We have some fun stuff today:  we profile a high school team that will make the top 10 of the FAB 50 preseason high school team rankings which will be released Friday later in the day.  We also profile not one, but two, SEC-bound Californians and report on the 24 top players who will tryout for the 17 sports on the US Women’s Team.  Also, we go to the archives to look back on two 2008 High School All-Americans who made this two dozen list…

 

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FAB 50 TEAM PROFILE: PACIFICA HIGH (GARDEN GROVE, CALIF.)

If you know high school softball, you’re aware of the Mariners from Pacifica High.

The Orange County school has been a softball power for years now and is usually in the discussion of top national teams.  Pacifica won titles in the CIF Southern Section (the biggest and, usually, the most competitive section in California) in 1997, ’98, ’99, 2003, ’04 and ’07.

Not surprisingly, it’s put out it’s share of elite players including Gold Medal winning Olympian and UCLA title champion Amanda Freed as well as Toni Mascarenas, Jodie Legaspi, Jamie Waldecker, Brittany Weil, Kristen Arriola, Monica and Andrea Harrison and many more.

Since Mark Campbell became the head varsity coach in 2009 and the program moved up to Division I, Pacifica has won five straight Empire League titles too.

Campbell is a retired police officer who’s also a successful club coach—his Team Mizuno-Campbell team won the 14U PGF Nationals last summer.  He didn’t miss a beat when he took over six years ago, earning OC Varsity Coach of the Year honors in his first season and since then has has compiled a 188-26 mark.

The Mariners have advanced deep in the playoffs but, in the Golden State’s tough “one loss and you’re out” format, has hit speed bumps on the way to the title game recently.  The past two years Pacifica has been knocked out in one-run games to other perennial powers like Norco and Corona Santiago on the road.

The team will have to replace some key departed players including shortstop Ruby Rivera (Illinois) who was great defensively, slugging first baseman Rebecca Lee, who earned 1st team All-State honors and starting catcher Sydney Hart, who is now playing at Utah State.

Still, if everything falls into place, the SoCal program has the talent this year to not just make it to the title game but to be in a position to take national honors.

“We have quality pitch and depth including freshman in Hannah Boos who is very good,” Coach Campbell believes.  We have great senior leadership with Nichole Dewitt and Kaylee Carlson, but will still be a young team.  Our defense should be great, but a key will be to see how the hitters do in big games.  We’re deep too and I love our senior leadership, it’s probably the best it’s been since I’ve been her.”

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Here are the returners to the Mariner’s squad in grad year order, starting with the three senior team captains Kaylee Carlson, Nicole DeWitt and Brooke Marquez… comments are from Coach Campbell:

— P Kaylee Carlson (2014, North Carolina)
Kaylee is a four-year varsity starter with a career record of 55-6, a 0.78 ERA, 35 shutouts and 359 K’s which is career record at Pacifica. A two-time All American  and three-time All-State pick, she threw a perfect game against Placentia last season which included 17 strikeouts in a row.  She will see plenty of starts this season, but is now joined in the circle by previously injured starter, Kaley Winegarner and freshman reliever, Hannah Boos who will all share time in the circle.
Coach Campbell: “Kaylee’s been consistent for four years, from the time to freshman to now.  Goes out and does her thing, know what you’re going to get.

— IF Nicole DeWitt (2014, Florida)
Nicole has hit .457 with 88 runs scored and 57 RBI during her Mariners’ career with 41 extra base hits including 16 home runs.  She’s a four year starter and was a 2012 Sophomore All-American and a 2013 Preseason All-American.  She is a two-time All-State honoree and was the Orange County Junior Player of the Year last season. One of her career highlights at Pacifica is batting over .800 in the CIF playoffs last year. Nicole has seen the majority of time at third base, but will be the starting shortstop this season.
Coach Campbell: “Nicole is probably the best player I’ve had since I’ve been here.  She can be dominant, she can put the team on her back offensively.”

— IF Brooke Marquez (2014, Northwestern)
Brooke transferred from Lakewood High School after her freshman year where she was a 1^st Team All-League player. She is one of the best defensive players in the state and hit the home run that was to be the deciding run at the PGF National Championships in 2013 on the So Cal Athletics team and was a member of the Team Mizuno-Stith PGF National Championship team in 2012. Brooke was an All-Empire League 2nd team honoree for 2013.
Coach Campbell: “She’s a warrior, an absolute warrior.  She’s run through a brick wall, wouldn’t ask.”

— IF/OF Rochelle Draper (2014, George Washington)
Rochelle has been on varsity since 2012 and is now a three-year varsity player.  The ultimate utility player with the ability to play both infield and outfield, she can even pitch if called upon.
Coach Campbell: “Rochelle is a great role player and she’s done a good job.  She’s great at keeping the team up and her personality is infectious.

— C Sarah Jackson (2014, Eastern Kentucky)
Sarah moved to the varsity team as a sophomore where she became a critical part of the team.  Now a senior, look for her to share time behind the dish or at the plate as a DH.  Sarah batted .318 last season.
Coach Campbell: “Sarah has all the talent in the world and when it clicks in she can be special.”

— IF/OF Selena Tajalle (2014, Cal State Northridge)
Selena is a three-year varsity player who after spending most of her sophomore year on the DL, contributed mainly as a pinch runner and DH in 2013.
Coach Campbell: “Selena is another kid with a lot of talent and has improved a lot since last year.

— OF Faith Canfield (2015, Michigan)
Faith is a three-year varsity player with a career average of .327. A 2nd Team All-Empire League pick in 2013. Faith will be the starting center fielder this year and backup short stop.  She notably hit a two-run home run in the PGF Championship game in 2013 for the So Cal Athletics and has two additional National Championships under her belt on the OC Batbusters in 2010 and 2011.
Coach Campbell: “Faith is the perfect kid you want playing for you.  She was our starting centerfielder, we were going to move to short but ended up not doing it, but she’ll do whatever you ask of her.  You want 15 Faiths o your team.”

— UT Dominique Espinoza (2015, uncommitted)
Dom is a two-year varsity player who contributes mainly as a DH or pinch runner.  She can play infield or outfield, is a smart base-runner and contact hitter who can bunt and hit for power.
Coach Campbell: “Dom will be fighting for the starting lineup and has improved a ton since last year.”

— P Kaley Winegarner (2015, Stanford)
Kaley earned Freshman All American honors and was an All State Underclass selection as well as a 1st Team All Orange County honoree.  As a freshman she went 13-0 with a 0.44 ERA but missed most of last season after she tore her ACL at the Carew Classic Tournament and was sidelined until just recently. Kaley has a career record of 17-5 with a 0.93 ERA, 10 shutouts and 185 K’s at Pacifica.  A member of the 2012 National Champions and 2013 runners-up Team Mizuno Stith team, she also won Nationals in 2011 on the OC Batbusters. Look for Kaley to make a strong comeback this year as she will share starts with Carlson.
Coach Campbell: “Kaley has the potential to be something special if she comes back healthy.  Great head on her shoulders and great talent she can be dominant.”

— OF Nicole Wise (2015, uncommitted)
Nicole can be counted on to catch the ball on the run, has a strong arm and also can come up with the big hit when called upon.  A two-year varsity player, Nicole batted .273 last year and earned All Empire League 2nd team honors.
Coach Campbell: “Nicole will be fighting for a starting outfield spot, fast and a good stick.”

— 1B Jaymee Campbell (2016, uncommitted)
Jaymee backed-up All State first baseman Rebecca Lee as a freshman and this season will be slotted as a starter. The daughter of Coach Campbell, she’s been on his teams since 10U and was a member of several of his National Championship squads including the 2013 Team Mizuno 14U champions last year.  Jaymee batted .294 as a freshman and is a solid, contact hitter.  She also currently plays for the OC Batbusters where her father is an assistant coach.
Coach Campbell: “Jaymee will be our starting first baseman, she’s a good defensive player and has a solid bat.”

— C/OF Dejah Mulipola (2016, Arizona)
A two year varsity starter, Dejah made her freshman debut as the starting right fielder and back-up catcher to 1st team All-League senior, Sydney Hart, last season.  Look for her to have a breakout year at the plate and on defense.
Coach Campbell: “Dejah will be our starting catcher, she has a good bat and is great behind the plate.”

— 3B Lynzie Pacheco (2016, Hawaii)
Another two-year varsity player, Lynzie was plagued the majority of her freshman season with injuries, but was able to contribute as a pinch runner with 11 runs scored. Now healthy, she will start for the Mariners at third and is another member from the 2013 14U National Champions Team Mizuno-Campbell program and currently plays for the OC Batbusters – Smith 16U team.
Coach Campbell: “Lynzie has a big stick and good hands at third, that allows us to move Nichole to shortstop because of her.”

 

The Newcomers:

— OF Brooke Durand (2015, uncommitted)
Look for Brooke to contribute as a DH this season as she is a solid, contact hitter who can also hit for power.
Coach Campbell: “Brooke has improved a lot too and will be in the mix a lot, she’s right there.”

— IF/OF Irieanna Naea (2016, Cal State Fullerton)
Irieanna brings a strong, reliable bat to the line up.  She was on the PGF 14U Nationals second place team, OC Babusters McNee, in 2013.
Coach Campbell: “Irieanna will be the starting right-fielder and is very versatile defensively.”

— UT Allison Seng (2017, uncommitted)
Look for Allison, only a freshman, to pinch run as she competes for a starting outfield position.  She is a lefty hitter who is quick and can slap and hit for power.  She was also on the OC Batbusters McNee team that was a runner-up to Campbell’s Team Mizuno PGF 14U champions.
Coach Campbell: “Allison is a slapper and has been hurt but getting healthy now and is fast and will be running some bases.  She’s a talented kid.”

— P Hannah Boos (2017, uncommitted)
Hannah will see time both on the varsity and JV squads and will add depth to the circle as Winegarner continues to gain strength.  Look for Boos in the role this season of a strong, reliable reliever who will be one to watch as she develops into a starter for 2015 and beyond.
Coach Campbell: “She’s going to be good, Hannah did a very good job in the fall, good pop on the ball and hits her spots well.”

 

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RECRUIT SPOTLIGHT OF THE DAY: MACKENZIE BOESEL

High school: Orange Lutheran
City: Orange
State: 
Calif.
Grad year: 2016
Club: So Cal Athletics-Richardson
Position(s): shortstop/second base
Height: 5-5

Stats & Honors:

high school, 2013 (freshman year): hit .427 with 26 runs and 21 RBI. Started all 32 games at shortstop. Named Team Offensive MVP, 1st Team All-Trinity League,  Orange County Freshman of the Year and the only Freshman to be named All-County (3rd Team).

club, 2013 (with OC Batbusters): .464, OBP .513, 25 runs. Led the team in slugging percentage at .768, OPS 1.281 and RBI, doubles, triples and home runs.

College: South Carolina
Others considered: visited Florida and Stanford
Why South Carolina: “I loved the coaches and the athletic facilities are amazing. The fan support you get as an athlete at South Carolina is just unbelievable. The chance to play at the highest level in a conference like the SEC is something that I have always wanted to do. Everything just seemed to fit what I was looking for.”

What is your favorite bat: Easton Mako because it seems to have a lot of pop to it
What bat does your team use? I use an Easton and so does my team
What is your favorite brand of cleats? 
Ringor
What is the uniform brand you prefer? Gluv

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Kellie White, a 2016 pitcher with the Batbusters-Fox team, has committed to Ole Miss.

Says Head Coach Mike Fox on the Batbuster website, “Kellie has been a leader on this team since she joined us. She’s shown great maturity, poise and talent and has enjoyed great success pitching for the Batbusters. Kellie has shown her dominance when facing Premier caliber teams as she elevates her game to compete at any level.”

“Kellie garnered interest from several schools this Fall season and she’s chosen to play in the SEC and join the Rebels of “Ole Miss”. She will bringing her work ethic and “Bulldog” mentality to Mississippi and will undoubtedly help them in the near future. Congratulations Kellie!

 

*** More verbals:

— C Taylor Belfiore (2016, College of Charleston)… plays for Carolina Fire
— OF Gabbie Bennett (2014, Buffalo)… plays for Virginia Legends
— P Maddie Morris (2015, Georgetown)… plays for Virginia Legends
— C/OF Cassie Parr (2016, Florida Gulf Coast)… plays for Windermere Wildfire-Pollock
— C/IF Savannah Warren (2014, St. John’s)… plays for Virginia Legends

 

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ASA/USA SOFTBALL NEWS: 24 INVITED to WOMEN’S NATIONAL TRYOUTS

The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced today the invitees for the 2014 USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Camp to be held June 9-12.

Athletes will vie for 17 spots on the 2014 USA Softball Women’s World Championship team roster that will compete for the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championship in Haarlem, Netherlands this August.

In addition, Team USA will compete in the ninth World Cup of Softball which moves west to Irvine, Calif. in July, 2014.

Click here to see the 24 athletes who have received an invitation to tryout for the Women’s National Team.

During the five-day selection process athletes will participate in position drills as well as simulated games and be evaluated by the Women’s National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC).

Following camp, athletes will depart on a three-city tour of exhibition games in which they will be further evaluated.

Additional athletes may be invited to USA Softball Women’s National Team selection camp at a later date.

Once selected, the 17 athletes who make up the 2014 USA Softball Women’s World Championship team will compete in six different events throughout United States, Canada, Italy and the Netherlands.

Fans in the United States will get three opportunities to see Team USA with two exhibition stops, Morgantown, W.V on July 3 and Waldorf, Md. on July 29, as well as the World Cup of Softball IX in Irvine, Calif. July 7-12.

With renovations underway at the ASA Hall of Fame stadium, the 2014 World Cup of Softball will move to Irvine, Calif. and be played at Bill Barber Park in conjunction with the Champions Cup July 7-12.

The World Cup, an ISF sanctioned event, will include some of the top teams in the world including Team USA, Japan, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Chinese Taipei and Venezuela.

“We couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to take this great event to the west coast,” said ASA/USA Softball Executive Director Craig Cress. “Now in its ninth year of existence, the World Cup of Softball has become a prominent event annually in the world of international softball.”

“While the renovations to the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium prevent us from hosting this event in Oklahoma City for a ninth time, our affiliates with Southern California ASA have stepped up to bring the event to Irvine. We have no doubt that they, along with the city of Irvine, will do a tremendous job hosting this wonderful tournament and all of the athletes, coaches and fans who attend.”

 

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FROM THE ARCHIVES:  TWO 2008 ALL-AMERICANS MAKE USA SOFTBALL TRYOUTS

Back in 2008, Student Sports worked with EA SPORTS to compile the EA SPORTS ALL-AMERICAN TEAM

We’ll run the complete list at another time, but on this “Throwback Thursday” we thought it be noteworthy to point out that two of the members of that team made the USA Softball tryouts detailed above.

Their bios from the 2008 release are noted here, but first you’ll find it interesting that a junior on that team from San Jose, Calif. made 2^nd Team All-American as a “Multi-Purpose” honoree.

Her name… Keilani Ricketts.  Wonder how her career turned out…

 

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Catcher – Amanda Chidester (Cabrini, Allen Park, Mich.) Sr.
University of Michigan recruit was a first team All-American last season and repeats that honor. Her team finished as the Division 3 state runnerup, after winning two straight Division 4 state titles, with a 37-3-1 record. Chidester batted .440 with eight home runs and 34 RBI but was walked 47 times and had .991 fielding average. Foes pitched around her after she hit .730 with 16 homers and national record 90 RBI as junior.

 

Pitcher – Jolene Henderson (Sheldon, Sacramento, Calif.) Jr.
The state junior player of the year in California led Sheldon to a second straight CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Div. I title and No. 4 spot in the final Rivals.com FAB 50 national rankings. Henderson, a two-time player of the year by the Sacramento Bee and already committed to Cal, went 30-1 with a 0.41 ERA and struck out 326 batters. She also batted for a .400 average and had five homers with 31 RBI.

 

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EVENTS CALENDAR COMING SOON (LAST CHANCE!)

Don’t forget to send any event info, even if you’re a player or parent and know where you’ll be playing this summer… want to make sure we cover where you’ll be!

If you’d like to submit info to be included, please email me (brentt@studentsports) the following:

• Official Event Name
• Date(s)
• Location
• Who’s it for/age group
• Website link
• Brief Description

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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.