When does high school ball and recruiting clash?  When you’re scheduled to go to a recruiting camp, but a little thing like a state championship gets in in the way!  That, and some other miscellaneous odds and ends, make up this week’s report…

 

*** It’s rare, but sometimes high school playoff action can impact a player’s recruiting efforts.

I’m sure they didn’t mind, seeing as they won a state championship—the Connecticut Class LL title—but a couple key players on the Southington Lady Knights were forced to miss last Thursday’s NFCA camp in Pennsbury, Pa.

I’ll let Katrina Friedt, mother of pitcher Kendra Friedt (who went 24-0 this year) explain:

“The only problem is that some of the girls will have to miss Pennsbury.  Kendra pitches for the CT Charmers 18U Gold and second baseman Kaitlyn Patterson plays for the CT Eliminators 18U Gold; both were supposed to be at the NFCA camp on Thursday and their teams are in the Pennsbury tournament.  First baseman Natalie Wadalowski and shortstop Sydney Ferrate will also miss the tournament.”

“But it’s worth missing when you are in the finals!  (Connecticut athletic conference rules prohibit the girls from participating in the showcase or playing with their teams during the HS season).”

 

*** Vanessa Anderson, a 2015 3B/P with The Danes program consisting of players from Minnesota and Wisconsin, has committed to North Dakota State according to coach Tim Husted.

Vanessa is from Byron, Minn. and plays 3B for her club team but pitches for her high school team. Coach Husted says she’ll play infield in college.

“She was All-State in 2010 as a seventh grader,” explains Coach Husted. “She has also been all-state in 2013 as a sophomore and 2014 as a junior. Vanessa is a power hitter who has been given the “Bonds Treatment’ (intentional walks) for years now and still demonstrates home run power whenever she gets pitched to.  She has elite size combined with athleticism and balance.”

And what’s cool is Vanessa even has her own softball blog online… check it out!

 

*** I always love to hear from players and how their recruiting process is going. Got a nice note from Jackie Riley, a 2015 junior pitcher/infielder from New Jersey, who said she had finalized her college choice.

“You did a profile on me a few months back and I am proud to say that I have now verbally committed to a Division 1 school in NJ.  I will be attending Saint Peter’s University as a pitcher.”

“Thanks for your profile this year because many coaches have come to watch me play.  I finished my HS season as Team MVP with a 10-8 record with 198K’s in 111.2 innings. I only gave up 17 walks and had an ERA of 1.00. I ranked as 16th in NJ for total strikeouts but most other pitchers had more innings pitched.”

“I broke 500 career strikeouts this season and batted 0.400 this season with no strikeouts against me.  I have only struck out four times in my high school career.  So far this year I was named All Division & All Conference player.  Thanks for helping by giving me exposure and to take the final step to get recruited.”

Here’s a profile we did on Jackie in February of this year:

***

RECRUIT SPOTLIGHT OF THE DAY: JACQUELINE RILEY

High school: Cardinal McCarrick
City: South Amboy
State: N.J.
Grad year: 2015
GPA: 3.93 unweighted/5.1 weighted (out of 5.3)
SAT/ACT: 1580/24
Club: Central Jersey Lightning 18U
Position(s): pitcher/third base
Height: 5-7
Other sports: varsity soccer goalkeeper, ranked top 25 in state with 193 saves last season
Measurables: high speed of 63 mph, average speed of 59-61 mph with movement
Stats:
High School (2013): 188K’s in 101.5 innings pitched, 20 walks, ERA – 1.49 and 23rd in N.J. for strikeouts; hit .456 with .721 slugging percentage and 25 RBI.
Club (2013): 20 games played, 58.2 innings pitched with 42 strikeouts and a 1.72 ERA; fall batting average of .387
Honors: Star-Ledge All-County, All-Sophomore 1^st Team, highest strikeout rate in Middlesex Co. (13K’s/7 innings pitched); broke three records including most strikeouts in a game (21) and career strikeout record; awarded Top Pitcher and Top Gun (overhand throw of 60 mph) at Top Prospects Combine (2013, ’14)

 

*** More verbals (these are ones we’ve accumulated over the last two weeks; * = new this week)
— C/3B Madeline Avery (2015, Cornell)… plays for Wasco Diamonds
— P/UT Emily Barnett (2017, Samford)… plays for Atlanta Vipers-Vallery*
— C Madison Cranford (2017, Loyola Marymount)… plays for Cal Raiders
— 2B/UT Erin Eiland (2014, Florida International)… plays for Sarasota Heat-Dover
— OF Haileigh Epperson (2014, UNC Pembroke)… plays for Tarheel Stars
— 2B/SS Celeste Franco (2015, DePaul)… plays for So Cal Breakers
— P/3B Hannah Jones (2015, Barton College)… plays for Charlotte Starz
— P Kiley Jones (2015, Loyola)… plays for Illinois Chill Gold
— OF Ali Little (2016, Central Florida)… plays for Florida Power Black*
— P/OF Kacie McKay (2016, San Jose State)… plays for Cal Lite
— P/1B Allison Muraskin (2016, Central Florida)… plays for Florida Power Black*
— 2B/OF Megan Obier (2015, USC Upstate)… plays for Florida Power Black
— OF Ashton Stowe (2014, East Carolina)… plays for Tennessee Illusion
— P/1B Ashley Ventura (2015, St. Joseph’s)… plays for New Jersey Cheetahs*