Not as many verbals to report this week on the Master Verbal List as college coaches and high school players are in game mode more than commit mode, but suddenty we got three big ones that came in this morning!

Also, more news and players to spotlight so let’s get going…

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*** This verbal came in this morning so it didn’t make our Master Verbal List cutoff (will be included next week), but a 2017 Hot 100 player has finalized her college plans.

 

Julia Jensen is a 2017 pitcher from Reed High in Sparks, Nev. who has committed to play for her hometown school, the Univ. of Nevada, per an e-mail from her dad, Mark, who writes: “verbally committed to the University of Nevada a few weeks ago. She’s very excited and thankful for the opportunity to play for her home town school. Go Pack!”

Julia plays for the Sorcerer Gold team coached by Pete Aguayo who calls her the “Dragon Slayer.” He adds, “No matter who the competition is, Julia competes at a level that is light years beyond her age.”

Playing against elite competition last fall at the Gold level, she gave up only five runs in five events.

Last summer she was with the Firecrackers-Baisden tam and at PGF 16U Nationals had a 1.02 ERA and recorded 20 K’s in 13.2 innings.

As a freshman Julia led her Reed High School team to a Division 1 Regional Championship and Nevada State runner up finish. She also led her team to the titleat the prestigious “Victory Nor Cal Tournament” in Sacramento with a personal 3-0 win record.

Also a standout volleyball player with a 4.1 GPA, she was rated No. 46 in the 2017 Hot 100 rankings.

So why Nevada? Her father adds:

“The hometown factor did play a part in her decision. She visited other schools and considered other offers to great schools but just kept coming back to what seems like the best fit. It is a special opportunity to play at the hometown school you grew up such a big fan of.”

“Julia attended her first Nevada softball camp when she was nine or ten years old. The Nevada coaches were interested in her for a while and then made an offer last fall during a visit. She went to the end of practice the day before the season started a few weeks ago. She met with the coaches in the dugout and told them she wants to play at Nevada!”

*** One other player of note who missed the Master Verbal List cutoff but will be added is Carolyn Hett, a 2017 infielder who has verball committed to Radford.

She plays for the Beverly Bandits.

*** Speaking of the Bandits, one of the top pitchers in the country at any level is Lauren Rice, who was ranked No. 18 in the 2017 Hot 100 ratings.

She had been with the Bandits up until the fall when she had joined the East Cobb Bullets but is reportedly back with the Bandits – Tyrell 16U team.

She is committed to Missouri and is throws pure heat—she’s been clocked at 70 mph before even though she’s not tall at 5-foot-4… she just brings it! She can also hit well too.

*** Another verbal to report that just came in: Courtney Wallace, a 2018 P/IF with the Nebraska Gold 16U, has committed to Nebraska.

Head Coach Mike Heard says this about the freshman headed to the Big Ten:

“Courtney is an elite level athlete.  The Huskers recruited her as a pitcher, but she also has the talent and ability to play at that level as a middle infielder or outfielder.  She has some physical abilities that you just can’t teach.

Courtney is fairly new to our program.  She is a very talented softball player now, but her potential ceiling is what is so exciting.

As a pitchers, she is mainly an up/down pitcher.  Drop/rise/change.  She sits around 63-65 right now.

As an overall player, she is one of the few true potential 5 tool players you will see.  She has plus speed, a plus arm and can hit for average and power.

Above all, though, Courtney is a great young lady and great teammate.  She has a strong internal desire to work hard and be the best she can be – on and off the field.  She is always concerned more about her teammates success than her own.  It’s such a great trait to see in young players!”

“She’ll be a good one for the Huskers.”

*** Another recent verbal from the Nebraska Gold is Sam Alm, a 2018 2B/OF who is committed to Creighton.

Says Coach Heart: “Sam is a very strong, athletic player.  She will play both middle infield and outfield.  She has the ability to get on the field at either position at the next level.

“Sam’s real strength is offensively.  Sam had been our lead-off hitter, but she hits very well for both average and power.  She also has above average speed.  I think her real strength as a hitter is her plate coverage.  She is a player that has very few holes in her swing for a player that young and really covers the zone well.”

“Sam is tireless worker.  She is so committed to the sport and continuing to get better.  I think her ability and work ethic will give her a great chance to contribute early when she gets to Creighton.”

*** Georgia Clark, a 2018 1B/C with the Texas Bombers Gold 16U team, has committed to LSU.

Scott Smith, the head of the Texas Bombers organization, says of Georgia: “Georgia is one of our younger players and played on a team that got 5th at PGF. She’s an extremely talented hitter with a ton of power.”

“Georgia doesn’t have a defined position, she’s bigger than everyone, and can play catcher but our job over the next four years will be to get her a defined position.”

“Alabama, Louisiana-Lafayette, Kansas, and Texas were paying attention but no one knows where she’ll end up as a position—it’s difficult to define her.”

“LSU came in hard and they live in Houston so it’s close. Also, what makes Georgia a legit SEC player is her power, she can take the ball deep in every at bat.”

*** Jan Greenhawk, the Co-Head Coach for the Wagner’s M/G Gold team, writes to say that three players from the Maryland-based team have committed:

— P/1B Hailey Andrews (2015, Indian River State College (Fla.))

— C Anna Bennett (2015, University of Maryland Baltimore County)

— C Haley Shipley (2015, Frostburg University)

*** Congrats to Courtney Todd, a 2016 middle infielder from Celinta, Texas who plays for the Impact Gold-Jackson team.

She committed to Arkansas Tech and says, “I feel in love with the campus the minute I arrived. Tech had everything I was looking for in a small college town atmosphere with beautiful surroundings.”

Courtney has had a blazing start to the season, hitting .567 with a home run, triple and two doubles through six games. At shortstop she hasn’t allowed an error.

*** Another player out to a fast start is Brooke Langston, an excellent 2017 slapper who plays for American Heritage in Plantation, Fla. and was a 2^nd Team Full Count Softball All-American last year as a freshman.

As of last week she had led her team to an 8-0 start with a .636 batting average and six steals without being thrown out.

Brooke is the lead-off hitter and says, “I am still looking for a college to play with. I can’t wait to find a fit.”

*** A nice e-mail from Chris Karo telling us about his daughter, Caitlin, who committed about 10 days ago:

“Just wanted to drop a quick note that my daughter, Caitlin Karo, who you profiled back in November of 2013 and who is on the Stunners 99 team you profiled this past December, committed to UT-Martin!”

“She is very excited to play for Coach Canary and his staff.  On her unofficial visit in January, she was really impressed with the school and felt the small town atmosphere was a perfect fit for her, while still giving her the opportunity to play at a very competitive D-1 softball program.”

“We honestly didn’t expect to make any decisions until this summer or fall, but things fell into place quickly with UTM and she made the decision within a few days.  I know I’m feeling a mixture of elation and relief!”

*** We have some 2019 player news coming out of Florida as the Jacksonville Storm-Davis 14U team has a pair to watch:

— Madisyn Davis is a pitcher who plays for her father Addison Davis, the President of the Jacksonville and Florida Storm, and is already spinning the ball in the high 50’s.

She is being actively recruited by Jacksonville Univ. and Southern Illinois and has also been on unofficials to North Carolina, South Alabama, and South Carolina Upstate.

— Baylee Goddard plays third and according to her coach “has one of the most powerful bats in the Southeast.”

She is being actively recruited by South Florida, South Alabama, Jacksonville University, North Florida, North Carolina and Central Florida.

*** Finally, another promising 2019 player to watch is Jenna Ollie of the Louisiana Patriots 14U team. She’s a P/1B who is from Mandeville, La. and had a strong fall where she pitched three undefeated tournaments including the Stars over Texas – the Battle Between the States.

Jenna has a great screwball and last fall pitched 25 games and won 24 of them with an ERA of 1.19 while limited opposing batters to a .172 batting average.

In 58 2/3^rd innings she had 98 K’s.

A good hitter as well, she hits in the 4 spot for the Patriots and hit .500 going 21-for-42.

Definitely a young player we’ll keep an eye on…