We open today’s Daily Update with a heart-warming surprise that happened last Friday before a softball game in the South.  Next we profile a young, talented pitcher who’s going from one coast to the other and spotlight the star pitcher of the weekend who stepped big in perhaps the biggest high school game of the year.  We have a lot of verbals to report too…

 

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HIGH SCHOOL: BIG SURPRISE BEFORE SOFTBALL GAME

A great surprising reunion happened last Friday night before the Newton County (Miss.) High School softball game.

Hannah May was asked to catch the first pitch and she was under the impression that one of the Lady Cougars supporters was there and being honored.

What she was shocked to see was her older brother Jeremy, an Airman First Class, walk onto the field after serving a seven month deployment in Southeast Asia.

Hannah’s mother, Gina, had contacted Head Coach Justin Chaney to set it up after Jeremy had returned to the U.S. on Wednesday.

“This was very special to me because I know the family so well,” Coach Chaney told the Meridian Star. “Hannah May is a program builder. You can do lots of great things with kids like her.  Her reaction made it all worthwhile.”

Hannah had spent that night at friends house and had no idea of the surprise.

“It was my idea to surprise her,” the older brother said. “Ball has always been important to our family.  Whether we were watching Hannah, Zach, or myself play, our family is always at a baseball or softball field.  I knew if I surprised her it had to be at a ball game.”

The set-up was staged to perfection as Coach Chaney and the Lady Cougars parted away revealing her big brother, who stayed on the field to throw out the first pitch. After catching the throw, Hannah raced to hug her brother and the fans cheered during the emotional embrace.

“It was a sweet moment for me to see that sibling love,” their mother said.  “They have their normal brother sister arguments so to see them locked in that embrace was so important to us as parents.”

 

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PLAYER PROFILE: NATALIE LUGO

Grad Year: 2017
Pos: pitcher
High School: South Hills (West Covina, Calif.)
GPA: 3.6 GPA
Club: OC Batbusters-Stith
Stats: 4-1 record with 0.37 ERA; five games started, three complete games, two saves in 38 innings pitched
College: Florida

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: You play for Mike Stith, one of the most successful club coaches in the game today… What’s that like, playing for him and the Batbusters organization?
Natalie Lugo: Being able to play for Mike Stith has to be one of the best opportunities I’ve been given. He’s intense and so passionate about the sport. I’ve already learned so much from him in the 6 months I’ve been with the Batbusters.

 

SSS.com:  Florida has done well in California, getting top talent like Janelle Wheaton and Amanda Lorenz—two other Batbusters—what do you think  of Coach Walton and staff coming all the way across the country and getting West Coast talent like yourself?
NL: In the time that Coach Walton has been the coach at Florida, he’s built a great program with amazing athletes and is definitely on his way to a National Championship

 

SSS.com: Tell us how you were first seen by the Gators coaches, then how long until they offered?
NL: I was first seen by the Gators at PGF in August 2013 and it was about two and a half months until they offered.

SSS.com:  Did they say what they liked about your game enough to offer you?
NL: I remember Florida saying they loved the way the ball came out of my hand as I pitched and the spin that came along with it. They also said I have good velocity for my height and weight and I can only get stronger.

 

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
NL: After visiting another campus. I realized that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but Florida. The fact that they’re great both academically and athletically, and soon being able to play for Coach Walton, I knew it was the perfect fit for me,

 

SSS.com: Was there a reason you committed on Valentine’s Day (or just coincidence)?
NL: It just happened to be a coincidence!

 

SSS.com: Was there one moment when you said to yourself, “This is where I need to go?”
NL: After a long talk I had with my pitching coach, I thought about it for a while and talked it over with my parents. There was so much about Florida that I loved and that’s when I realized that Florida is where I need to go.

SSS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them; were you more nervous or more excited?
NL: I was a little nervous, but a lot more excited. I really wanted to hear Coach Walton’s reaction when I told him that “I want to be a Gator!”

 

SSS.com: Are you concerned at all at being so far from home?
NL: Going through my recruiting process, I actually was looking to choose a school out of state. I’m very independent so I’m not too concerned and I just see it as a great college experience.

 

SSS.com:  Give us a scouting report on yourself:  what are your best attributes and what pitches do you throw, especially you’re “out” pitch?
NL: Given my size, I have pretty good velocity and my ball breaks well moving up, down, in, and out. My best attributes would have to be my movement and how hard I work to improve. I throw a curve, drop-curve, screwball, change-up, drop, and my rise-ball as my ‘out’ pitch.

 

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career?
NL: Playing in an ASA and PGF National Championship game is something I’ll never forget.

 

Quick Hitters

Being a freshman, what’s been the best thing about high school so far?
Going to a new school and making lots of new friends. Playing on Varsity is so fun; the girls are amazing and so welcoming.

The worst?
The first couple months, when I didn’t know very many people.

Fill in the blank… The happiest I’ve ever been was: _______________________
… when I committed to Florida

If you could change one thing in the world to improve life for everyone, what would it be?
Poverty! I hate seeing people struggle to survive.

Favorite food:
Teriyaki Chicken.

Least favorite food:
Anything seafood.

You’re given a plane ticket to go anywhere in the world… where would you go and why?
Probably Spain. I’ve always wanted to visit Spain because it seems so beautiful there

What’s the best pitching tip you ever got?
In the beginning, when I first started playing for Mike Stith, I was very shy and timid. One day he pulled me aside and said to me, “Grab the bull by the horns.” That quote has stuck with me ever since.

Who always makes you laugh?
My cousin Caitlyn… there’s never a moment when we’re not laughing.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
Not very many people know that I love listening to country music.

What color best represents you… be it your personality, your style, your mood, etc.?
All blue colors probably because it’s my favorite color and I own so many things in blue.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be? 
Enough fruit to survive. I really enjoy eating lots of fruit.

Though young, do you see yourself as a role model? 
I think so, because I’m a good student-athlete and I have  good work ethic. I’ve also been helping younger girls at our local softball league.

 

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RECRUITING SPOTLIGHT OF THE DAY: KYRA SNYDER

On Saturday, freshman pitcher Kyra Snyder was put into the starting line-up for the No. 1 team in the nation, Mission Viejo, Calif., to pitch against the No. 2 team in the country, Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.) in the finals of the Best of the West tournament.

Kyra led the Diablos to a 5-2 win with eight strikeouts, showing she’s going to be a pitcher to keep a close eye on over the next few years… here’s more on her:

High school: Mission Viejo
City: Mission Viejo
State: 
Calif.
Grad year: 2017
Club: OC Batbusters-Lastrapes/McGowan
Position(s): pitcher/first base
Height: 5-7

Stats & Honors:  hit over .400 for the Batbusters last fall and in the circle had a 1.00 ERA

College: uncommitted.
Offers: San Diego State

What is your favorite bat: Demarini CF6. “I am comfortable with it and it has a lot of pop.”
What bat does your team use? Demarini CF6
What is your favorite brand of cleats? 
Mizuno
What is the uniform brand you prefer? Nike

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Maddie Morgan, a 2017 SS/2B with the Washington Ladyhawks, has committed to Alabama.

She played on the 14U team that made it PGF Nationals last year and also made it to the 16U A ASA National Championship in 2013.

She has a 3.8 GPA and attends Lynwood High (Wash.).

 

*** Taylor Vanderpool, a 2016 MIF/OF with the Indy Dreams-Bell 16U team, has committed to Illinois State

 

*** Kiley Majette, a 2015 pitcher with the Carolina Wildcats, has committed to Wintrhop.

 

*** More verbals:

— OF Mykaela Arellanes (2015, Northern Illinois)… plays for St. Louis Esprit Gold
— SS Cassidy Boyle (2014, South Florida)… plays for Rock 18 Gold
— P Ally Cutting (2015, South Florida)… plays for Rock 18 Gold
— 3B/SS Madison Decker (2015, Maine)… plays for Rock 18 Gold
— IF Kennedy Frank (2015, Drake)… plays for St. Louis Esprit Gold
— OF Marisa Gergel (2015, Iona)… plays for Rock 18 Gold
— 1B/OF Rebecca Lynn Hall (2014, Rutgers)… plays for Rock 18 Gold
— OF Dallas Hogan (2014, Harvard)… plays for Rock 18 Gold
— C Brianna Johnson (2014, Mississippi Valley State)… plays for Kraze
— OF Dylan Jarvis (2014, Towson)… plays for Rock 18 Gold
— OF Janae Jefferson (2017, Texas)… plays for Aces Express
— C/1B Katie Kasubke (2015, Loyola)… plays for St. Louis Esprit Gold
— 2B Mackenzie Lawson (2015, St. Louis)… plays for St. Louis Esprit
— SS Chelsea Purcell (2016, Notre Dame)… plays for So Cal Athletics-Myers
— P Mario Roadcap (2015, LaSalle)… plays for Rock 18 Gold
— OF/MIF Kirstie Shay (2015, Central Connecticut State)… plays for Rock 18 Gold Showcase
— P Tarin Travieso (2017, Kansas)… plays for Texas Bombers
— P/1B Stefanie Troja (2015, DePaul)… plays for California Comets
— P Brittany Violette (2015, College of Charleston)… plays for So Cal Athletics-Myers
— C Allie Yoffee (2015, Rutgers)… plays for Rock 18 Gold

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Players, parents and coaches:  want to know the best way to get us info on your favorite player?  Fill out our Recruit Form link and complete.  It comes directly to me (Brentt) and you very likely could see the info used somewhere on our site!

 

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If you’d like to submit information, forward to brentt@studentsports.com.  Also, follow us on twitter at @SS_Softball.