Today we break a verbal out of the Midwest, list two college-bound players from a top Florida club team, look at a player on the rise in Georgia and update a Big 12-bound freshman from Alabama.

 

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*** Kelsie Packard, a 2015 P/1B/3B from Beloit, Wisc., has committed to Florida Gulf Coast according to her club coach, Gerry Quinn of the Illinois Chill.

Kelsie is a 5-foot-8 pitcher who was a 2^nd Team All-State pitcher last season at Turner High in Beloit when she recorded a 1.40 ERA with 251 strikeouts in 135 innings.  She’s also a standout hitter and averaged .514 at the plate with 37 RBI and a slugging percentage of .702.

She attended the OnDeck Jamboree in early 2013 where she had the fastest pitch with a 62 mph throw.

The Wisconsin standout also has a drop curve, curve, rise, change, drop and screw in her repertoire.

It’s easy to see where the pitcher got her talent: her mother, Dori (Stankewitz) Packard, was an All-American at Florida Southern College where she set a dozen school records and went 64 consecutive innings without allowing a run in 1988 which lasted until 2010.

“Kelsie is pugnacious and tough-minded,” Turner coach Bob Sulser told the Walworth County newspaper.

“She knows she can’t strike out every batter, but she has a feeling that she can,” Sulser said. “She is willing to work with her defenders. She really works hard on her pitching, but she just turned 16 and is still developing.”

 

*** Two new adds to the Master Verbal list come courtesy of the Tampa Mustangs-Boynton program:

— Grace Street, a 2015 pitcher, has committed to Rollins College.   She has a 5.01 weighted GPA (3.97 unweighted).

Grace attends Freedom High in Tampa, Fla. and last year  went 9-0 with a 0.94 ERA and allowed only a .187 batting average.  She also did well at the plate hitting .380 and helped the Patriots finish second in Class 7A.

— Ashley Wilson, a 2014 signee with Elon, also attends Freedom High and was a 1^st Team All-County pick and 2^nd Team All-State honoree last year.

She was also an All-County volleyball player and said, “I chose Elon because I felt right at home. Everything from the amazing academics to the gorgeous campus drew me in. I can’t wait to finally get up there and start the next four years of my life as an Elon Phoenix.”

 

*** Khayla Green, a 2015 shortstop/outfielder who also plays some second, is started to heat up when it comes to recruiting.

She’s got great speed and although not a slapper has run a 2.6 home to first –verified at Lee University—and a 11.5 home to home as a righty hitter.

Khayla is an excellent defender but has a lively bat too with a career .400 batting average in both club (Georgia Force-Pealor) and high school.

She’s a sleeper as her high school team hasn’t done really well and her past travel teams haven’t made it to Nationals but she should get a lot more attention this year.

The junior has an offer from Georgia College & State University and is hearing from programs like Mercer, Lipscomb and Middle Tennessee State.

 

*** Finally, in early December we profiled 2017 shortstop Mary Katherine Tedder who has committed to Texas.

The freshman standout is having a strong season at Spain Park High (Ala.) which is currently ranked No. 5 in the state. Mary Katherine is hitting .394 with 37 RBI, 44 runs, 18 doubles, a pair of triples and three home runs so far in her first year of varsity ball.

In case you missed it, here’s the info we presented on her earlier:

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RECRUIT PROFILE: MARY KATHERINE TEDDER

 

Grad Year: 2017
Pos: 2B/SS/OF
High School: Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.)
Club: Birmingham Thunderbolts-Roberson
Honors (club softball): 2013 PGF Nationals “Top 20 Batting Average” (Thunderbolts); 2013 Scenic City 16’s Super Pool Champions;  2012 PGF Nationals top 10 finish; 2012 Hall Of Fame Tournament (Thunderbolts); 2010 ASA Nationals “Top 5” finish; 2010 ASA Alabama State Champions; 2010 USFA Alabama State Champions (Thunderbolts)
Other accomplishments: qualified for varsity cross-country state meet in 2011, finished 40^th overall with a time of 20:52; named to All-Metro team for basketball-2013;
College: Texas

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: So how does an Alabama girl get noticed and recruited by the Texas Longhorn coaches? 
Mary Katherine Tedder: I have to give all the credit to my (club) coaches. They contacted Coach Clark and she came to several of the tournaments that we played in and I attended a camp there this fall. The first tournament Coach (Connie) Clark and Coach (Jennifer) McFalls saw me play was PGF in July. Coach Clark offered me during a phone conversation in November.

 

SSS.com: Being from Alabama, did you have any interest in the in-state schools?
MKT: During the recruiting process I wanted to visit as many places as possible. I kept an open mind during the visits and truly wanted to find the best fit.  I visited Alabama and Auburn and they are great programs. The Bolts have several awesome players going to those schools but in the end Texas was the place for me.

 

 

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
MKT: I committed on November 19th. My mom and I laid out a chart with all different categories about the school, the education and the softball program. As we went through each category with my family, the picture became clearer and clearer that Texas was the right place for me.

 

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches, in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
MKT: I told them over the phone.

 

SSS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them, were you more nervous or more excited?
MKT: I was definitely more excited!

 

SSS.com:  You’re from Hoover, which is known for great football… What’s it like growing up in that community?  Is there support for softball as well?
MKT: Well, Hoover is located in the South and in this part of the country football is huge! In the fall many Friday nights and Saturdays are spent watching football. Our community is intense about all of its sports programs and they are great supporters of the softball family.

 

SSS.com:Your area was very impacted by tornadoes a couple years ago… what was that like to live through and how are you, your family, friends and community doing today?
MKT: It was a very scary and devastating day. Following the tornadoes, I had the opportunity to work at a church with my grandmother that provided supplies to the victims of the storms. It was truly amazing to see the families that had lost everything but yet they still had so much hope. They were very inspiring to me.

Quick Hitters

 

Fill in the blank… Humility aside, I feel I’m the best of anyone I know at:____________
…. always believing our team can accomplish anything!

If someone put a microphone in your hand, would you be more likely to sing, tell a story or joke, hand it to the next girl or run screaming?
Tell a joke.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I like to write songs.

How would your friends describe you in one word?
Faithful.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
My team.

What do you want most for the holidays?
Spending time with family and friends.

What’s the gift or service you’ve shared with others that you’re most proud of?
Helping people in need.

What’s your No. 1 goal for 2014?
To tell others about God’s Word.