Hoping you’re having a great Friday the 13^th and your weekend will be even better! We have some odds and ends today as we cover verbals, player news and some club notes…

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VERBALS:

*** Charlee Pond is a 2018 infielder who attends Rolling Hills Prep in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. and has committed to Loyola Marymount.

She has a 3.8 GPA and is now on the California Raiders-Bruder team after playing for USA Athletics-Porter 14U up to the end of the fall season.

Last fall she hit .568 with an OPS of 1.386.

Her father, Todd, explains of the transition: “Moving from the Athletics was probably the toughest decision she’s had to make as Coach Mike Porter, along with John Newman and Chris Pech were all very instrumental in her development as a player, as well as Coach Mike Rogers of the USA 18 Gold team.”

“However, she is excited to be playing at this level under Raider Coach Phil Bruder who has won 12 National Championships.”

Regarding her committing to the Lions of LMU, Charlee’s father adds: “Loyola Marymount had been at the top of her list from the start of her recruiting journey.”

“While playing with the Athletics, she made a couple of visits to the school and got to know and like Coach Ferrin and his coaching staff.”

“After visiting other schools and attending various camps, the choice became clear that LMU was where she wanted to be. She is very excited about becoming a Lion and being a part of a successful softball program with a great tradition.”

“Academically it’s ranked (high) and the percentage of students who finish their undergrad within four years is very high, even while playing a sport. This was a big plus for her.”

“Another major factor in her decision was that both the school and softball culture look to be a great fit for her, and it’s close to home.”

*** Reagan Richardson from Paris-North Lamar High in Paris, Texas is the first 2018 to commit from the Texas Glory organization and also the first freshman to verbal to Texas State.

The 5-foot-7 pitcher also plays shortstop and has started the high season off strong hitting .417 with a 4-0 mark in the circle and a 1.01 ERA with 87 K’s versus 17 walks.

Regarding committing to Texas State, Reagan says: “It was my dream school. We had other schools interested, but I always wanted to go to Texas State and play for Coach Woodard. Also to get to pitch for Coach ‘O,’ Cat Osterman, is a dream come true. It’s icing on the cake, so to speak! I love the school, it’s just a great fit!”

She plays for the Texas Glory – Naudin 16U team and the Glory head man, Kevin Shelton, is a big fan of her work ethic and dedication.

“Reagan travels 2 ½ hours one way to practices and has been with us for seven-plus years.”

*** More verbals:

— P Sarah Pinkston (2016, Middle Tennessee State)… plays for OC Batbusters-Muaga/Las Vegas Rage Gold
— P Avery Lamb (2016, Valdosta State)… plays for Georgia Outlaws Gold

HIGH SCHOOL STAT STARS:

*** Some high school performances of note:

— Abi Mangold, a 2016 MIF from Medina Valley in San Antonio, Texas, ahd a commit to Lindenwood, had a huge week last week.

She hit five home runs over a four-game span and had 12 RBI for the team ranked No. 1 in the area.

— In Florida, St. Thomas Aquinas junior righty Brooke Stock defeated previously undefeated Palm Beach Gardens 3-1, allowing six base runners (none of them walks) while striking out 13.

— Florida commit Natalie Lugo, a 2017 pitcher for South Hills in Southern California, helped her team advance in the Fullerton tournament with a sparkling perfect game 1-0 win over Troy in which she had 15K’s.

PLAYER NEWS:

*** Bailey Concatto, a 2017 middle infielder who’s an excellent slapper for the Atlanta Vipers-Palazzo team, committed to Southern Illinois – Edwardsville about a month ago… here’s a scouting report on her from a coach:

“Bailley’s combination of offensive and defensive ability, speed, and knowledge of the game is rare at this age. She is a table setter at the top of the lineup that can win via the slap or by driving the ball to the gap for extra bases.”

“She’s also a wizard with the glove and has been called one of the best middle infielders in the Southeast. Bailley hit .460 with 11 stolen bases and 14 runs scored at this past summer’s TC/USA Nationals in Georgia.”

“She followed that up with an impressive showing at 16U USA/ASA Nationals in Salem, Va., hitting .427 while leading her team in runs, and OBP and stealing 9 bases. Bailley has been an All County and All Region selection each of her first two seasons at the High School level, and won the Offensive MVP award for her West Forsyth team that made the 6AAAAAA playoffs in 2014.”

“She received interest from multiple D1’s from Florida to the Midwest, but ultimately committed to play for Coach Montgomery at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.”

*** Cameryn Michalias, a talented 2018 shortstop/third baseman for Huntington High (W.V.), is seeing her stop continue to rise.

Playing in the Carolina Cardinal Showcase in Rock Hill, S.C., she came up to the plate in the final game of the event and with her team training 5-2 hit a grand slam walk-off to list her West Virginia Dusters team to the win.

Cameryn, who had 11 homers in 69 games last year at all levels, will play for her father, Rod’s, W.V. Dusters 16U team this summer and join the Beverly Bandits-DeMarini team in Auguts.

She was tested at an OnDeck camp and had the 67^th best overall athletic performance including a bat speed of 83 mph and exit speed of 67 mph.

Cameryn has a 3.7 GPA and has an offer from James Madison and is also hearing from Missouri, Virginia Tech and Marshall.

CLUB TEAM UPDATES

*** A couple updates of 12U teams:

— Thanks to Coach Craig Jacquez, head coach of the California Breeze 02 – Jacquez team ranked No. 43 in our first FAB 50 12U Club Rankings who wrote to say, “We won our second tournament championship in two tries this past weekend going 5-1 winning the CA Breeze St Patrick’s  Tourney.  Our season record is now 12-1.”

— A team that was listed as “one to watch” in the 12U Rankings was SC Illusion.

Played in its first tournament of the season this past weekend in Hartsville, S.C., the Illusion went 5-0 and won the tournament playing against four second-year 12U teams and one first year 12U team.

Even more impressive, the team was undefeated with two shutouts giving up only nine runs in 5 games while scoring 44 runs.

The shutouts came in the first game (13-0) and the championship game (10-0). The Illusion will be in Lexington in two weeks and the following week will be in Conyers, Georgia for the King of the Mountain tournament. There are 50 teams currently signed up in the 12U category so far.

— One team we frankly missed in the 12U rankings was Impact Gold – Mata out of Texas as we learned more about Cheyenne Mata’s team after we published the list.

Impact gold won the ASA Challenger Series in the fall finishing ahead of impact Gold-DFW, Texas Glory and Texas Sudden Impact and also took second in the Ronald McDonald Tournament, losing to the OK Force who had 01′ players playing on the team.

Impact Gold-Mata also won IFA Fall State at Big League Dreams in the fall and just recently finished second in a USFA tourney, winning a USSSA tourney and tying due to weather in a USFA tourney for 1st.

USA TODAY PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS:

*** Here’s what’s great about covering softball players: when we submitted the info for the USA Today Preseason All-American team, 20 players were chosen per the request of the editors at USA Today.

About half of those responded with classy “thank you” e-mails… here’s just a pair representative of the rest:

— Thank you for your acknowledgement and including me in the USA Today Pre-season All-American Team. I am honored and intend on doing my best this season to confirm my selection.

Best Regards,

Miranda Elish

–— I just wanted to thank you for selecting me for the USA Today High School Sports Preseason All-USA Softball Team. It is such an honor to be selected as one of the top 20 players in the country! I cannot thank you enough for granting me with this prestigious award. It really inspires me to continue to get better everyday. I know that I cannot back down and become complacent. I’m really excited to play in the ACC. It is a competitive conference, so I am really striving to improve my skills so that I will be able to make an immediate impact as a freshman. I hope all is well. Talk to you soon!

Sincerely,

Hannah Edwards

I’ll say it again: I’ve covered every high school sport, but none are as fantastic as softball players! Smart, fun, funny, hard-working, appreciative… not a better sport to cover as far as I’m concerned!!!