Today we learn more about a player who made the 2015 Hot 100 list including how she “took one for the team” to help her future college football team win!  We also look at 10 juniors we’ll be adding to the 2015 Watch List and report 20 new verbals that have come in this week…

 

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PLAYER PROFILE: TESSA DANIELS

 

Grad Year: 2015
Pos: pitcher
High School: Buford (Ga.)
Club: Georgia Impact-Pauly
Key Stats: 8-0 as a pitcher, hit .465 with 44 RBI
Honors: 14U PGF National Championship, 1st Team All-State, three-time state championship; Named as the #78 ranked player in the Hot 100 2015 list by StudentSportsSoftball.com
College: Florida State

 

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: You’ve had an amazing career already, with a PGF National Championship, second at ASA, high school titles, All-State honors… What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
Tessa Daniels: Winning the national championship was indescribable. Earlier that season my catcher’s dad and our coach, Steve Lynch, lost his battle to cancer.  His legacy served as our purpose to persevere through whatever struggles we faced.  Going into the televised, championship game we were all anxious to win the title for him.  Nothing compares to the moment of the last out of that game holding up Steve’s trophy… except maybe my sophomore year when we won state for my high school.  A whole different team of girls but with the same incentive.  A month before the state tournament a friend of mine, Adam Smith, had past away.  Because we were trying to win our sixth consecutive state championship, our motto that year was “Six for Smith.”  Before the last out of the championship game the crowd started chanting the motto.  Both games gave me moments I will never forget.

 

SSS.com:  There must be different feelings into team accomplishments vs. individual ones… tell us what that means being part of a group and excelling individually?
TD: As a pitcher, I would achieve nothing without my team. I believe it’s good to set individual goals but remain selfless when it comes to the team’s goals.  Softball is a team sport.  Just because you excel in the game doesn’t mean your team does, and vice versa.  I am very humbled to be apart of successful teams and play with coaches and girls who support and push me to be the best I can possibly be.

 

SSS.com: It must be exciting knowing you’re going to the ACC to play softball, right?
TD: I never imagined I would have the opportunity to play at the Division 1 level, and playing for an ACC team makes it that much better.

 

SSS.com: How hard were you rooting for the football Noles for the BCS National Championship?
TD: Well I didn’t take my eyes off of the screen the entire first half which is apparently why they didn’t do so well.  As soon as I got up to use the bathroom in the third quarter they started playing good.  So I took one for the team and spent majority of the second half in my room praying for a good outcome. I watched the final minutes of the game screaming at the TV.  The game was way too close but it was awesome.

 

SSS.com: Tell us how you were first seen by the FSU coaches, then how long until they offered?
TD: The summer of my freshman year my team played in the Premier tournament in California.  That was the first time I noticed Coach Travis at our games.  We lost one of our bracket games pretty early on in the tournament which he watched, and as soon as it was over he moved to the next field we were to play at.  We had to play five more games that day to make it to the championship and I noticed he was at majority of them.  A couple months later on my first unofficial visit to Florida State they offered.

 

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
TD: As cliché as it sounds, as soon as I stepped onto the field I knew; Tallahassee immediately felt like a second home to me. I was able to be my complete self around my coaches and the girls and that meant a lot to be accepted.  Simply, I found myself the most happiest at Florida State.

 

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches, in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
TD: The middle of my sophomore year FSU put on a winter camp in December, which I was supposed to attend but was injured from a torn hamstring, but I decided to go anyway just to hangout.  I was certain of where I wanted to go and didn’t want to wait another day so I just told them at the camp that weekend I wanted to be apart of their family.

 

SSS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them, were you more nervous, excited or relieved?
TD: There was a bit of relief afterwards because, although exciting, the whole recruiting process did stress me out a little.  But more than anything I felt extremely blessed and humbled to finally call myself a Seminole.

 

SSS.com: How far away from home will be?  Was distance a factor in your decision at all?
TD: Distance was definitely something my family and I had to take into consideration before committing. The drive is a little less than six hours which isn’t too far away so that I can home whenever I need in the future.

 

SSS.com:  What do you think (or have others said) are your strengths as a softball player?
TD: I always have someone to play for.  This motivation serves me as a strength allowing me to keep my focus on the bigger picture when I’m on the field.

 

Quick Hitters

 

 

Where do you want to be in 10 years? 
Teaching math to high school students and coaching.

Fill in the blank… I’m happiest when:______________________
I finally achieve something I’ve worked so hard for.

What do you think is the No. 1 issue in the world today? 
There’s just so much hatred in this world.

Favorite thing about school:
I love math. Oddly enough it’s fun to me.

Least favorite thing about school:
Writing essays in class stresses me out more than anything.

Favorite place in the world: 
Home.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Definitely a night owl.

What’s your “guilty pleasure,” meaning something you like but it’s a little/lot embarrassing?
I enjoy watching the food network.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I begged my dad for a California kingsnake this past Christmas. He said no.

How would you describe yourself in one word?
Atelophobia. (Brentt note—it’s the fear of not being good enough or of imperfection… I had to look it up too!)

What’s your No. 1 goal for 2014?
Better myself in all aspects of my life – spiritual, mental, and physical.

What do you think is the most important trait for a person to have? 
Faith. 

 

 

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2015 PLAYER WATCH LIST ADDITIONS

We are 80 players deep in the 2015 Hot 100 list, but there are many players who are worthy of consideration to be considered and, in some cases, fly under the radar.

The players below are outstanding juniors who may or may not make the final 20 spots, but still merit being on the watch list…

 

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*** P Julia DiMartino (Gold Coast Hurricanes-Cooper, committed to Liberty)
Noteworthy: named 1^st team All-State in New York after compiling 0.70 ERA and 310K’s in 160 innings; also hit .539 with 30 RBI.=

 

*** OF/UT Baylee Cook (Tennessee Fury, committed to Belmont)
Noteworthy: 1^st team All-State, helped high school team win first district title in school history, hit .425 last two years with Fury

 

*** IF/OF Carli Woolsey (Tulsa Elite, uncommitted)
Noteworthy: hit .560 at high school level with 1.000 slugging average in 41 games.  Also had 63 RBI and 11 home runs.  Owns 30 high school records.=

 

*** SS/3B Zoe Shaw (Pacific Coast Predators, uncommitted)
Noteworthy: this Californian is new to softball but very athletic talent, played baseball up until last year and started at 2B for her high school’s frosh/soph team.  Last fall hit .434 in club softball.

 

*** SS Tori Aycock (Georgia Fire Downs 16U, uncommitted)
Noteworthy: three-time All-Region player who’s led her team deep into the Georgia state tourney each year.  Getting a lot of interest currently

 

*** UT Sarah Robertson (Team North Florida, Liberty)
Noteworthy: 1^st team All-State in Florida as a utility player her freshman year.  Led her high school to 5^th place finish at 5A level. Also a three-time All-State volleyball player

 

*** SS Mattie Woodruff (Murfreesboro Firebirds, Middle Tennessee State)
Noteworthy: excellent hitter who is solid on defense and not afraid to get dirty or make the tough players

 

*** P Peyton Glover (Georgia Force, uncommitted)
Noteworthy: during the fall only gave up one hit in two showcases she pitched in. Helped the Force earn an ASA National berth from Georgia

 

*** P Claudia Puente (Central Cal Dirt Dogs, uncommitted)
Noteworthy: went 19-4 with 1.81 ERA and 125K’s to led her Fresno area team to the CIF Div. 1 finals in the Valley Section

 

*** 3B/SS Jenna Brownell (Tampa Mustangs, uncommitted)
Noteworthy: All-State team, All-county and led the district in RBI.  Also an outstanding track athlete who has a 5.2 GPA

 

 

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RECRUIT SPOTLIGHT: LEXI DiEMMANUELE

High School: Cypress Bay
City: Weston
State: 
Fla.
Grad year: 2015
Club: Gold Coast Hurricanes-Cooper
Position(s):  outfield/shortstop
Height: 5-4
Stats & Honors:

• 2013: .494 average, 31runs, 13 RBI, six triples, seven doubles, 20 steals, .792 slugging percentage
• 2013 8A-7A-6A 1st Team All County
• 2013 8A All State 2nd Team
• 2013 district long jump champ
• 2012 Maxpreps Freshman All American
• 2012 Class 8A All State 1st Team
• 2012 8A-7A-6A All County 1st Team

College: Boston College
Other Offers: Auburn, Florida State, Florida International
Why Boston College: “I love the coaches and the school. I met a few of the players and they had a great relationship with Coach Obrest and Coach Angel. They were both very genuine and honest. Boston College has one of the top business schools in the country which will be my major.”

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** A lot of verbals we’ve picked up over the last few days… try 20 new ones!

— SS Hannah Adams (2017, Florida)… plays for Georgia Impact-Jeffreys
— IF Cristina Barrett (2014, Western Illinois)… plays for Lemont Rockers
— OF Aubrey Bennett (2015, Morehead State)… plays for Georgia Impact-Pauly
— C Claire Bird (2014, Dartmouth)… plays for the Midwest Sluggers
— C Abby Broome (2016, Georgia Southern)… plays for Georgia Impact-Gibson
— P Alyssa Burk (2015, Portland State)… plays for Firecrackers-Young
— P Sarah Dawson (2015, Pittsburgh)… plays for Rhode Island Thunder
— IF Maddie Dorsett (2016, Mississippi State)… plays for Birmingham Thunderbolts
— UT Jolie Duffner (2015, Missouri)… plays for Missouri Stealth Gold
— OF Hannah Howell (2016, Arizona State)… plays for OC Batbusters-Smith
— C/3B Kathryn Jackson (2016, Samford)… plays for Atlanta Vipers-Loveless
— 2B/SS Rylie Jay (2015, Western Illinois)… plays for Lemont Rockers
— SS Lexey Kneib (2016, Nebraska)… plays for DeMarini Zephyrs
— IF Becky Malchow (2016, Indiana State)… plays for Indiana Magic Gold
— OF Carrie Reilly (2014, Army)… plays for Lemont Rockers
— IF Ashlee Sanders (2016, Mississippi State)… plays for Birmingham Thunderbolts
— UT Anna Snider (2015, Jacksonville State)… plays for Twisters-Walz
— IF Timmi Tooley (2014, Coastal Carolina)… plays for Lemont Rockers
— OF Brianna Viles (2015, DePaul)… plays for Cal Lite
— OF Brianna Wise (2016, Arizona State)… plays for So Cal A’s-Dataan

 

 

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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.