We have some fun stuff this hump-day as we look at a talented Florida junior who committed a few weeks ago after decommitting previously.  Next, we look at a trio of recruits who are committed or soon may be.  There’s detail on one of the top events this summer in club ball and finally we spotlight the top teams in college this week according to two major polls.

 

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PLAYER PROFILE: CASEY GERHARD

Grad Year: 2015
Pos: catcher
High School: Montverde Acadamy (Montverde, Fla.)
Club: Florida Storm Gold
College: Virginia Tech

 

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: You had committed to FSU but there were changes that led to you decommitting… that had to be a scary time, yes?
Casey Gerhard: Yes and no. I was worried about a lot of things, but never really scared. I have grown up believing that God was going to take care of me no matter what happens. When I decommitted it forced me to trust in God more than I have had to before. The Bible says 365 different times “Do not fear, for God is with you.” That’s one time for each day of the year.

 

SSS.com:  Were you worried that, being a junior, there wasn’t a lot of money left for 2015 players?
CG: Yes I was. A few days after I decommitted I got on the phone and started calling around to different schools just to see who had money and who didn’t. Almost every one of the schools I called didn’t. I kept calling and asking around until we found a few schools with money, then we started emailing and going to their camps.

 

SSS.com:  Your dad said that when word got out that you were back on the market, a lot of club and even college coaches helped you… can you detail what happened there?
CG: When word got around that I was available again, my dad received calls and emails from a lot of our friends and

my former travel coaches asking if there was anything they could do to help. A lot of them called schools that they had connections with or would speak with college coaches at tournaments about me. Even coaches I never played for offered for me to come guest play to get extra exposure. It was so awesome to see all of these people rallying behind me. It is something that I will always remember and be grateful for.

 

SSS.com:  Tell us how you were first seen by the Va Tech coaches, then how long until they offered?
CG: I was first seen by VT when I went to their winter camp. After the coaches saw me, I sent them the tournaments I was playing in (I had two left before high school ball started) and Coach Thomas came and watched me. After watching me they made the offer. All of this happened over one or two months.

 

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
CG: I decided to commit in mid February. I committed because I really felt like God was pulling me towards VT. I loved the campus, they have a great coaching staff, the academics are great, and we have family close by. It just felt like the right fit.

SSS.com: Does Va Tech have the major or field of study you want to get into?
CG: Yes. I am homeschooled but I am a full time duel-enrollment student. My goal is that by the time I graduate high school I will have my two year degree finished, that is looking very promising right now. So when I was choosing a college I was looking at the masters programs offered. I still am not sure what I want to study but VT has a wide variety to choose from.

 

SSS.com: Describe your emotions committing the second time… how did it compare to the first verbal?
CG: When I committed it was a huge relief. I didn’t realize how stressed out I had been until the stress was gone. It was a lot different than the first time, where I felt more stressed after I committed and felt like I was under a ton of pressure each time I went out to play.

SSS.com:  You’ve obviously been impressive to college coaches… what is it about your game that makes you a high D-I caliber softball player?
CG: That’s a tough question for me to try and answer (laughs). Coaches have always talked about my leadership, I am very vocal on the field. I guess that might be it!

 

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career?
CG: I have so many great memories it’s hard to pick just one. Probably each of my three state appearances, and my team getting to play in Colorado.

 

Quick Hitters

 

What do you want to be doing once softball playing ends?
Coaching.

What subject in school or area of study excites you the most?
History.

Conversely, what subject is the toughest for you?
Definitely math.

Favorite color:
Green for now… it changes a lot.

Favorite dinner:
Grilled chicken and mashed potatoes.

What’s your dream vacation spot?
Italy.

If you were handed a $1,000 bill, what would you do with it?
Go to Bass Pro Shops with my family (that’s our favorite store) and let each of them get whatever they wanted.

What type of bat do you use (and do you like it)?
Xeno and I LOVE it!

What makes you more nervous: down by one run and 3-2 at the plate or having to speak in front of 100 people (and why)?
Speaking in front of 100 people. Because when I get nervous I start babbling and say the wrong thing.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I like listening to country music classics, thanks to my dad!

How would your friends describe you in one word?
I am not sure, but I hope it would be “caring.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
A gun or knife.

Who is your favorite celebrity to follow (and why)?
Tim Tebow and Albert Pujols because they are both Christians who are open about their faith in a place where it is not commonly seen.

Other than family, who’s your hero or someone you look up to most?
Kristen Butler (plays for Chicago Bandits) and Francesca Enea (played for USSSA Pride).

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Emily Weatherman, a 2016 second baseman/outfielder with the Atlanta Vipers, committed to Harding University on February 22.

Here’s the run-down on how she committed according to her mother, Jen:

“Emily began emailing Coach Phil Berry (along with several D1 college coaches) the beginning of her freshman year in the fall of 2012 while she was on Team Georgia 16U.”

He had just taken the position for Head Softball Coach at Harding—they were starting up a brand-new program.  She knew Coach Berry was an awesome coach through talking with his previous players he coached on the Atlanta Vipers-Berry team whom Team Georgia scrimmaged a lot.”

He knew how to choose players with talent and heart…and he created the successful Atlanta Vipers organization.  Emily would always keep him updated on her team’s schedule for showcases and tournaments, including game times, as well as high school games.  He couldn’t approach her, but he would come watch her play on occasion in showcases, as well as see her at surrounding camps in Georgia and Tennessee.”

It was the fall of 2013 when she called him on the phone for the first time, introducing herself, telling him that she was now on an Atlanta Vipers 16U team and that she was attending his Elite Skills Camp on the Harding University campus that same November.  She loved the Harding camp, the players she interacted with and the campus.”

In Feb. 2014, we took another trip to Harding to have an unofficial tour with an advisor, plus watch the Lady Bisons’ first home games.  It was during this weekend she decided that Harding was where she felt at home; she loved the smaller, closely knit campus, the Christian community and she was excited and blessed to have Coach Berry meet with her, then offer her a spot to play second base for him in the future.  Her dream school with an amazing coach!”

You can watch Emily in this skills video…

 

*** Brittany Violette, a 2015 pitcher/1B with the So Cal A’s, will be traveling this weekend to take an unofficial visit to see College of Charleston.

Her teammate from the A’s, Isabella Berouty, committed to CofC just a couple weeks ago.

“We were supposed to go on the same unofficial visit in February but our plane was grounded in L.A. due to the weather at our connector in Charlotte, N.C.,” explains her mother, Sylvia, “and we couldn’t get another flight for a few days so we rescheduled to this Sunday while she is on spring break.”

Brittany has also visited Boston University (Dec. 2013) and had early interest from schools like Oregon, Utah and Michigan State.

Adds Sylvia, “Her teammate (Isabella) sure is hoping she likes it and verbals too. That would be a nice twosome to be going there for the future.  Brittany also likes the possibility of helping bring that school up I the competition like she has in high school.

To start this spring season, the pitcher has compiled a 2-1 record with a 0.69 ERA in four appearances so far.

 

*** Brooke Vestal, a 2018 pitcher with the Texas Bombers 16U team, has committed to Oklahoma.

Here’s a fun little piece I did on her at last summer’s PGF Nationals which includes video called, cleverly enough, Video Spotlight: Brooke Vestal

 

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EVENT NEWS: 2014 TC/USA NATIONALS UPDATE

The 2014 TC/USA Nationals will be hosted in Atlanta, Ga. on July 14-17 and has over 170 teams that have committed to play representing three age divisions:

• 14 Open (35 teams)
• 16 Open (56 teams)
• 8 Open (80 teams)

Triple Crown Sports created the event in 2012 using the U.S. Club Rankings (www.usclubrankings.com) to help target the top 14U, 16U, and 18U teams in the country.

TCS takes the top 100 teams listed on the NCR and gives an automatic berth to a program’s 18 Gold, 16U and 14U teams, along with the top five regionally ranked teams from 13 regions around the country.

Invites are not passed down if a team chooses not come.  Instead, TCS fills all open sports with at-large selections.  At-large teams fill out an application listing reasons why TCS should select them to fill the remaining spots.

“The TC/USA Nationals will be one of the most competitive girls’ fastpitch tournaments of the summer,” said TC/USA Nationals Director Krista Judge.  “Teams will ramp up for the event and bring their best players in hopes of winning the championship.  We are looking forwarding to hosting this great tournament in Atlanta.”

This year, the 18 Open Division will feature 53 of the top 100 rated squads, 28 of the top 50 and six of the top 10 teams in the country.

Here’s a list of the 10 Teams playing at the 18U level:

• #2 Firecrackers – Rico
• #3 Corona Angels – Tyson
• #4 TX Glory – Shelton
• #7 EC Bullets – Schnute
• #8 Wichita Mustangs – Griggs
• #10 Gold Coast Hurricanes – Cooper

Click Here for the Top-100 Teams Playing

The semifinal games and championship game will be nationally televised live in HD on CBS Sports Network.  CBSSN is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158.

The TC/USA Nationals is played in a different city each year.

In 2012, New York City’s 31-field Randall’s Island Complex hosted all games.  That year the Firecrackers-Rico squad from Huntington Beach, Calif. finished 5-0 and knocked off the Corona Angels-Tyson 1-0 in the 18 Open championship game.

It was the Firecrackers-Rico again in 2013 going undefeated (9-0) and shutting out the Corona Angels-Tyson 8-0 in the championship held at Golden Eagle Regional Park in Reno, NV.

Both teams will be in the 2014 field and are early favorites to win; the Firecrackers are ranked No. 2 in the country and the Angels No. 3.

For more information on the TC/USA Nationals visit the website: Click Here.

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COLLEGE NEWS: TEAM RANKINGS

 *** Top three teams hold steady in the ESPN.com/ USA Softball Collegiate Top 25

Despite suffering its first loss of the season, Florida (24-1, 2-1 SEC) continues their reign atop the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced today.

The Gators, with 14 first place votes, are No. 1 for the fifth-consecutive time in the 2014 season while Tennessee (21-2) captured two first-place votes and UCLA (23-1) nabbed four votes.

The Gators went 3-1 on the week, starting with a standalone game against Boston College in which the they came out with a 7-3 win.  Florida then kicked off Southeastern Conference (SEC) play against Ole Miss, who snapped the Gators 22 game win-streak with a 2-0 shutout in the first game of the series.  Florida bounced back to beat the Rebels 10-3 and 2-0 to capture the series win.

Although suffering a 3-2 loss to Western Kentucky at the Tennessee Tournament, Tennessee (21-2) edged UCLA by one point to narrowly remain the No. 2 team in the country this week.

The Lady Vols gave a dominant performance on the week, going 6-1, including two run-rule victories over Wright State (9-0, 6 innings and 8-0, 6 innings) and four shutout wins over Holy Cross (5-0), Campbell (1-0), Georgia Southern (2-0) and College of Charleston (3-0).  Up next for the Lady Vols is the start of SEC play as they head to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas.

UCLA stayed at No. 3 this week despite earning two more first-place votes than Tennessee.  The Bruins played host to then-No. 4 Michigan in a two-game series, besting the Wolverines 4-1 (8 innings) before falling 9-4 in their second matchup.  UCLA closed out the week with a strong performance as host of the UCLA/CSUN invitational with wins over UNLV (8-0, 6 innings), Loyola Chicago ( 11-3, 6 innings and 7-1), Charleston Southern (4-0), CSU Bakersfield (4-2) and Georgetown (3-1).

No. 4 Oregon (18-2) moved up one spot in the poll this week despite taking a week off to prepare for the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. Also moving up in the poll is No. 5 Arizona State (26-3), who rebounded after suffering three losses last week.  The Sun Devils offense came alive in a 16-2 (5 innings) win over Detroit before narrowly edging Longwood 1-0 in two standalone games prior to heading to Fullerton, Calif. for the Judi Garman Classic.  In Fullerton, the Sun Devils were flawless with a 5-0 performance, including a 2-0 shutout over Michigan and a 1-0 (8 innings) pitching duel against then-No. 14 Nebraska.

Rounding out the Top 10: Washington (19-4) holds tight at No. 6 despite a 3-2 performance at the Judi Garman Classic; No. 7 Michigan (16-6) fell three positions following a 3-4 week, including losses to UCLA (4-1, 8 innings), Arizona State (2-0), Washington (7-1) and Houston (5-2); Arizona (23-3) remains No. 8 after posting a 5-2 record on the week; Alabama (20-4, 3-0 SEC) rejoined the Top 10 this week at No. 9 after sweeping South Carolina at home; Florida State (20-3, 2-1 ACC) fell one spot to No. 10 after a 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opener against Virginia.

New to the poll this week is Auburn (19-4-1, 2-1 SEC), who opened up SEC play at home against then-No. 23 LSU.  Auburn lost their first matchup against LSU 4-1, but rebounded with 6-4 and 7-0 wins to collect the series win.

Dropping out of the poll is last week’s No. 25 USC Upstate (22-2, 3-0 A-Sun), who suffered their first two losses of the season against North Carolina State before picking up a win over North Carolina and two run-rule victories over South Carolina State.

The ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll is voted on by coaching representatives from 10 Division I Conferences in the 15 ASA/USA Softball Regions as well as members of National and Local media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country.

ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25

2014 Season – Week 5 – March 11, 2014

Rank	Team	Record	Points	Previous Ranking
1.	Florida (14)	24-1	492	1
2.	Tennessee (2)	21-2	466	2
3.	UCLA (4)	23-1	465	3
4.	Oregon	18-2	433	5
5.	Arizona State	26-3	417	7
6.	Washington	19-4	386	6
7.	Michigan	16-6	376	4
8.	Arizona	23-3	364	8
9.	Alabama	20-4	325	11
10.	Florida State	20-3	322	9
11.	Kentucky	18-3	321	10
12.	Baylor	17-4	281	12
13.	Oklahoma	17-6	240	13
14.	Nebraska	15-8	226	14
15.	Texas A&M	19-5	215	16
16.	South Alabama	19-3	197	15
17.	Georgia	21-2	183	19
18.	Missouri	13-5	145	18
19.	Stanford	22-6	142	17
20.	Tulsa	18-3	118	21
21.	Minnesota	17-3	111	20
22.	Notre Dame	17-4	74	22
23.	Auburn	19-4-1	58	RV
24.	Louisiana – Lafayette	15-5-1	54	24
25.	LSU	17-8	27	23

 

Parenthesis denotes first place votes.

Dropped Out: USC Upstate (25)
New to Poll: Auburn (RV)

Others receiving votes: USC Upstate (17), South Florida (12), Northwestern (11), Arkansas (8), Mississippi State (4), DePaul (4), San Diego State (3), Louisville (2), North Carolina (1)

 

*** Florida Begins Fourth Straight Week on Top of the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll

Despite suffering its first defeat of the season in a 2-0 loss to Ole Miss, a 3-1 weekly effort, including an eventual Southeastern Conference series win over the Rebels, proved enough to keep Florida (24-1) at the top of the USA Today/NFCA Division I softball rankings for the fourth consecutive week.

The Gators picked up 27 of 32 possible first-place votes from the top 25 voting committee following a week that included a 7-3 win over Boston College and a two-games-to-one series triumph in Gainesville, Fla., over Ole Miss (L 0-2, W 10-3, W 2-0).

No. 2 Oregon (18-2) held steady and even added a pair of first-place nods this week despite not seeing any action over March 3-9.

A high-profile home series split versus then-No. 5 Michigan (W 4-1 in 8 inn., L 4-9) and an unbeaten, six-game run through the UCLA/CSUN Invitational improved No. 3 UCLA to its highest ranking of the season. The loss against the Wolverines marked the first of the 2014 campaign for the 23-1 Bruins.

Tennessee (21-2) dropped one position to No. 4 after going 5-1 in the friendly confines of Lee Softball Stadium in Knoxville., Tenn., but suffering a 3-2 upset loss to Western Kentucky. A 3-2 record, including victories over then-No. 5 Michigan, Wisconsin and Texas and one-run losses to then-No. 16 Nebraska and Fresno State at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., allowed Washington (19-4) to rise a spot to round out this week’s top five.

Arizona (23-3) rose a single slot to No. 6 on the strength of its 5-2 effort (3-2 at the Judi Garman). Arizona State (26-3) rebounded from a tough prior week to sweep through seven contests, including five at the Judi Garman Classic, and leap from No. 10 to No. 7. Michigan (16-6) split a pair of games at then-No. 4 UCLA and posted a 2-3 record at the Judi Garman, with losses to then-No. 10 Arizona State, then-No. 6 Washington and Houston, to lose ground from fifth into the eighth spot. A series victory over Mississippi State wasn’t quite enough to keep Kentucky (18-3) from dropping from eighth to ninth, while Alabama (20-4) utilized its three-game sweep of South Carolina to re-join the top 10.

Losses by former No. 24 LSU (17-8) and No. 25 USC Upstate (22-2) helped exclude the duo from the March 11th edition of the rankings, opening the door for the entrances of Auburn (19-4-1) and Northwestern (15-5) at 24th and 25th, respectively.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Current 2014 records are shown, first-place votes are in parentheses.

USA Today/NFCA Division I Softball Poll – Week 5 – March 11, 2014

Rank	Team	2014 Record	Totals	Last Poll Rank
1	Florida (27)	24-1	794	1
2	Oregon (2)	18-2	755	2
3	UCLA (3)	23-1	734	4
4	Tennessee	21-2	719	3
5	Washington	19-4	614	6
6	Arizona	23-3	605	7
7	Arizona State	26-3	597	10
8	Michigan	16-6	582	5
9	Kentucky	18-3	548	8
10	Alabama	20-4	504	11
11	Florida State	20-3	499	9
12	Baylor	17-4	459	12
13	Texas A&M	19-5	411	13
14	South Alabama	19-3	383	14
15	Georgia	21-2	313	18
16	Missouri	13-5	297	15
17	Nebraska	15-8	277	16
18	Minnesota	17-3	266	17
19	Oklahoma	17-6	252	19
20	Tulsa	18-3	206	20
21	Stanford	22-6	159	22
22	Notre Dame	17-4	137	21
23	Louisiana Lafayette	15-5-1	115	23
24	Auburn	19-4-1	68	RV
25	Northwestern	15-5	31	RV

Dropped Out:  No. 24 LSU (17-8), No. 25 USC Upstate (22-2)

Others Receiving Votes:  LSU (25), DePaul (11), Mississippi State (11), USC Upstate (10), Hofstra (4), Arkansas (3), USF (3), Louisville (2), N.C. State (2), San Diego State (2), Fresno State (1), James Madison (1).

 

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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.