A lot to cover today as we shine the spotlight on an East Coast speedster who’s a record setter on the track, profile a California star who’s not afraid to head to the cold winters of the Midwest and look closer at an SEC-bound prospect who’s staying in-state to play at the next level.  We have another 18 verbals to report and even have some NPF news…

 

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2015 HOT 100 WATCH LIST SPOTLIGHT: KIANA SHERLUND

One of the fastest baserunners in the East has to be Kiana Sherlund, the junior outfielder/second baseman from Fairfax, Va. who has committed to North Carolina.

Kiana is also a legitimate track standout, running on her Fairfax High’s indoor track team and holding the school’s indoor track record for the 55-meter dash and being a leg on the school record-setting 4×200 relay team.

“My goal this year is to qualify for the Virginia State Indoor Track Championship,” she says.

Kiana, who plays club ball with the NC Lady Lightning coached by John Corn, also had offers from other major schools like Florida, Kentucky, Penn State and Washington because of her ability to get on base as a lefty slapper.

She’s a converted right-hander (three years ago) and has been winning running contests since she started playing at age 7.

At 10 years old Kiana was the Virginia PONY State Base Running Champion and at age 13 she was the Colorado Fireworks 14U Base Running winner.

As a freshman, the Fairfax High standout led the team in hits (33), runs (25), stolen bases (25), batting average (.559), on-base percentage (.594), and slugging percentage (.729).

She visited Mark Mulvany’s Scout Softball camp toward the end of her freshman year and laid down a verified 2.60 second home-to-first time there (and is currently ranked No. 7 in the Scout ratings).

In 2013, Kiana led her high school team in every major statistical category again with 40 hits, 35 runs, four home runs, 24 RBI, 26 stolen bases, a .580 batting average, a .659 on-base percentage, a 1.000 slugging percentage, and .739 batting average with runners in scoring position.

She earned All-District and All-Region teams as well as 2^nd Team All-State (Va.)

Playing for one of the top club teams in the East isn’t easy for the Virginia standout who drives 5 ½ hours one-way to practice with the Lady Lightning Gold Team Miken.

Kiana has also played with Tony and Cathy Rollins’ Vienna Stars Gold team and has guest played with Kevin O’Donnell’s Jersey Intensity squad as well.

Kiana and the Lady Lightning will be in some highly visible tournaments this summer including ones in Edison, N.J., Boulder, Col., the TCS Nationals in Atlanta and the PGF Nationals in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Shortly after making national waves at Derek and Joann Allister’s OnDeck National Elite Futures Camp, Kiana ultimately chose North Carolina saying “I committed on my unofficial visit because it gave me a fuzzy feeling and I got tears in my eyes!”

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RECRUIT PROFILE: BRIANNA BETSCHEL

Grad Year: 2015
Pos: outfield
High School: Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.)
Club: OC Batbusters-Briggs 18U
College: Ohio State

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: How did the Buckeyes find you and then how long until you were offered?
Brianna Betschel: It was at my first OnDeck Camp at Mt. Sac (Calif.) two years ago. They told me they had been following me for a while when i first called them. Three weeks later I went on an unofficial visit and that is when they offered me.

 

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
BB: I decided to commit the next day, Sunday when I got home. My coach pulled me aside and asked what I was waiting for and if I already knew I wanted to go there. I knew then that’s where I wanted to go.

 

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches, were you in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
BB: I told the coaches that night. I called the head coach (Kelly Kovach Schoenly) and told her I wanted to be a Buckeye.

 

SSS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them…
BB: I was excited and anxious because I knew that what I had been working for had finally paid off and I found my new home for the next four or five years after I graduate from high school

 

SSS.com: Any concerns about being so far from home?  And adjusting the cold Midwest winters?
BB: No major concerns. One of the things I wanted in finding a college was snow. I love the snow and wanted to be able to experience all four seasons.

 

SSS.com:  What do you think are your strengths as a softball player?
BB: I think one of my strengths is that I am able to see the ball very well and for a high majority I have good pitch selection.

 

SSS.com: What’s been the highlight of your softball career so far?
BB: The highlight would be the night I committed because my whole team was there and my parents. the environment was just very happy. All my teammates were giving me hugs and telling me congrats. Just having that was enough for me knowing that some of my best friends were there to support me and congratulate me.

 

Quick Hitters

What do you want to major in at OSU?
Sports Medicine.

Fill in the blank… If I wasn’t playing softball, I’d be busy: __________
Doing something active. I can’t sit around for too long!

What is something difficult in your life that you’ve overcome or succeeded at?
Becoming a better and stronger softball player and competing at high competitive level.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
Even though my room can be a mess at times, I can also be a neat freak.

How would your friends describe you in one word?
Outgoing.

If you could meet one person, alive or dead, who would it be?
Leonardo DiCaprio.

What was your top gift request for Christmas?  
My No. 1 gift was the new IPhone 5s and my parents got it for me.

What’s your No. 1 goal for 2014?
My goal is to maintain a high grade point average through the rest of the school year.

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PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: BRITTANY EDMONDSON

High school: Ezell Harding Christina School
City: Nashville

State: 
Tenn.
Grad Year:  2015
Club: Tennessee Ballhawks 97
Position(s):  outfield
Stats (h.s.): hit .610 with 72 hits in 118 at bats and had 12 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 31 RBI along 25 steals
Honors: All-State as a sophomore.
College: Tennessee
Other Offers:
Scouting Report: Brittany is a triple threat at the plate and has 2.6 home-to-first speed.  She can beat you with the slap but also has home run power and can hit to all fields.  She led Ezell Harding Christian to a Tennessee high school state title as a sophomore and has been a starter since her eighth grade year. She plays center field and leads off for both her high school and her travel team, the Ballhawks, which has won the ASA-A State championship two out of the last four years.

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Here’s our list of recent verbals we’ve located over the past few days:

— 3B/UT Brianna Clark (2014, Niagara)… plays for Amherst Lightning
— SS Emily Ramelot (2016, Arizona State)… plays for OC Batbusters-Smith
— 3B Brynley Steele (2014, Arizona State)… plays for OC Batbusters
— OF Alexa Altchek (2014, Harvard)… plays for NJ Outlaws
— C Samantha Kates (2016, Alabama-Birmingham)… plays for Atlanta Vipers
— 3B/C Brooke Harris (2015, Jacksonville St.)… plays for Gainesville Gold
— IF/OF Jade Flemming (2014, James Madison)… plays for Vienna Stars
— C/3B Krista Kelly (2014, Longwood)… plays for Vienna Stars
— SS/OF Amanda Gianelloni (2015, Nicholls State)… plays for Louisiana Patriots Gold
— 3B/OF Amber Watson (2015, North Illinois)… plays for Windermere Wildfire
— P Sara Dawson (2015, Pittsburgh)… plays for Rhode Island Thunder
— P Casey Herzog (2014, Quinnipiac)… plays for Team Long Island-Gold
— C/OF Sarah Stone (2014, San Diego U.)… plays for So Cal Breakers
— C Justine Garner (2014, Santa Clara)… plays for Foothill Gold
— OF Christy Warnock (2014, South Dakota)… plays for Nebraska Gold
— SS Kinsey Goelz (2017, South Florida)… plays for Tampa Mustangs
— OF Aliyah Wade (2015, Syracuse)… plays for Conklin Raiders Gold
— P/1B Francesca Casalino (2014, Yale)… plays for Team Long Island-Elite

 

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EVENT NEWS: NPF TEAMS TO MEET AT BUCKEYE SHOWDOWN

Akron Racers General Manager Joey Arrietta announced today that the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch league will host the USSSA Pride on Saturday, July 12 in Columbus, Ohio, at the 1^st Annual Akron Racers Classic.

The game will be played as a part of the highly successful Buckeye Showdown RecruitFest.

“I wanted to bring the professional game to Columbus for a several years now and the opportunity to partner with Bill Beckham and be a part of the RecruitFest was perfect,” commented Arrietta. “I am excited to provide young players participating in the Showdown with the opportunity to see the best players in the world compete.”

The RecruitFest features 220 teams’ ages 14-18 years as collegiate coaches from around the country will assemble to get a look at the best talent East of the Mississippi. The NFCA will conduct a clinic on Thursday, July 10 with the tournament games set to begin on Friday morning, July 11. The Racers will battle the 2013 NPF Cowles Champions on Saturday, July 12 at 8pm.

Teams entering the tournament will receive a special ticket package which includes 15 tickets for just $99. The general public is encouraged to purchase tickets in advance for $8.50. Tickets at the gate will be $10. All tickets are general admission. Tickets can be purchased online at akronracers.org beginning January 13^th.

 

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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.