A lot to cover today including—would you believe—30 new verbals? Let’s put it this way: the world of softball didn’t slow down for the Super Bowl!

*** Starting off with happy news today… last week we detailed the situation with 2016 Hot 100 outfielder Lexi Duncan who plays for the top-rated Georgia Elite – Hoover team. She had been committed to Kentucky but the situation didn’t work out and she found herself back on the recruiting market.

That didn’t last long—in part because of the help of key club coaches who went to bat for her and the attention the article brought—Lexi has committed already.

Her father, Bo Duncan, posted on Facebook:

“Congratulations to our very own Lexi Duncan for her verbal commitment to play softball at the University of North Georgia. Lexi fell in love with the program after meeting Coach Mike Davenport and touring the facilities. After being recruited by several top programs in the nation, Lexi chose North Georgia for the academic programs and proximity to home. North Georgia is currently ranked #9 nationally in the NCAA D2 pre-season poll.”

After the article, the athlete’s father said she even had an ACC school come in and offer, but the situation at North Georgia seemed to be a great fit.

Our congrats to Lexi as well!

*** We’ve been touting Peyton St. George, the 2017 pitcher from Virginia whose stock continues to rise.

Here’s a Rising Star feature done in October containing the basics after she did well at the prestigious OnDeck East Coast Elite Camps last fall.

Her father, John, recently updated me on Peyton’s developments and in this e-mail you’ll see she came very close to getting an offer from an SEC school… until one of the top pitchers in the 2017 country fell into the school’s lap!

“Peyton attended Banditfest in early January,” the athlete’s father began, “and it was certainly worth the flight for the three-hour session.”

“Univ. of Georgia pitching coach Rick Pauly spent quite a bit of time watching Peyton during drill work. When she started the live pitching session he watched her throw to probably 10 batters or so. She really stepped it up striking out 14 of 18 batters. Her velocity was consistently 60-62 mph with excellent movement.”

“Coach Pauly contacted her coach, Steve Ruch, and invited her to a small pitching session in Athens which took place Jan 24^th.  We were also informed that Georgia Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer and new assistant coach Tony Baldwin would be going to the Diamond9 tournament to watch her throw.”

“In the Friday evening game with the UGA coaches in attendance, she pitched well, striking out 10 batters in four innings. Her stats from the Diamond9 event: 19 innings pitched, 34 K’s, five walks, three earned runs and a 1.00 ERA.”

“Peyton’s trip to Athens turned into an unofficial visit as she was asked to stay over for a meeting with the coaches on Sunday Jan. 25. Coach Baldwin provided our family with an unbelievable experience as we toured the campus and attended practice.”

“We were told and knew in Orlando that Georgia was also looking at another 2017 pitcher who we would later find out was Lauren Mathis, the outstanding Florida pitcher who had originally committed to Florida.”

“We didn’t have any expectations they would offer Peyton and were blown away just to be invited down. It was certainly obvious that Peyton was in pretty good company with Lauren, who ended up committing to Georgia that weekend as Full Count detailed in an article we would later read.

“Running second to a Florida de-commit and then UGA commit is good stuff! Moving forward into 2015 Peyton will be changing travel teams with her move to the Vienna Stars. The team will be qualifying for PGF Nationals & attending DeMarini, Scenic City, Champions Elite, Atlanta Legacy and Team NJ.”

“One final note about Georgia and our appreciation to them: Coach Pauly was an invaluable asset in identifying Peyton’s strengths and how best to use them in her pitching sequences. He told us Coach Harris-Champer and Coach Baldwin wanted to see how effective she could throw inside and on Coach Pauly’s advice she put the extra time in and the stats from Orlando reflect that. She threw the rise inside very well and the back door curve was even better.

“With her current workout regime, her goal is to be throwing a solid 65 mph in time for summer schedule. Her current outpitch is her curve with good velocity and great movement over the corner. Currently she is putting extra work into throwing more inside with a backdoor curve which was on display with great results in Orlando.”

*** Full Count Softball has a ton of college coaches who follow us (makes sense: we cover their future players!) and it’s great to put out there info and recommendations on players that maybe aren’t as well known.

Of course we get a lot of parent submissions promoting their daughters, but this one was a first: from an umpire raving about a player he’s come across…

“I umpire in the Southeast (mainly Tennessee area). I was very impressed by a young catcher I saw a few years ago and have followed her when we are at the same tournaments. I’ve gotten to know the family and asked their permission to send this.”

Angelina Culley (or “G” as she is known in the softball community) is technically one of the best catchers I’ve ever seen. Defensively she is the best. Nothing can get by her and she has a rocket for an arm.”

“She is typically the 3/4 hitter for the teams she plays with and delivers as a power hitter at the plate. She is a 2000 player but due to her late birthday, she is in the Class of 2019. G played for the Tennessee Illusions ’99 Club team and now plays for Tennessee Illusions ’00 Club team that is coached by former University of Tennessee Knoxville player Jennifer Burroughs.”

“G’s fall combined batting average was .488 and her OBP was .678 with six home runs. Her overhand arm speed has been clocked at 63 mph at a tourney I attended and her average POP time is 1.78. The amazing part is that she is only an 8th grader!”

“She trains with two-time Olympic Medalist Jenny Topping for her catching and her hitting coach is Bobby Tewksbary from AB Athletic in Nashua, New Hampshire.”

“She has worked out for Michigan State and has the attention of several other high profile D1 universities. She is one of the most humble and selfless players I’ve met and that makes her really stand out. She lives in Paris, Tenn. and will play for Henry County High School.”

*** Leah Molina, a 2017 outfielder with the Firecrackers AZ – Holland team, has committed to Utah State and her father, Thomas, provides a recap of how it happened which includes the line of the week!

“Leah researched the Psychology Department (at Utah State) and found out it was the best Psychology program in the state of Utah. Then she made sure that they participated in the W.U.E. (Western Undergraduate Exchange program) then she contacted the Psychology Dept. and Coach Steve Johnson via email stating her interest in their programs.”

“The Psychology Dept. reached out to her with information on how to apply and the coaching staff was set to come watch her play in October, but didn’t make it due to other recruiting responsibilities.”

“Then, an assistant coach made it out to see Leah play in a showcase in Glendale, Ariz. in early November where she made two outstanding defensive plays in center field and hit the ball well.”

“Following that up, Coach Johnson made a trip to California to see her play in another showcase where she made another diving catch showing her great range and 2.7 speed.”

“Coach Johnson talked to the team recruiting coordinator about Leah, finding out she lead the team in batting average at .467 for the entire fall showcase season. Leah was invited to attend the school’s camp in January and after that trip and touring the campus and spending time with the coaching staff and current players on the team she verbally committed to attend Utah State University and become an Aggie.”

“When her recruiting coordinator last talked to the coaching staff he told them, “Two thirds of the earth is covered with water and the other third is covered by Leah Molina!”

*** More verbals:

First	Last	Pos	Year	Club Team	University/College
Kenzie	Bollin	SS/2B	2018	So Cal Athletics - TO	Utah State
Summer	Burgess	MIF	2016	Florida Power Black	Middle Tennessee State
Gabby	Caccamo	P/3B	2017	Akadema Elite Gold	Felician College
Rachel	Cid	IF	2018	Sorcerer Gold	Oregon
Brittney	Davis	3B	2017	Lady Lightning Gold Midwest	Toledo
Jocelynn	De La Cruz	C/3B	2017	Firecrakcers - Lutterloh	Middle Tennessee State
Briley	Feringa	C/IF	2016	Arizona Storm - Beach	Harding
Cassie	Griffin	OF	2016	Atlanta Vipers - Palazzo	Morehead State
Payton	Hanson	OF	2016	Lady Lightning Gold Midwest	Coastal Carolina
Amanda	Jacobson	OF	2017	Explosion - Greg	George Washington
Claire	Jenkins	MIF	2016	Germantown Red Devils	Alabama
Ryan	King	C/3B	2017	Firecrackers - Lutterloh	Middle Tennessee State
Brooke	Leistl	OF/UT	2016	Tampa Mustangs - TJ	South Florida
Mary	Luttrell	OF/UT	2016	Atlanta Vipers - Palazzo	George Mason
Keely	McGee	2B/OF	2016	Tennessee Elite	Middle Tennessee State
Haley	Mitchell	C/1B	2016	OC Batbusters - Lara	Eastern Illinois
Leah	Molina	OF	2017	Firecrackers AZ	Utah State
Logan	Newton	P/OF	2017	Tampa Mustangs - TJ	James Madison
Cameryn	O'Grady	SS	2016	Explosion - Morgan	New Mexico
Karissa	Ornelas	C	2018	So Cal Athletics - TO	Central Florida
Deijah	Pangilian	OF	2019	Sorcerer Gold	Oregon
Bailey	Parshall	P/1B/OF	2018	Ohio Outlaws	Penn State
Katlyn	Pavlick	3B	2018	Ohio Outlaws	Pittsburgh
Caitlin	Ray	IF/P	2016	Worth Cobras - Green	Georgia State
Hailey	Shope	P/1B	2016	Atlanta Vipers - Palazzo	Kennesaw State
Tera	Testa	OF	2018	So Cal Athletics - TO	Central Florida
Samantha	Vacko	MIF/OF	2016	Firecrackers - Brashear	Middle Tennessee State
Lexi	Wagner	OF	2018	Ohio Outlaws	Pittsburgh
Morgan	Wynne	C/OF	2018	California Grapettes	Kansas