Our first December update sees introducing a new feature where we run some info from the Player Submission Form we have on the site.  We also look at a Pac-12 bound recruit who has won state and national championships and have a lot of recruiting news to report after the Thanksgiving break!

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RECRUIT PROFILE: ALYSSA BARRERA

Last week we listed the verbal of Alyssa Barrera to Utah… here’s more on the sophomore from Southern California who excels on the field and in the classroom:

Grad Year: 2016
Pos: OF/2B
High School: Bishop Amat High School
GPA: 4.0 GPA
Club: Firecrackers Brashear
Honors: 2008 ASA 10U Nationals (finished 2^nd), 2008 ASA State Champions, 2009 ASA 10U National Champions, 2009 ASA 10U State Champions, 2010 ASA 12U Nationals 5^th, 2011 ASA 12U Nationals 2^nd, 2011 ASA 12U States 2^nd, 2012 PGF 14U Nationals 13^th, 2013 PGF 14U National Champions (Team Mizuno-Campbell)
College: Utah

 

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: Tell us how you were first seen by the coaches, then how long til offered? 
Alyssa Barrera: Utah Softball Assistant Coach Maggie Livreri saw me at a Firecracker Organizational Exposure Combine in October.  I started talking to the coaches over the next few weeks and they offered a scholarship right after our Firecracker Pre-Thanksgiving Day Combine.

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision? 
AB: My family and I researched several schools that were interested in me.  We evaluated the softball program including the coaching staff, recruiting classes, and facilities.  Additionally, I plan on majoring in Accounting and Utah has one of the top accounting programs in the country.  Lastly, Utah is in the Pac-12 and I wanted to play against current and former teammates and friends in the best softball conference in the country.  Once we stack ranked the schools I knew Utah was at the top of my list.

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches, in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit? 
AB: My family and I had done a lot of research on Utah so I felt comfortable committing to Head Coach Amy Hogue over the phone.

SSS.com: Describe your emotions around committing… 
AB: I was excited and relieved because recruiting has changed and most major programs like to commit girls much earlier now.

SSS.com: How far away from home will be?  Was distance a factor in your decision at all? 
AB: Distance was a factor in my decision.  Salt Lake City is a short flight from home and I wanted to play in the Pac-12 conference to make it easier for my family to see me play.

SSS.com:  What do you think (or have others said) are your strengths as a softball player? 
AB: I’ve won at every level and have a reputation for having intangibles that help team’s win.  My travel softball coach, Sean Brashear, says that if I played baseball the Oakland A’s would love me because I’m the perfect “Moneyball” player because I have professional at-bats and play smart.

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career? 
AB: Traveling across the US with my friend’s playing the game I love and winning two National Championships.

 

Quick Hitters

 

What do you want to major in?
Accounting.

Fill in the blank… I’m happiest when…
… my team is winning.

Favorite place in the world:
Disneyland.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know? 
I’m a good impersonator and can make really weird faces.

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

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
My iPhone.

The Holidays are fast approaching, what’s the No. 1 gift request you have in for Santa? 
Doc Marten shoes.

Other than family, who’s your hero or someone you look up to most? 
Tyra Banks because she’s a strong independent businesswoman and model.

 

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PLAYER SUBMISSION FORM INFO:

Players: fill out our Player Submission Form, whether committed or not, and you may see your info used on our site! 

Name: Paige Halstead
High school: Los Osos
City: Rancho Cucamonga
State: CA
Grad year: 2015
Club: Explosion
Position(s):  SS/C
College: UCLA
Other Offers: Tennessee, Oklahoma, George Washington, Purdue, Washington, Missouri
Why UCLA: “UCLA was my No. 1 and is the best academic decision for me with great career opportunities. I consider it an honor to have a chance to play softball in a UCLA uniform.”

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Name: Libby Sugg
High school: Franklin
City: Franklin
State: TN
Grad year: 2015
Club: Tennessee Fury 97
Position(s):  C/3B
College: BYU
Other Offers: Tennessee, Southern Illinois, Lipscomb, Belmont
Why BYU: “The opportunity to receive a quality education, play softball for a great program and grow spiritually in a unique environment.”

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Name: Lindsay Rood
High school: Monte Vista
City: Danville
State: CA
Grad year: 2015
Club: KG Hitters
Position(s):  SS/OF
College: Cal
Other Offers: Arizona, Santa Barbara, Missouri, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Idaho State, Oregon, Oregon State, Boise State
Why Cal: “I grew up watching the Bears softball team play and have been lucky to attend a lot of their games. UC Berkeley is one of the top universities in the country an it’s basically in my back yard. When I was visiting the campus one time, Coach Ninemire told me that she’s never had a hometown girl come play for her before. That’s when I learned that Coach Ninemire lives in the same town I do. Pretty cool!”

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Madi Bishop, the 2015 corner infielder (3B/1B) for Texas Glory-Shelton, had quite the enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend.

The Arkansas native has committed to Oregon and got to see in person the thrilling 36-35 Oregon over Oregon State in the Civil War game last Friday when the Ducks scored the winning touchdown with only 29 seconds left in the game.

Madi says: “It was definitely the loudest and craziest environment I’ve ever been in. I was there for pre-game, Senior Walk, the team’s run out and kickoff, so that was just an absolutely amazing experience.”

“This whole trip is actually my birthday present. I turned 17 on November 2. I will also be getting to go to a men’s basketball game as well. Without a doubt, this is the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten next to my Jeep!” (laughs)

 

*** Two Northern Iowa commitments— IF Sam Nicholson (2014) and P Mallory Kilian (2015)— are now on the Iowa Premier Gold.

 

*** More verbals:

— P Danielle Baumgartner (2015, Missouri)… plays for St. Louis Chaos
— OF Brianna Betschel (2105, Ohio State)… plays for OC Batbusters – Briggs
— IF/OF Suzy Brookshire (2016, Sacramento State)… plays for Central Coast Athletics
— 2B Kristina Burkhardt (2015, North Carolina)… plays for the Indiana Magic Gold
— 3B Kristin Hawkins (2014, Georgia State)… plays for Georgia Impact – Medlam
— IF Kaitlin Lampson (2018, Loyola Marymount)… plays for Oregon Breeze
— SS Kelsey McGuffin (2015, Western Kentucky)… plays for Tennessee Fury
— 2B Aeshia Miles (2015, Maryland)… plays for Georgia Impact-Medlam
— P Patty Maye Ohanian (2017, Illinois)… plays for Vienna Stars
— C/3B Brooke Redmond (2014, Monmouth)… plays for Vienna Stars
— OF Olivia Stanton (2014, Indianapolis)… plays for Central Ohio Lady Vipers-Costa
— SS Mary Katherine Tedder (2017, Texas)… plays for Birmingham Thunderbolts – Roberson
— P/1B Briana Wheeler (2016, Hawaii)… plays for Firecrackers-Brashear

 

*** Here are two recent signees for South Carolina-Beaufort we’ll add to the list—thanks for the info courtesy of the coaches of the Sand Sharks (love that nickname!):

— SS/2B Bailey Craven (2014, Carolina Fire)
— 3B Kim Kerby (2014, NC Lady Lightning)

 

*** Finally, Samantha Chiudina, a 2014 middle infielder with the CT Charmers Gold, committed to Indian River State College in Florida on Nov. 21 and will sign a LOI in January.

 

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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.