The last few days of 2013… where’d the year go?  We’re excited to have some fun content over the next week-plus and in today’s Daily Update we profile a freshmen who’s excited to play in the Pac-12 and feature a couple prospects to watch from Georgia and Illinois along with a scattering of verbals and signings…

 

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RECRUIT PROFILE: SABRINA NUNEZ

The day after Christmas in our Daily Update we told you about Sabrina and how she shined with the Firecrackers-Quarles team and won a pair of National Championships before moving to Northern Calif.  Well, she’s going to be there for several more years as she’s committed to Cal… here’s a closer look:

Grad Year: 2017
Pos: center field/second base
High School: Redwood (Marin County, Calif.)
GPA/SAT or ACT: 4.0
Club: Sorcerers
Honors: 10U ASA National Champion; 12U PGF Champion
College: Cal

 

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: Being offered and committing to Cal had to make for a nice holiday season for you! How do you get on Cal’s recruiting radar?
Sabrina Nunez: Verballing to Cal was the best gift I got for Christmas and it made the holiday season one of the best ever.  I was first seen at one of Cal softball camps. They seemed interested, so every camp I kept coming back.

SSS.com: Do you know when and how they first became aware of you?
SN: My first camp at Cal when I was in 12U.  The camp was right before PGF.

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
SN: I decided to verbally commit to Cal on December 13.  My parents and I met with the coaches and we talked in their office for a full four hours.  The decision was easy because it had always been my dream to go to that school.  It is a great university and it has always seemed as the perfect fit.

SSS.com: Did you and your family have a sit-down discussion on committing and weighing the Bears versus other programs?
SN: Yes, our family discussed other universities, but Cal was always the No. 1 choice.

SSS.com: Was staying close to home a major factor in your decision?
SN: Personally, having slightly more distance would have been nice, but I am excited to be close to home and to keep staying in touch with my family.

SSS.com:  What do you think makes you a Pac-12 caliber softball player?
SN: I think my outfielding skills, my throw-to-home plate, and how I can mix it up in terms of slapping at the plate.

SSS.com:  You are also a standout track athlete… compare both sports and how they enhance each other.
SN: I do also run cross-country for my high school in the fall and I love both sports. I think that my athleticism from softball has greatly helped in running and the mental strength I have acquired from cross-country has helped me in softball. When we have to play multiple games in softball I am always able to push on because of my mental strength.

SSS.com: Are you going to be able to continue doing track since it and softball are spring sports?
SN: I run cross country in the fall, so it doesn’t interfere with my high school softball in the spring.  If both were in the spring I would prioritize softball naturally.

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career?
SN: Winning PGF in 12U and being told I was a good player my first camp at Cal from Coach [Diane] Ninemire are probably my best memories in my softball career so far.  Winning PGF was such an accomplishment and it felt so good for my hard work to pay off.  Coach Ninemire’s compliment to me on my softball skills was amazing. For a university coach to recognize your talent and your hard work is one of the best feelings in the world.

 

 

Quick Hitters

 

What do you want to do after college?
The 2020 Olympics for softball is a high goal for me if softball gets in. Sports medicine also sounds intriguing.

What’s been your most embarrassing sports moment?
When I first started playing travel ball and didn’t have a lot of experience in the outfield a ball was hit over my head. I started backpedalling and fell on my butt.

What do you think is a major issue facing our country today?
Inequality is a big issue currently.

Favorite movie:
Frozen.

Least favorite activity:
Putting away my clothes.

Favorite place in the world:
A small island in the Philippines with great beaches called Boracay.

What do you do to relax when you have a free day?
Watch softball games, play outside with my siblings, and watch a good movie.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
When I get grumpy, doing handstands always puts me in a slightly better mood!

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
I would probably bring a simple ball. It could entertain me for hours.

What’s your No. 1 goal/New Year’s resolution for 2014?
Make a greater effort to get along with my siblings most of the time.

 

 

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PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: KIRSTEN MCMONIGLE

Kirsten was listed as one of 10 players who shined at the Halloween weekend National Skills Clinic… here more on the Peach State sophomore standout:

High school: Greenbrier
City: Evans
State: 
Ga.
Grad year: 2016
GPA: 3.0
Club: East Cobb Bullets-Legere
Ht: 5-3
Position(s): SS/3B
College: uncommitted
Stats: (high school): .444 average with 35 runs in 108 at bats, 19 RBI, 15/17 steals, .942 fielding ave.; (club): .484 average, 45 runs in 124 at bats, 12 RBI, 19/21 steals, .925 fielding ave.
Honors: two-time All-State (2^nd team), 2013 Georgia Dugout Club “Elite 80;” two-time All-Region and All-County (1^st team); Outstanding Player Award (Holiday Camp, hosted by Tennessee Tech last weekend)

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: What’s your current recruiting situation?
Kirsten McMonigle: “As of right now, Georgia State, Kennesaw State and North Georgia have all called both my travel and high school coaches and have said they are very interested.  I further received a recruiting letter from Georgia State “identifying me as a potential student-athlete that they would like to get to know better.” I am planning on trying to get an unofficial visit to these schools as well as Georgia Southern, South Carolina and Alabama.”

SSS.com: What are you looking for in a college?
KM: I would love to play for a college that has a softball program that is competitive and will continue to push me.   Even though most of the schools that are recruiting me are in Georgia, I am not limiting myself.  I have played against many girls that are currently attending top softball programs— Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina are examples.  I’m also looking for a program where both academics and athletics program work together so that I can also get a quality education.  Oh yea, I would love the chance to play early in my college career.  I do understand at a program such as Alabama that might not happen, but I still would love playing on their dirt as a freshman!

SSS.com: What do you like to do off the field?
KM: Shopping of course!  I do enjoy working out… well sometimes!  During the summer, I love going out on the boat and doing water sports. I attend Stephens Creek Church with my Family when we are not traveling.   I’ve just recently went with our high team to help with a charity called “Under the Bridge Ministry” helping to feed hundreds of homeless here in Augusta, Ga.  However, between school, travel ball, lessons, weight training and home chores; there’s not much time for extra curricular activities! (laughs)

SSS.com: What’s been your best experience in softball so far?
KM: So far it was hitting a walk off single in last year’s AAAAA state Elite Eight playoffs to beat the defending state champions, Northgate High, which has several D1 commits on that team.  We finished tied for fifth in the state last year although Northgate got us back this year though.  We lost to them at their place in the first round of the playoffs 3-1 in the “if” game of best of three.

SSS.com: What’s one attribute the colleges like about you?
KM:  My speed, I run a 2.6 from home to first.

 

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2015 HOT 100 WATCH LIST PLAYER:  KEENAN DOLEZAL

Coach Perry Peterson has an interesting front-row seat when it comes to watching talented junior pitcher Keenan Dolezal from Barrington, Ill.

Peterson is the Head Coach for Barrington High and also is with the Barrington Hurriances 18U team.

Both are led by the uncommitted hurler, who cranked out an awesome high school season in 2013 as she led the Fillies to a 36-2 mark and No. 33 national ranking in the StudentSportsSoftball.com FAB 50.

Keenan also pitched as a pick-up player for the Northern Ice last summer in the PGF Nationals where the team tied for 17^th in the Platinum division.

“She’s an amazing pitcher,” her coach states. “She throws at 64-65 mph and has a wicked change-up and riseball as well.”

Keenan helped Barrington High into the Class 4A state semis before they were upset by St. Charles East.

“Kennan had a 29-2 record and 0.87 ERA,” Coach Petterson says, “and opponents only hit .153 off her while she recorded eight shutouts, two no-hitters and one perfect game.  And in the two losses, they were only by one run—3-2 in 15 innings in the first game, where she pitched all the innings, and 3-2 in the semis.”

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

It’s been fairly quite on the verbal/signing front, but that should change once we get past  New Year’s and have more big events coming up in January…

 

*** The San Diego Power Surge, which we profiled in our Daily Update 10.20.13, has a couple more commits:

— P/1B Katie Carmichael (2014, Cornell)
— OF/IF Kelsey Buchanan (2014, Pomona Pitzer)
— 3B/OF Jennifer Callais (2014, Hesston College)

 

*** More Verbals:

— P Taylor Lichtenhahn (2014, Philadelphia School of the Sciences)… plays for Warrington Blue Thunder
— OF Ashley Sharpe (2014, Univ. of Indianapolis)… plays for Central Florida Stingrays

 

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

The article done last week on “The Early Recruiting Dilemma” continues to get attention and feedback.  Thanks to the several dozen people who wrote; I like this one from a club coach who shares his perspective…

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The article on the Early Recruiting Dilemma should be required reading for all travel ball players and parents. It can help put everything in perspective for all involved.

The most important fact that everyone should take away from the article is that each player matures at different rate and time. Only a small percentage of girls will play at the D-1 level meaning there are still many places for you to play at the colligate level.

Most importantly you want to find the best fit for you academically and athletically.
Your decision can shape the rest of your life, don’t be in a rush.

— Richard Johnson, Head Coach/Recruiting Director Georgia Fire 16U

 

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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.