Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!  Wear green and be safe… today we focus on high school which is down and dirty in many states so we update some of the top teams in our preseason FAB 50.  We also look at a super fast prospect from North Carolina and a young Calif. standout who’s leaning to a certain Big Ten program…

 

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HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: FAB 50 TEAM UPDATES

*** It was a battle of the No. 2 and No. 2 teams from our our preseason FAB 50 rankings on Saturday as Mission Viejo (Calif.) battled Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.) in the Dave Kos Tournament of Champions in Bullhead, Ariz.

You could build an awesome college program with the talent that was on the field, but one player was dominant that game and earned tourney MVP honors because of it: Mission Viejo pitcher Taylor McQuillin.

Taylor struck out 15 batters and only allowed three hits to the powerful Mariners along with one hit batter and a walk.

The Diablos broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth after a single by Shianne Ybarra who scored after advancing on a fielder’s choice, wild pitch and a two-out error.

Arizona-bound slugger Alyssa Palomino added a home run in the sixth which opened the floodgates as three more runs would score that inning.

North Carolina bound pitcher Kylee Carlson took the loss after pitching well all weekend. Prior to the four-run inning, she had recorded four wins and allowed only one earned run and 25 Ks in 19 innings pitched.

But the star of the day was McQuillin, also headed to Arizona, who had her rise ball really working.

“We could not lay off her rise ball,” said someone on the Pacifica side.  “Thirteen of the 15 strike outs were rise balls. We were undisciplined and she ate us up… but she was getting that high pitch in and we just couldn’t lay off it.”

 

*** The top rated team in the preseason FAB 50 was Red Mountain out of Mesa, Ariz. and they’ve played well in two aspects of the game: defense and pitching, according to Head Coach Rich Hamilton, but there’s a clear reason why last year’s National Champs are 7-2 at this point.

“We not getting the timely hitting we’re used to,” the coach said this afternoon.  “Things can be better as the pitching is good and the defense has been sharp.  We just need to improve on our hitting.”

The team is collectively hitting .304 and ace pitcher Breanna Macha, who will stay in-state to play at Arizona State, has thrown well including a 14 strikeout effort in a loss to Mountain Ridge.

The Mountain Lions will be busy the rest of the week as they’ll play games Wednesday through Saturday in the Deseret Mountain Tournament.

Hamilton says that Macha will pitch Wednesday, Friday and Saturday as needed.

 

*** The No. 4 and 5 ranked teams, Northern of Owings Mills, Md. and Hoover of North Canton, Ohio—both of whom went undefeated last year—have yet to play a game, although Northern will kickoff the season on Friday.

 

*** The No. 6 ranked team is Alexander Central of Taylorsville, N.C. which is playing like it’s already in playoff form.

The Cougars are 7-0 and have outscored opponents by a 55-3 margin.

One of the hottest players in the country is Vada Sherrill, the daughter of Head Coach Monte Sherrill.  Vada is hitting .652 with three doubles and two home runs and a slugging percentage of 1.043. She’s also 9-for-10 in steals.

Central has two pitchers who are dominating: Kiana Millsaps who is 28-0 in her career and Bailey Rhoney who was the North Carolina Championship Series MVP last year.  She’s off to a 3-0 start this season.

 

*** The No. 7 team is Amador Valley and they could be the most unstoppable team in the country with UCLA-bound Johanna Grauer in the circle.

The outstanding hurler is 5-0 and in 35 innings hasn’t allowed a run.

 

*** Last year, Lewisville (Texas) won the Class 5A state championship despite losing 13 games.  Even with junior pitcher Maribeth Gorsuch back, the team is 14-5 right now, but is ranked No. 2 in 5A behind Keller.

*** Speaking of Texas, here are the top-rated teams in the Lone Star State’s top two divisions as determined by the Texas Girls Coaches Association:

Class 5A

1.         Atascocita (14-0)
2.         Lubbock Coronado (11-0)
3.         Katy Cinco Ranch (12-1)
4.         Smithson Valley (13-1)
5.         The Woodlands (16-2)
6.         Keller (13-2)
7.         Deer Park (14-3)
8.         Clear Springs (10-2)
9.         Cypress Fairbanks (13-1)
10.       College Park (12-2)
11.       McAllen Rowe (14-2)
12.       Plano West (12-3)
13.       Ridge Point (12-4)
14.       Klein Oak (9-3)
15t.     Round Rock Stony Point (10-3)
15t.     El Paso Franklin (11-1)

Also: Flower Mound, Katy Seven Lakes, Austin Anderson, Lake Travis, Lewisville, Timberview, Pearce, College Park, Lake Highlands, Seven Lakes, Laredo LBJ, Austin High, Richland, Waco Midway, Brazoswood,  Austin Bowie, San Benito, Marcus, San Antonio O’Connor, Austin Westlake and San Antonio Holmes

Comments:  Southwest crushed Smithson Valley 12-2 while San Antonio Lady Bird Jonson beat Judson.  Austin High beat Lake Travis, Bowie and Akins to increase their win streak to 14 straight. Houston MacArthur won the Aldine tournament with a 5-0 mark to increase their winning streak to ten straight.

Lewisville improved to 14-5 while district rival Flower Mound is 13-5 after winning the Sienna Tournament.  Marcus is 16-4 but has lost twice recently, once to Lubbock Coronado 9-1 then to Ennis 5-3.  Lubbock Coronado defeated Abilene High 11-0 and Midland High 4-1 to improve their overall record to 13-2 and 3-0 in district. Mansfield beat South Grand Prairie Friday 11-1 in 5 innings to remain undefeated in District. Mansfield is 14-2 after winning the Midland West Texas Challenge tournament 6-0 won tournament scoring 68 allowing 16.

Cinco Ranch is on fire, beating Katy Taylor 13-2 as Kayla Ober pitched the win and Karli Hamilton hit her six homerun of the season.  Cinco Ranch beat seven lakes 6-3 with another Ober win and a tater by Brittany Nollkamper.  In a tight contest, Cinco Ranch edged Katy 5-4 as it was Uber Ober as Kayla pitched the win and hit a solo homerun in the fourth and a two run shot in the sixth inning to give her five on the season. In the win, Cinco Ranch rallied from a 3-0 deficit after three innings.

Class 4A

1.         Mansfield Legacy (15-2)
2.         Georgetown East View (19-0)
3.         Richmond Foster (14-0)
4.         Barbers Hill (10-0)
5.         Little Cypress Mauriceville (14-3)
6.         Prosper (11-1)
7.         Buda Hays (10-2)
8.         Dripping Springs (15-3)
9.         Hallsville (16-2)
10.       Medina Valley (15-3)
11.       El Paso Chapin (12-1)
12.       Elgin (8-5)
13.       Brewer (9-4-1)
14.       Burleson Centennial (7-2)
15t.     Gregory-Portland (14-5)
15t.     Nederland (10-4)
15t.     San Antonio Brennan (10-3)
15t.     Magnolia (8-1)

Also: Ennis, Azle, Pearland Dawson, Calhoun, Eastlake, Vista Ridge, El Paso Burges, Tomball, Waco University, New Caney, Leander, Barbers Hill, Mesquite Poteet, Crosby, Lucas Lovejoy, Dayton, Rouse and Vidor.

Comments:  Nederland beat Little Cypress Mauriceville 2-1 in 13 innings in front of a huge crowd, in other games from Southeast Texas then pounded Port Neches Groves 9-1. LCM beat Port Neches-Groves 4-1.  Centennial blasted prosper 14-6.  Dripping Springs blanked Rouse 3-0.  Frisco Centennial pounded Prosper 14-6 while Poteet improve to 3-0 in district by beating Highland Park 9-1.  Over at the College Station Tournament, Azle beat Garrison 4-0 and Aledo 6-3 but Azle lost to 3A monster LaGrange 2-1 and to LCM 11-10.

 

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PLAYER PROFILE: TIANNA BATTS

Grad Year: 2016
Pos: outfield
High School: Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.)
GPA: 4.2 GPA
Club: Lady Lightning
Honors: National Beta Club Society, NFCA All American Scholar Athlete
College: undecided

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StudentSports.com: OK, let’s get the obvious question out of the way first: with a name like “Batts,” how many bad name jokes have you been subject to?
Tianna Batts: Oh my gosh, yes kids make fun of me at school but the famous one is “Batts up to Bat”… hahahaha very clever.

SSS.com: You have been the fastest player at the Tennessee camp the last three years, correct?  Where do you get such blazing speed… do you or have you run track?
TB: I would say first and foremost I have been blessed by God with natural speed but in the offseason I train at Champions Sports Performance Speed School in Cornelius, N.C. Also I would say I got my talent from my dad; he played baseball at VMI and was known as a speedster. And I have never run track a day in my life.

SSS.com: Being at the UT camp, are they recruiting you?  Are you looking at other colleges; have you visited other campuses?
TB: Tennessee had already signed their class of 2016 when I attended camp. However my parents and I did talk to the coach about being a walk-on. Yes, I have been to Virginia Tech, University of Tennessee @ Chattanooga, and UNC Charlotte. I plan on visiting to Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and NC State.

SSS.com: Do you and your family have a recruiting strategy or are you simply taking each situation as it comes?
TB: My family and I do have a strategy I have my top schools I am interested in not only for softball but also for academics especially colleges and universities that would set me on the right track for becoming a speech pathologist.  However, my family is very supportive and we are open for whatever opportunities are presented so we take each situation as it comes.

SSS.com: You’re also hitting .560 this year… what is your approach at the plate, are you looking to slap/bunt/hit away based on what the defense is?
TB: The coaching staff at AC puts a clock on every position player on the opposing team in pre-game or in previous scouting games.  So with this my approach is based on these numbers. I am concentrating on my bat angles and my hard and soft slaps.  Coach Sherrill makes me look at film weekly from Tennessee and Florida to get the skill down.

SSS.com: Alexander Central is one of the top high school programs in the nation… what is it like playing for such a winning team?
TB: Coach Sherrill believes in repetition its all about skill and drill with him. Coach Sherrill hits me 200 balls in practice to work on my defense in center field. He teaches me how to read spins of the ball as they hit off the bat and teaches me how to get behind the ball and run good routes. At AC we out work everyone. Coach Sherrill has high expectations for each and every girl on the team. He treats me like his own and motivates me with his constructive criticism. So it is an honor and a privilege to play for Coach Sherrill and the AC Softball program.

SSS.com: What do you like to do when not on the softball field?
TB: I love shopping…sorry dad, taking random road trips to visit my sisters one at The University of Tennessee and the other at Western Carolina University, and when the weather is really nice I love to spend my days on the lake with friends.

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career?
TB: A top memory was winning the 2013 NC 4A State Championship and coming back to Taylorsville and celebrating with the whole county. WE ARE AC!

 

Quick Hitters

 

What do you after your softball career ends?
I will go on to pursue a career in speech pathology and would love to give back to the community by coaching all aged girls in softball.

You’ve been described as “a driven player”… What drives you on and off the field?
My drive comes from the sacrifice my family makes on an everyday bases for me.

What do you think is the No. 1 issue in the world today?
I would say the number one issue in the world today is the lack of work ethic. A lot of people take things for granted and believe that everything should be given to them.  I make it an effort to work hard and take what I want.

Favorite school subject:
Favorite school subject would have to be civics and economics because not only do I have a great teacher but I’m really interested in how society works on all levels such as government, socially, and economically.

Least favorite class:
My least favorite class is math but my teacher is great so I am more engaged in the class.
Favorite place in the world:

My favorite place in the world is the Caribbean because of the different cultures, the beautiful islands and I cant wait to visit there in June.

What type of bat do you use (and why do you like it)?
I use a combat I like it because I feel like we have a relationship, when I’m trying to do my hard slap it has a pop to it but when it knows I’m about to bunt it dies for me so I can get great bunts down.

Who always makes you laugh?
My sisters make me laugh all the time it is never a dull moment with us three.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
From kindergarten to third grade I was in a Spanish emersion program and I could speak Spanish better than I could English, but now I can speak “poquito espanol” but I understand it very well.

To someone who’s never been to North Carolina, how would you describe it?
If you want all four seasons in one week this is the place for you. But really North Carolina is a very beautiful state that has a little bit of everything for everyone.  Personally I love Charlotte especially downtown.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
I would take my panda pillow pet. He is my ride or die he listens to me when I need to vent and there to cuddle with me.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world right now, who would it be and why?
Beyoncé because I feel like we are the same person and if I was not playing softball I would probably be the up and coming Beyoncé… with that being said I cant sing or dance lol but I love her music.

Other than family, who’s your hero or someone you look up to most?
I look up to Gabby Douglas, after reading her books she is a prime example of what determination and sacrifice mean especially if you want to accomplish big dreams.

 

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RECRUIT SPOTLIGHT OF THE DAY: ALEXIS ALLAN

Nickname: “Lou”
High school: Grand Terrace
City: Hesperia
State: 
Calif.
Grad year: 2017
Club: Firecrackers-Brashear 16U
Position(s): 1B/OF
Height: 5-7

College: Undecided
Offers: “several.”
Status: “I have not made a choice yet. I love every school I visited although I had a special feeling at one.”

What is your favorite bat: “Easton Synergy, this bat has so much pop it’s incredible! I fell in love with this bat about a year ago and now i don’t want to let it go!”
What bat does your team use? “I use my 32 inch 22oz Easton Synergy, although most of my team uses the Louisville Slugger Xeno.”
What is your favorite brand of cleats? 
Mizuno
What is the uniform brand you prefer? Gluv

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Tarin Travieso, a 2017 pitcher with the Texas Bombers 16U team, has committed to Kansas.

 

*** Carley Gaskill, a 2016 shortstop with the So Cal Choppers-Shipman/Ziese team, has committed to Ohio State.

“Carley is a tall, agile shortstop with great range who’s a pure line-drive hitter who will fare very well in the Big Ten,” says her coach Jim Ziese.

 

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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.