruz and Beth Ward...has one brother and two sisters...an Economics major.