We’re all over the map today as we start with a young, talented team from Alabama that is loaded with SEC and Big 12 talent.  We then look at top high school teams in Texas, several of which will make the FAB 50 preseason rankings.  We have recruiting news and notes and also college Players of the Week…

 

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CLUB PROFILE: BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS 99

The Birmingham Thunderbolts organization has nine teams and is growing by leaps and bounds and bringing in talent from all over the country.

And, in the case of the Bolts 99 team, from all over the world as one player on the team hails from the Perian Gulf!

The Bolts 99 team is a 14U program that finished in a tie for 25th at last summer’s PGF Nationals (the Bolts 98 team, incidentally, tied for 13^th).

Made up of all 2017s except for a pair of 2018s, the Bolts 99 squad has 15 players on the roster with five already committed to SEC schools and another to Texas.  At least eight more are expected to commit by the end of this year.

“We currently have nine kids from all corners of Alabama,” explains head coach Jay Roberson, “with one from Florida, one from Kentucky, one from West Virginia and we even have a kid that travels from Dubai to play with us during her summers.”

You know you’re doing something right when you have athletes who want to play with you coming from the Middle East!

The Bolts 99 team started in 2007 “with the goal of teaching our kids the fundamentals of softball, how the game should be played, and to enjoy the game,” Roberson continues.

“Around 2009 we really wanted to take it a step further and expose our kids to the best teams nationwide.  Since then we have traveled literally from coast to coast playing against the best teams and best organizations nationally.  In 2012 we really turned our focus to helping our kids realize their dream of playing college softball.”

Considered by many coaches as one of elite programs in its age group, the 99 team finished Top 10 at PGF Nationals in 2012, Top 25 last year and won key events like the Scenic City Showcase, where it was the first 14U to ever win it.

Additionally, at a talent loaded Sun Classic in Orlando last November, Coach Roberson’s team went 7-0.  However, the coach thinks what makes his team special isn’t the talent or the ability to win at high levels.  He thinks it’s the off-the-field character that makes it a fun group to be around.

“What makes this group special is the fact that these girls are great kids from great families,” he states. “ They are great students and great citizens in their communities. We are just one big family.  Travel ball is known for its drama and we never have any.  We’re blessed to have good kids and good families.”

The team may mesh off the field, but you can’t argue with the success between the lines either.

“We have always been one of the better hitting teams in the country,” Roberson says proudly.  “ We now have the luxury of having three quality DI level pitchers, too.  Our team is a tough bunch, they will fight you until the very last out.”

The team is very clear in its goals: get all the players college scholarships and win PGF Nationals.

“Which we plan to do this summer,” the coach adds.

Still, he admits that however things go, the journey is going to be fun.

“It’s all about the kids with us,” he concludes.  “There’s no daddies living through their daughters and no egos with the parents or coaches.  It’s really all about the kids.”

***

Here’s a player-by-player look at the Birmingham Thunderbolts 99 team with comments by Head Coach Jay Roberson:

— MIF Mary Katherine Tedder (2017, Texas)
“Mary Katherine is a five-tool player.  She was recruited for both her glove and bat.  Also is very successful in track.”

— P Alex Wilcox (2017, Mississippi State)
“Alex is widely regarded as one of the top three 2017 pitchers in the country.  She had a very good fall on the exposure scene drawing offers from over a dozen DI programs.  Alex is also a very good basketball player. ”

— OF Jenna Olszewsi 2017, Auburn)
“Jenna is another five tool player.  She has a great glove and a great bat and could play multiple positions for our team but primarily plays centerfield for us. ”

— IF Mackenzie Nutt (2017, Auburn)
“Mackenzie is widely regarded as one of the top 2017 hitters in the country.  Mac hits for average and power. ”

— 2B Josie Page (2017, Florida)
“Josie is the hardest working kid in the country.  She also has one of the most fundamentally sound swings I have ever seen.  Josie made 1st team All State in 2013 as an eighth grader. ”

— IF O’Neil Roberson 2017, Mississippi State)
“I have to admit that O’Neil is my favorite player on our team!  Of course, she is my daughter but is still a really good hitter and an improving defensive player. ”

— UT Timberlyn Shurbutt (2017, uncommitted)
“Timerlyn is just one of those freak athletes that every college is looking for.  She has the rare combination of size and athleticism and is being recruited by several major programs.  Timberlyn is also one of the top ninth grade basketball players in the state.”

— P Konner Wilks (2017, uncommitted)
“Konner is a very good pitcher and spins the ball as good or better than any kid her age in the country.  Konner is also a college prospect in volleyball and is just a very good all-around athlete. ”

— C Abby Tissier (2017, uncommitted)
“Abby is a very good catcher and is being recruited by several colleges.  She is our entertainer, she’s a very gifted singer. ”

— UT Kaylee Raines (2017, uncommitted)
“When describing Kaylee the one word that always comes to mind is ‘ballplayer.’ Kaylee is that kid who will run through a fence or dive on concrete to make a play.  She plays outfield for us, but could very well play middle infield or pitch as well. ”

— OF Mekhi Mayfield (2017, uncommitted)
“Mekhi is an Olympic-type athlete.  She is our fastest kid and is going to make some college a great leadoff hitter.  Mekhi runs a swift 2.5 home-to-first and is also being recruited in basketball. ”

— SS Dakota Morrow (2017, uncommitted)
“Dakota is a big strong SS with a cannon arm.  Dakota will have plenty of offers by end of this summer. ”

— P Montana Fouts (2018, uncommitted)
“Montana is the No. 1 2018 pitching prospect in the entire country.  She is a 6-foot-1 flamethrower whoe already has an offer from nearly every top program in the country as an eth Grader. ”

— C Elizabeth Lindsey (2018, uncommitted)
“Elizabeth is one of the top 2018 catching prospects in the country.  Even as an 8th Grader she has gotten lots of attention from DI schools.”

 

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FAB 50 HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW: TEXAS TEAMS

The Houston Chronicle released its preseason All-Greater Houston teams and players’ list… the highest classes and 1^st Team is listed below.

 

PRESEASON TOP 10



 

CLASS 5A

1. Deer Park
2. The Woodlands
3. Cinco Ranch
4. Pearland
5. Atascocita
6. Brazoswood
7. Kingwood
8. Spring
9. Clements
10. Alvin

CLASS 4A

1. Barbers Hill
2. Ridge Point
3. Tomball
4. Magnolia West
5. East Bernard
6. Foster
7. Montgomery
8. Dawson
9. Fort Bend Christian
10. Sante Fe

 

FIRST TEAM

• 

  P Samantha Show Jr. East Bernard

• P Kayla Ober Sr. Cinco Ranch
• P Kristen Clark Sr. Foster
• P Abby Langkamp Jr. The Woodlands
• P Payton McBride So. Deer Park
• C Sydney McKay Jr. Pearland
• C Miranda Grotenhuis Sr. Atascocita
• IF Cortni Emanuel Sr. Ridge Point
• IF Christina Bardwell Jr. Huffman
• IF Tori Vidales Sr. La Porte
• IF Erin Houthoofd Sr. Barbers Hill
• IF Kristen Cuyos Sr. Pearland
• OF Hannah Dowdell Sr. Klein Collins
• OF Jasmin Vasquez Sr. Bellaire
• OF De’Zha Scott Sr. Spring
• OF Arianna Zernial Jr. Kingwood

Note: I spoke to a very reputable Texas club and high school coach last week and he had the Houston order this way:

1. Kingwood
2. Deer Park
3. Brazoswood
4. The Woodlands
5. Pearland
6. Atascocita

In Dallas, he listed the order this way:

1. Lewisville
2. Hays
3. Aledo

 

 

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: NORCAL TEAMS

Got a nice letter from Coach Joe Gron from San Jose (Calif.) Leland High making sure we didn’t forget the NorCal teams when compiling the FAB 50… I wrote back assured him we were well aware of the talent north of Los Angeles!

***

Hi Brentt,

Let’s not forget about the great NorCal teams.  Amador Valley, Cal , Archbishop Mitty, Carlmont, San Benito, And Leland! All these teams have a chance to do great things this year once again.

Now, being the coach of Leland High, we went 26-3 last year, losing to Mitty, and San Benito in the section finals.  We return seven seniors, including four going on scholarship to the next level.

Holly Geranen (Colgate) is the returning MVP of our league, Kelsey Borello (San Diego) is the returning Junior of the Year, Lexi Belligan (Colorado of Colorado Springs) is a returning 1st Team All League player and Ally Kido (Amherst) is also a  returning 1st Team All League pick.

Both Geranen, and Borello were 1st team All County also.  We also return three more All League players to the lineup.  We only lost two off last year’s team, and everyone returning was awarded an All League award.

Thank you for the consideration of all these Norcal teams!

Joe Gron
Leland Softball

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Stephanie Snyder, a 2015 outfielder/catcher with the Atlanta Vipers-Kates team, has committed to Troy.

According to her father, Ken, “The recruiting process with Troy was a great experience.”

“They (the coaches) saw Stephanie play in Orlando at the Sun Classic Showcase in November and mentioned they had their eyes on her for awhile! We visited the campus a few weeks later and were very impressed with the coaches, players and campus.”

“This was the first visit Stef had been on that she was truly excited about both a school and a softball program.  The offer came during that visit.   She attended camp in December and it solidified her decision.”

“Stef verbally committed by calling Head Coach (Melanie) Davis on January 16, with my wife and I listening to the conversation on speaker phone.  We were all very excited!”

 

*** A trio of senior players from Bownet’s program committed in January… here’s a closer look at each athlete:

— P/UT Miranda Magana (2014,  Quinnipiac)
Miranda plays for Santa Paula High School and was the Frontier League MVP last year. She was a first-team All-County selection by the Ventura Country Star, and she’s been a first-team All-CIF Division 6 selection two years in a row. She batted over .500 and had a sub-2.00 ERA while leading Santa Paula to the semifinals of CIF Southern Section Division 6. Miranda was originally committed to Colgate.

— 1B/3B Phoebe Dabbour (2014, University of Montevallo)
Montevallo will be starting its program in the fall, and Dabbour will be part of their inaugural team. Dabbour is a right-handed power hitter who bats in the middle of Bownet’s lineup. She posted a .438 batting average, .700 slugging percentage, 5 home runs, and 30 RBIs last spring for Royal High School in Simi Valley. Phoebe went 4-for-11 (.363) with a double, HR and 4 RBIs at PGF last summer.

— OF Jasmin Joseph (2014, MIT)
A left-handed hitter, Joseph has posted a .440 batting average with 26 stolen bases the past two seasons for El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills. She hit .476 as a sophomore for the 2012 LA city champions.

 

*** Lindsay Hodge, a 2014 pitcher for Apex High School (N.C.) and the North Carolina Challengers 18U team, has committed to Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C.

 

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COLLEGE NEWS: PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

*** Kylee Lahners Named USA Softball Collegiate Player Of The Week

After a torrid start to the 2014 season, including hitting a three-run home run in each of the Huskies first three games, junior Kylee Lahners was named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week, the organization announced Tuesday.

Lahners hit. 400 with three home runs and 13 RBI over five games at the UNLV SportCo Kick-Off Classic last weekend, as the third-ranked Huskies went 5-0.

“Kylee had a great weekend for us,” head coach Heather Tarr said. “She came up with some big hits in key moments. She has worked really hard this year, and we are excited to see her continue to make a huge impact. Around the country, there were a lot of great performances by other athletes. When your team performs well, it gives your players a chance to be recognized by USA Softball. We are grateful to be honored for our performance last weekend.”

Lahners opened the season on Friday by going 2-for-5, with one run scored, one home run and 4 RBI in a 7-4 win over No. 18 Baylor. Lahners, a native of Laguna Hills, Calif., hit her second three-run home run in as many games later that day in a 3-0 win against the University of San Diego. On Saturday, Lahners connected for her third three-run home run of the young season, as the Huskies defeated Arkansas, 6-1. Lahners added two RBI in a 16-2 victory over UC Davis on Sunday.

“It is definitely an honor to be recognized by USA Softball,” Lahners said. “It’s nice to have the weekend I did, but I was just out there playing the sport I love with my teammates, and things took care of themselves. The hard work and the focus I put in during the fall and practices and extra work paid off. I was just excited to start the season, and it’s great to start 5-0 with my teammates.”

Lahners leads the Pac-12 in RBI with 13, is tied for first in home runs with three, and is fourth in slugging percentage with a mark of 1.067.

 

*** Kentucky’s Joiner Nabs First Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player of the Week Honor of 2014


Junior catcher Griffin Joiner of the University of Kentucky has been selected as the initial Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player of the Week of the 2014 season for games played over February 7-9.

Joiner helped the Wildcats to the first 5-0 start in program history, as well as to the highest-profile victory of opening weekend as UK defeated defending national champion and then-No. 2 Oklahoma out at the Mizuno Invitational in Long Beach, Calif., 5-4 (10 inn.), by hitting an impressive .667 (10-for-15) at the plate with two doubles, three HR’s and nine RBIs. The Hopkinsville, Ky., native hit safely in all five match-ups and recorded an extra-base hit in three of those contests. The reigning Southeastern Conference Player of the Week tied the school record for HR’s in a single game by blasting two, to go along with three RBIs, during a 6-0 win over Santa Clara and equaled her personal best for hits in a single game via a 4-for-4 effort with a double, a grand slam and five RBIs in a 7-1 triumph over Loyola Marymount.

Next up the Wildcats face another challenging trip by visiting Austin, Texas, for the Texas Classic over Feb. 14-16. During their stay in the “Lone Star State,” UK will battle Louisiana Tech, IPFW and the host No. 15 Texas.

Selected Top Performances


Washington’s Kylee Lahners hit .400 (6-for-15) with a double, three HR’s (three three-run blasts) and 13 RBIs while slugging 1.067 for the Huskies at the UNLV/Sportco Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas, Nev….Arizona State’s Cheyenne Coyle batted .562 (9-for-16) with three doubles, three HR’s and 11 RBIs at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz….Nicole Morgan of Texas A&M blasted two grand slams in a single game against Bakersfield as part of a .471 (8-for-17) weekend with three HR’s and 14 RBIs at the Gaucho Classic in Santa Barbara, Calif.…Freshman Kylie Padilla of Oregon State hit for the first cycle in Beaver history as part of a .476 (10-for-21) effort with three doubles, two triples, a HR and 10 RBIs at the Kajikawa Classic…Cal State Fullerton’s Missy Taukeiaho batted .615 (8-for-13) with two HR’s, including a two-run shot in a 3-1 upset of No. 2 Oklahoma, and 10 RBIs at the Easton Tournament in Fullerton, Calif….Florida’s Lauren Haeger earned SEC Pitcher of the Week accolades after going 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA while also tossing her first career no-hitter during a 5-1 triumph over Wisconsin at the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, Fla.…San Jose State’s Allison Lang posted a 4-0 pitching record with a 0.84 ERA and 11K’s while also earning a save at the Kajikawa Classic to reap Mountain West Pitcher of the Week accolades…Florida State’s Maddie O’Brien batted .500 (8-for-16) with six runs scored, four HR’s and 12 RBIs at the Hotel Encanto Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M., to earn Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week…USC Upstate’s Hannah Alexander earned Atlantic Sun Co-Pitcher of the Week honors after posting a 3-0 record to go along with a 0.00 ERA, 16 K’s and a perfect game in a win over Virginia…Stephanie Texeira of FIU hit .714 (10-for-14) with four doubles and five RBIs in her collegiate debut…Savannah Jo Dorsey of Ohio U. was 3-0, including a win over South Carolina that marked the Bobcats’ first W over an SEC team since 1998, with a save while striking out 28 over 19 innings of work at the Carolina Classic…Elon’s Emily Cameron batted .545 (6-for-11) with four HR’s and 10 RBIs at the Charleston Southern Tournament…Alabama’s Haylie McCleney hit .571 (8-for-14) with two doubles, a triple, a HR, eight runs scored, five stolen bases and eight RBIs at the Troy Subway Invitational…Arizona’s Kellie Fox batted .556 (5-for-9) with a three-bagger, a HR and 10 RBIs in a three-game sweep of Southern Miss.

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EVENTS CALENDAR COMING SOON

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.