Today we go to the Southwest to profile a multi-sport athlete who will be headed to a university where her brother plays baseball.  We also look at a top sophomore from California who’s Big Ten bound. We have a half dozen more verbals but start off with a serious questions from a parent and open it up to our audience to come up with some ideas…

 

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TOPICAL ISSUE: WHAT IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD TRAVEL BALL?

A parent wrote in with a very good question/request and we want to open it up to our readers—be you a coach, parent, player or fan—to get your feedback.

Here’s the letter:

I would like to see ideas on how a student-athlete from a low income family can get noticed by college coaches. I read articles about kids getting recruited, but a lot of families can’t afford to travel from state to state to play in these exposure tournaments. From what I gather, the price that most families pay is half my salary. My daughter is a sophomore in high school and is getting letter after letter from admission offices for her academics, but she also loves softball and wants to play in college. We need some ideas on how to get her noticed and stay within our budget. I know my daughter is not alone. Any suggestions would be great.

Please send your thoughts, answers and opinions to me (brentt@studentsports.com) and we can include your name or keep anonymous if you wish…

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PLAYER PROFILE: EMILEE ERICKSON

Grad Year: 2015
Pos: catcher/shortstop
High School: O’Connor (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Club: Arizona Storm Gold
Stats: 2013: hit .342, 1.65 pop time throwing from her knees.
Interesting facts:

• Emilee didn’t play travel ball her eighth grade year
• she’s the middle child of five
• she was a late bloomer and grew five inches over the last year to reach her current height of 5-foot-10
• in a tourney against Phoenix College she hit a 250 foot home run
• she’s played three sports including volleyball and basketball until this year—she’s now focusing solely on softball
• her club coach is former ASU shortstop Kara Brun (2002)

College: BYU

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: StudentSportsSoftball.com: You have an older brother, Brendon, who plays baseball at BYU… was his being there a major incentive in picking the Cougs?
Emilee Erickson: Yes. Being able to attend college with one of my siblings made the decision to go to BYU feel a lot better. He will be my home away from home.

 

SSS.com:  Was his baseball talent influential in helping you improve your game?
EE: Yes. My brother and I would go over to our high school field to get some reps in. He would help me with my swing as well as fielding. It was nice to have someone who had gone through high school, club and was going to play in college. He had a lot of good tips that I’ve used and still use today.

 

SSS.com:  You play catcher and shortstop, two positions with totally different skill sets in some ways… what makes you able to play both successfully?
EE: I have played catcher my entire softball career. Shortstop, on the other hand, I have only played for a year. A catcher has to know everything that’s happening on the field. I think that helped me grasp the shortstop position so quickly because I had already played a position that has many responsibilities. Being able to play both positions has helped me understand the game more than I had before. In my opinion, those positions have the most fun because they get some of the most action.

 

SSS.com:  If you did a scouting report on yourself, what are the areas you would say got you the BYU interest and what areas do you see room for improvement?
EE: I think BYU got their interest in me mostly because I can play any position on the field except pitcher. I know for me there’s always room for improvement in any aspect of the game.

 

SSS.com: How you were first seen by the BYU coaches, then how long until they offered?
EE: The BYU coaches first saw me when I went to the BYU softball camp last summer. They watched me play in the summer and again in the fall.  They offered me last week.

SSS.com: Was there a moment when the lightbulb when on and you knew BYU was the place for you?  Also, what factors led into the decision?
EE: I was raised in a BYU household. Both my parents, my sister and my brother attended BYU. I had been to BYU a couple times before I went to the camp. But I think the light bulb went off when I went on my brother’s unofficial visit. I toured the campus with the baseball coach, my brother, my mom and my dad. I was absolutely in love with the campus. When we were in the stadium my dad took a photo of me above the softball field and that was when I knew that I wanted to play for BYU.

 

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches, in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
EE: Coach Eakin and I had been emailing and he said he would like to have a conversation with me on the phone. I called him and that’s when he offered me and told me all of the details. I was talking to several schools so I wanted to have a little time to think things over.  I told him I needed to talk with my parents and I would let him know my decision within the week. A couple of days later, we got on another call with my parents and Coach Eakin and I accepted the offer.

 

SSS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them, were you more nervous or more excited?
EE: I was more excited, but I was nervous because I didn’t know exactly how to say I accept the offer. But it ended up going smoothly and I couldn’t stop smiling.

SSS.com: You go from hot climate to cold winters… that a factor at all?  
EE: No. I mean it will definitely get some getting used to. I’ve only been in the snow a couple if times and not for more than a couple of days. But it didn’t effect my decision at all.

 

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career?
EE: My first home run for sure. I was 13. I hit it over the left field fence. I knew it was gone right when I hit it. That is one of the best feelings in the entire world, hitting a homer un.

Quick Hitters

 

What do you want to major in at BYU?
I’ve been thinking about something in the sports medicine field, but I haven’t decided exactly what I want to do yet.

Fill in the blank… The thing I’m most confident about myself is…
… my arm and ability to throw.

When you open up a newspaper, what section do you go to first and why?
I go to the comics because I’m not much of a reader. The comics are short and give me a laugh.

Most fun you’ve had ever:
Going to the lake and boating. I’ve only gone to the lake twice, but that was the most fun I’ve ever had.

If price were no object, what would be the best dinner ever for you?
Salmon, Fettechini Alfredo, Chicken & Gnocchi Soup and asparagus from Olive Garden.

What’s your dream vacation?
Staying on the beach in Fiji.

What type of bat do you use (and do you like it)?
I use a Mizuno Whiteout 34-24 for my club team because we are sponsored by mizuno, but for school ball I use the Easton FX-1 34-25. I like both of them. I’m not really picky when it comes to bats.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?  
I hate Mexican food and that can be a real surprise to some people because Mexican restaurants are everywhere in Arizona.

What do you love about softball the most?
I love getting dirty. Diving and sliding in the dirt is so fun. I also love it because no one is perfect and you can be the best if you put your mind to it.

What’s your favorite phrase or motto you live by?
“The one who falls and gets up is so much stronger than the one who never fell.”

Who’s your hero or someone you look up to most?
I look up to my older sister and brother. They both are very influential in my life. I have seen them grow into great young adults. I want to be as smart, hardworking and fun loving as them.

 

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RECRUIT SPOTLIGHT OF THE DAY:  KELCEY CARRASCO

High school: Tulare Western
City: Woodlake
State: 
Calif.
Grad year: 2016
Club: San Jose Sting-Perales
Position(s): catcher/first base
Height: 5-foot-11
Stats & Honors:  “As a freshman I lead the conference with with 11 home runs and started every game at third base. This year I will catch. I had a great travel ball season and ended with 12 home runs. I hit four home runs in the Colorado Sparkler tournament. I helped my former team gain a PGF berth, the first team from central California to ever do so.”
Coach’s Comment: “I believe Kelcey was challenged over the fall making the leap from 14U to 18 Gold playing against some of the best teams in the nation including the National Champion SoCal A’s, Corona Angels, Firecrackers-Rico, etc.  She ended the season more confident and I believe she will stack up well with the rest of the 2016 class working her way into a starting position.  She definitely has power and we look forward to fine-tuning her catching skills to improve her overall game.” – Bob Perales, San Jose Sting

College: Michigan State
Other Offers: Fresno State, Boise State
Why Michigan State: “I had many school schools very interested but I did not make the visits. I verballed to MSU in October ending the process because it was the place for me.
 The way that Coach Joseph and Fobbs recruited me. They attended a lot of games and were committed to get me on their campus. Once there I fell in love with the campus and the tremendous pride the Spartan Nation has.”

What is your favorite bat: “2014 Louisville Slugger Xeno- I have always hit Easton but the new Xeno has awesome pop and great feel.”
What bat does your team use? 2014 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:

*** Yesterday we profiled Alex Sorgi, the 2015 outfielder for the Michigan Batbusters-Vitale team, who has committed to Bowling Green.

We heard from her parent, Roni, who told us today that “Alex liked Bowling Green over the other schools for a number of reasons.”

“She fell in love with the campus on her first visit and liked the idea of competing in the MAC because so many of the schools are close enough for her family to go see her play.”

Also, Bowling Green is less than two hours from home, she likes the coaches and the players and Roni was able to talk to a professor and walk through possibilities for majors and he was so great with her.”

“Finally, everyone she talked with loved going to BG and said she would love it!
*** More verbals:

— SS Maria Ascher (2014, Quinnipiac)… plays for Minnesota Sting
— 3B/OF/IF Haley Clements (2014, Maryland)… plays for the Severna Park Green Hornets
— OF Haley Dominique (2016, Ball State)… plays for Beverly Bandits
— SS/C Mackenzie Dunlap (2017, Northwester)… plays for Beverly Bandits
— OF/C Stephanie Snyder (2015, Troy)… play for the Atlanta Vipers-Kates
 

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EVENT NEWS: MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST SOFTBALL CLASSIC

You’re in the South and want to see great softball and the college and high school level, then you’ll want to check out the Miss. Gulf Coast Classic from February 28 to March 2 at the City of Gulfport Sportsplex.

There will be 10 D1 colleges as well as three dozen or more of Mississippi’s hottest high school team at the same complex and the same time.

Here’s a link to learn more about the event.

The college teams will play five games over a three-day period. The teams and their respective conferences are listed here:

Teams Conferences:

1. Mississippi State – Southeastern
2. Memphis – American
3. University of South Alabama – Sun Belt
4. Baylor University – Big 12
5. Texas State – Sun Belt
6. Tennessee Chattanooga – Southern
7. Ohio Mid – American
8. Nicholls State – Southland
9. University of Texas San Antonio – USA
10. Louisiana Lafayette – Sun Belt

The teams will arrive on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Thursday and games will begin at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 28, 2014 and finish up on Sunday afternoon with the last game beginning at 1:30 PM on Sunday. Several of the teams playing competed in the Regionals in 2013, with one team competing in the Super-Regionals. With nine games on Friday, ten games on Saturday and six games on Sunday.  Residents of Mississippi, and the entire Gulf Coast Region, are encouraged to come out and find a team to support while enjoying some great Division I College Softball competition.

At the same complex on the North fields, high school fastpitch softball will also be played with about 40 teams coming from across Mississippi to compete.

Combined with the College Event, there should be more than enough fastpitch softball for fans to enjoy. The high school event will run on Friday and Saturday.

Tickets covering both events will be sold at the gate, with a $10.00 daily entry fee or $20.00 for the weekend pass which gets you into the High School and College Event.

The high school teams that have registered thus far already makes this a big deal in Mississippi as it puts elite teams in the same complex with some of the D1 colleges.

Here are the teams that have confirmed so far:

• Bay High
• Biloxi
• D’Iberville
• East Central
• George County
• Gulfport
• Hancock
• Harrison Central
• Long Beach
• Lloyd Starr
• Madison Central
• Neshoba Central
• Newton County
• Oak Grove
• Ocean Springs
• OLA
• Pascagoula
• Pass Christian
• Picayune
• South Jones
• St. Martin
• St. Patrick
• Vancleave
• West Harrison
• Wayne County

 

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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.