We kick off another week with a profile of an ACC bound junior from Pennsylvania and also look at a California prospect who wasn’t turned off by a visit to a Big Ten school despite it being -3 degrees!  We look at standouts from Sunday’s SoCal National Skills Showcase and finish with a Pic of the Day that’s very fitting for this Christmas season!

 

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RECRUIT PROFILE: LACY SMITH

Grad Year: 2015
Pos: P/3B
High School: Manheim Township (Lancaster, Pa.)
GPA/SAT or ACT:  3.9
Club: TNT Gold
College: Virginia
Video: Lacy’s workouts

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: Tell us how you were first seen by the Virginia coaches, then how long until offered?
Lacy Smith: They first saw me at their clinic last year as a sophomore. We then stayed in touch through all the coaching changes. They offered in September.

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
LS: I decided September 30th. UVA is one of the top universities in the country plus the new coaching staff is awesome. I fell in love with the school and the softball program!

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches, in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
LS: I told them on my unofficial.

SSS.com: Did you do anything fun to celebrate?
LS: I stocked up on UVA gear at the nearest bookstore!

SSS.com: You’re a pitcher and infielder… have the Cavalier coaches said if you’ll pitch only, play infield only or both?
LS: I am willing to play wherever they need me! I always want to find a way to be in the lineup.

SSS.com: How far away from home will you be?  Was distance a factor in your decision at all?
LS: It’s about 4 1/2 hours away. It was a factor, I wanted a place that was a decent distance away but my friends and family could still come watch my games.

SSS.com:  What do you think are your strengths as a softball player?
LS: I’ve been told my hitting, as well as being very hardworking and competitive.

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career?
LS: The day I verballed was definitely a top memory of mine. Another was recently going to California and my team and I hitting 5 home runs in one game.

 

Quick Hitters

 

What do you want to study at Virginia?
Business and possibly law school after.

Fill in the blank… My No. 1 goal in life is ______
Help UVA win a National Title.

Favorite food:
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad.

Least favorite food:
Tomatoes.

Nothing makes me laugh more than:
My sister.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
My Jeep is named Charlotte.

Describe you on the field with one word:
Determined.

… and describe yourself OFF the field in one word:
Outgoing.

What would be your dream weekend?
Go to a Miley Cyrus concert with Lauren Chamberlain. Also go to the beach after a shopping spree!

The Holidays are fast approaching, what’s top request on your wish list?
A new watch.

What was the most scared you’ve ever been?
Trying out for my first travel team in 7th grade.

What about being from Pennsylvania makes you most proud?
Everyone has a great work ethic and are extremely down to earth.

 

 

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RECRUITING PROFILE:

Name: BRIANNA “BRI” CASSIDY

High school: Cajon
City: San Bernardino
State: 
Calif.
Grad year: 2015
Club: Firecrackers-Blanco Gold
Position(s):  C/SS
College: Nebraska
College Visits: Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State, Stanford
Other Offers: Michigan, Colorado State, Southern Miss, Georgia Tech, Michigan State
Why Nebraska? “I went on many other visits, and I was blessed with many choices. But the moment I stepped on Nebraska soil, I knew that’s where I belonged. Being a So-Cal kid and stepping out into -3 degree weather with snow everywhere, you would think I would want to turn back around… but that was not the case. I didn’t want to leave!”

“The coaches, players and people of Nebraska all treated me like I was family and made it feel just at home. The campus was beautiful, the athletic facilities were unbelievable, Nebraska has the most Academic-All Americans in the country, and so much more.”

“To this day I still can NOT completely explain to someone why I chose to be a Nebraska Cornhusker, but what I can say is that… I definitely made the best decision possible.”

“Here’s a little insight into something that really drilled the interest of Nebraska into my heart: one day my team and I was playing in a tournament in Fountain Valley, Calif., and the weather wasn’t the best to us that weekend; with lots of rain and cold weather, but that didn’t stop Assistant Coach Diane Miller of Nebraska from being at the field.”

“With our team in the dugout on a rain delay late at night, Coach Miller stuck it out like a champ regardless of the rain, time of day, and the delay. That moment when my coach [Jeff Blanco] and I looked over to see her in the stands, we both knew that they [Nebraska Coaching Staff] were serious about what they wanted, and they really cared. That act alone really showed the amazing character and hearts of the Husker Softball coaching staff.”

 

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

In response to the article “Key Proposals Highlight ASA Meeting” which included the discussion on allowing college players to participate in ASA events, reader Kevin had the following to say:

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Let all age-eligible athletes play, regardless of college participation. This removes the need to police college players out of any division. With no restrictions, I would expect many college players who would not play for an 18A team to play for an 18G team which should cause the 18G division to become the undisputed elite division that it should be.

Move forward the 16G division. This gives the elite university coaches the national championship venue from which to choose the young prospects they are targeting.

If the 18G & 16G have the college players and ultra-elite young talent that the top universities have or are targeting, then the 16A and 18A divisions will end up as the age and talent appropriate player pools for the other 90% of universities and colleges to target in their recruiting efforts.

These changes should increase overall participation by encouraging college players to stay in ASA ball while organizing the divisions so college coaches can efficiently target their recruits.

Agree?  Disagree?  To comment on this or to send along your opinion, e-mail: brentt@studentsports.com

 

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RECRUITING NEWS

*** The Beverly Bandits, one of the top club organizations in the country, has four more verbals to report:

— P/1B Meghan Beaubien (2017, Michigan)… plays for Team DeMarini 14U
— P/1B Lauren Rice (2017, Missouri)… plays for Team DeMarini 14U
— 1B/3B Xiomara Santiago (2016, Memphis)… plays for Team DeMarini 16U
— P Jenny Chapman (2016, Louisiana Tech)… plays for Team Premier 16U

 

*** Thanks to the USA Athletics for sending their senior class list of signees we didn’t have on our Master Verbal list…. here they are:

— SS/OF Noelani Boyer (2014, Hawaii Pacific)
— 3B/C Bryanna Ybarra (2014, Cal State Fullerton)
— 1B/C Sarah Jackson (2014, Eastern Kentucky)
— SS/2B Selina Tajalle (2014, Cal State Northridge)
— OF/2B Jennifer Aguinaga (2014, Fairleigh Dickinson)
— 1B/3B Alexis Mercurio (2014, Cal State Monterey Bay)

 

*** More verbals:

— SS Nichole Fry (2015, Long Beach State)… plays for So Cal A’s-Richardson
— C/3B Kelly Martinez (2016, Utah)… plays for Firecrackers-Brashear
— IF Katlyn Purvis (2014, Kent State)… plays for Lake Breeze Gold
— OF/IF/P Kristin Koepke (2015, Evansville)… plays for Illinois Chill
— C/3B Caley Chappel (2015, USC Upstate)… plays for Windermere Wildfire-Pollock
— 2B/OF Alexys Haskins (2018, Tennessee)… plays for Tennessee Fury

 

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EVENT NEWS:  SOCAL NATIONAL SKILLS COMBINE (DAY 2)

Sunday was the second of the two-day So Cal National Skills Combine produced by Diamond9 events which was held at Foothills High in Santa Ana, Calif.

Here is the short list of the players who caught coaches’ eyes yesterday:

— SS Mandy Larios (2015, ACA)
Good hands, a strong arm and confident on offense and defense.

— MIF Rachel Poirier (2016, Extreme Santa Ana 18U)
A late add to the event, she was smooth in fielding and not afraid to lay out for the ball.

— SS Valerie Ventura (2017, Firecrackers-Redmond)
Good swing at the plate with sneaky power and fundamentally solid on defense.

— P Alyssa Nunez (2018, La Mirada Firecrackers)
One of the top players coaches were talking about.

— C Mikaela Mak (2018, Firecrackers Lakewood)
Smooth with a gun behind the plate, gets the ball out quickly and accurately.

— C Analiese Raley (2018, Central Dirt Dogs 14U)
Has the physical tools with a high ceiling and is a take-charge leader on  defense.

— P Annie Luderer (2017, So Cal 3D)
Effective spin and changed speeds well, shows a lot of potential to play at the next level.

— P Jessica Martinez (2018, La Mirada Firecrackers)
Good aggressiveness as she attacked the zone and pitched beyond her years.”

— 1B Jordyn Kolone (2018, La Mirada Firecrackers)
Very coachable and a good communicator on field, had a triple in one game showing her powerful stick.

 

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PIC OF THE DAY

Last Friday we profiled the Lil Rebels out of Las Vegas.  That night they had an organizational banquet and an Ugly Sweater contest.

Congratulations (condolences?) go to Vern Stephens, the 12U coach, who won (lost?) the contest!

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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.