We’re more than halfway through January, a month that seems to have 41 cold, dark days in it (says the wimp who lives in Southern Calif.!), and on the eve of announcing who the top 10 players are in the 2015 class, we spotlight a talented Oklahoma outfielder who’s going to the SEC and spotlight recruits to the Pac-12, Mountain West and Big Ten.  And we have some significant news on the club Nationals front which will give a lot more young teams a chance to win a title…

 

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PLAYER PROFILE: RAEGAN ROGERS

Grad Year: 2015
Pos:  outfield
High School: Bridge Creek (Okla.)
GPA/ACT: 3.96 and 24 ACT
Club: Oklahoma GameTime Stars
Stats: club: hit .443 and tied for team lead with 14 home runs
Honors: All-Conference, 1st Team Daily Oklahoma Little All-City, hit home run vs. Tennessee Fury in Triple Crown National Championship TV game; tied for 17th at PGF Nationals (16U)
College: Arkansas

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: Being from Oklahoma, do you think it was harder to get noticed nationally as opposed to players in California, Texas or Florida?
Raegan Rogers: I believe so, we have a lot of great softball players here in our state that go unnoticed because of the teams they play for fail to compete at a national level and at the right events. Fortunately for me I play for a great organization and coaches that put me in the right spots to be noticed.

 

SSS.com: How did Arkansas find you and how long was it from first notice to offer?
RR: I actually attended a camp with my best friend, Chase Nelson, who is also committed to Arkansas as well. It was almost a full year before they first offered me.

 

SSS.com: What factored into your decision to become a Razorback?
RR: I absolutely loved everything about the university and the softball program. Coach Bee is extremely positive in everything he does, I really liked the way he coached and the energy he has. Coach Carpenter is so easy to talk to and always makes you feel like you are one of her own kids. Coach Adkins had a positive impression on me as well. I also talked to the current players at the camps I attended and saw how much they loved the school, coaches and the program itself. The facilities are phenomenal too, it just felt like it was the right place for me.

 

SSS.com: Did you have an “aha” moment when you knew where you were supposed to go?
RR: I did, at the second camp I attended, Coach Larabee was hitting fungo to us outfielders and I was so impressed with the way he coached and that he would be my position coach, that I knew then Arkansas was where I wanted to play softball continue my education

 

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches you would be going to Arkansas?
RR: I called Coach Bee on the phone

SSS.com: You’ve played in a lot of major events all over the country… what have been some of your favorite places to play and why?
RR: PGF in Huntington Beach is by far the best place to play. The competition level is high, you get to play the best teams from around the country and it really challenges you as a player and as a team.

 

SSS.com:   What do you think (or have others said) are your strengths as a softball player?
RR: People always say that my speed and the way I track the ball in the outfield as well as my hitting ability. I usually hit in the two hole and other teams expect me to bunt to move runners, which I enjoy doing but I can also hit the ball out of the ball park, which is really exciting, especially since the other coaches don’t really expect it.

 

SSS.com: When you walk up to the plate, what is going through your mind?
RR: I think of where we are in the game and what I need to do to help my team win the ball game. I always think of the prior at bats that I had or my teammates had. I think about how the pitcher has pitched me before and look for certain pitches in certain situations.

 

Quick Hitters

 

What do you want to major in?
Still undecided but thinking Kinesiology.

Fill in the blank… Nobody is better than me at: ____________
Mario baseball on the Wii!

What’s your favorite topping to put on ice cream?
Strawberries.

How about on pizza?
Cheese.

Favorite song:
Too many to list.

Are you a morning person or an evening person?
Evening, I don’t like to get up early unless its absolutely necessary.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen in sports?
An NBA game… sitting courtside for a Thunder vs. Clippers game.

What’s one thing that is guaranteed to make you laugh?
My sister Liberty, she always says funny things, I call them “Libertyisms.”

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I have six siblings.

Do you have a motto or favorite phrase you live by?
You can do all things through Christ.

If you were rocketing to the moon for a six month stay there, what’s one item you’d want with you?
My phone… I could talk to everyone, read my Bible app, watch movies, play music and search the web.

What’s your No. 1 goal for 2014?
To strive to be a better softball player as well as a better leader within my community.

Do you see yourself as a role model (explain why or why not)?
Maybe to the younger girls within my school or our softball organization. I think they look up to me and I try to do my best to encourage all of them and let them know that if they have a dream they can achieve it  

 

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RECRUIT SPOTLIGHT: ZOE MARROTT

High school: Campolindo
City: Moraga
State: 
Calif.
Grad year: 2016
Club: KG Hitters Gold
Position(s):  third base/second base
Height: 5-2
Stats & Honors:
2013 high school stats:

• .493 batting average, .588 on-base percentage, .768 slugging percentage, four home runs, 25 RBI

2013 Sorcerer fall club stats:

• .475 batting average, .530 on-base percentage, .780 slugging percentage, three home runs, 23 RBI

College: Cal
Why Cal: “Cal was always my first pick because it is one of the greatest academic universities in the country and has a wonderful softball program with top notch coaching.”

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** When Raaine Datan, Manager of the So Cal Athletics-Datan team, told me that Brianna “Breezy” Wise, his 2016 outfielder, had committed to Arizona State, my first question was obvious.

Where did she get the nickname “Breezy?”

“The nickname ‘Breezy’ was given to her by her Aunt Nancy,” Coach Datan explains.  “She felt that when Brianna was born she embodied a state of mind of being cool, relaxed, and worry free. I truly believe she nailed it because that’s how Breezy approaches the plate each time she is at bat: cool, relaxed, and worry free.”

“In addition, Breezy approaches playing outfield the same way. Her speed in the outfield—along with her ability to track balls—has made a huge impact for us. Her unselfishness style of play makes Breezy a Pac-12 caliber player.”

Last year Breezy hit .344 with a .682 slugging percentage and eight home runs, nine triples and 43 RBI to earn 1^st Team All-League honors as a freshman.

The coach continues, saying “Breezy is a pure power hitter with a fast bat along with quick speed on the bases.  She grew up at the baseball fields watching her brothers play and her first trip out of the house as a newborn was to the baseball fields.”

 

*** Lauren Buchanan, a 2015 catcher with the Mac N Seitz Storm out of Kansas City, Mo., has committed to Colorado State.

The right-hander, who attends Bishop Carroll Catholic in Wichita, Kan., is a two-time 5A State Champion as well as a two-time 1^st Team All-State selection.

Lauren is also a great student with a 4.3 GPA that puts her at fifth in her class of 300.  Last year she hit .537 with 35 RBI and 10 doubles and didn’t strikeout in 54 at bats.

Her father, Tom, explains how she ended up committing to the Rams.

“Lauren participated in the OnDeck Jamboree prior to the Fireworks tournament in Aurora, Col.,” he explains, “and caught the attention of Coach Fisher from CSU. She took an unofficial visit and fell in love with the coaching staff, campus,and the town of Ft Collins. She committed a week later after her visit.”

 

*** Yesterday we told you about Lexey Kneib, a 2016 shortstop with the DeMarini Zephyrs, who has committed to play at Nebraska.

Her Zephyr coach, Ryan Taylor, wrote to give a good synopsis of his future Big Ten player.

I was going to send a video of her making a few amazing plays at SS, but for some reason my computer isn’t cooperating this A.M.

“Lexey is from Webb City, Mo,” he begins, “and travels two and half hours with her twin (Lindey) to practice for my travel ball team.  She is a multi-sport athlete leading her basketball team at the point guard position.”

“On the softball diamond she is like a vacuum at shortstop. Everything just comes natural to her.  Whether she is fielding a ball deep in the hole or charging a ball on a slapper only to leave her feet to make the out.”

“This fall against the Rhode Island Thunder a slapper placed the ball beautifully, unfortunately for her, Lex was in the six-hole and on her way down was already throwing the ball. Everyone was in shock. She’s the type of player that takes hits away and can change momentum with one play.”

“Offensively she bats at the top of the lineup.  Lexey is a power hitting lefty that uses the gaps to score RBIs.”

 

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EVENT NEWS: PGF ADDS PLATINUM DIVISIONS TO 14U & 16U

*** Dan Hay, the President and CEO of Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF), sent out an e-mail today saying that the Huntington Beach-based organization has added Platinum levels to its 14U and 16U Nationals to match what occurred last year.

In the 2013 PGF Nationals the 18U Premier division was won by the So Cal A’s in the 65-team tournament.  The 18U Platinum division crown was captured by the Strike Force-Guerra squad.

According to today’s announcement, the 16U and 14U Platinum Championships will have 32 teams each and will take place this July 19-25 in Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley and Irvine, Calif.

The e-mail goes on to explain the difference between the two divisions:

Premier Division – This is PGF’s highest standard, where the elite teams throughout the country compete to determine who is the ‘best of the best’. This competition culminates in Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley and Irvine California, with a televised game deciding the true national champion in the 12u, 14u, 16u and 18u age divisions.

Platinum Division – created in 2013 to allow top level teams that compete against the ‘best of the best’ a second opportunity to be considered among the elite teams in the country. These teams compete side by side at the same venues, at the same time as the Premier division. The ultimate champion in the 14u, 16u and 18u age divisions earns the right to compete against the elite teams by receiving a berth to the following year’s Premier National Championship.  Platinum Championship games will be streamed live across the country via Internet.

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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.