It’s a short week for many with Thanksgiving in three days but we’ll continue to have content all week including today’s look at a club team right in the middle of the country.  We profile a player who’s staying on the East Coast to play at the college level and look at a signed senior who has more international experience than almost all her age…

 

*****

CLUB PROFILE: DEMARINI ZEPHYRS

We’ve profiled many club teams led by former baseball players and Ryan Taylor, Head Coach of the DeMarini Zephyrs did take the diamond in high school, but he was also a collegiate wrestler at Arizona State so this is probably one team you don’t want to pick a fight with.

Taylor, who also keeps his plate full serving as the PGF Kansas and Missouri State Director, has been able to translate his success athletically to that of his team, which tied for ninth at last year’s PGF Platinum National Championship in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Based in Kansas City, Missouri, the Zephyrs have also had good success in a short amount of time in placing players across the nation.

“I started the DeMarini Zephyrs in 2009 and in four short years we’ve been able to put kids in SEC, Big 12, Big 10, and several other conferences,” Ryan begins.  “ It’s been an amazing ride and I credit the kids for buying in and believing in the system.”

The fall was a busy one for the Midwest team as it participated in the DeMarini Elite Invitational in O’Fallon, Ill., Sun Classic in Orlando, Fla, and Southern Force Showcase in Watkinsville, Ga. peaking the weekend of Nov. 16-17 with 35 runs scored in their games while only allowing nine.

Most impressively, the Zephyrs had to condense their practices and learn on the run.

“With Missouri high school softball in the fall,” the coach explains, “we were only able to get one team practice before the first weekend in O’Fallon.”

Despite being only five years, the Zephyrs had placed 15 players at major colleges including six in the Big Ten and two in the SEC.  The first graduating class (2012) featured Kiki Stokes, an NFCA High School All-American, who played in the 2013 Women’s College World Series for Nebraska.

“That was awesome,” says Taylor.  “I was able to attend and watch her.  Kiki is such a special young lady with a great work ethic and attitude.  She’s a role model to kids in Kansas City and our organization.  It was really cool for her to play in the WCWS, it made my Premier and 16U teams realize that, hey, if we work hard that’s a realistic goal!”

Watching his former players move on and compete successfully reminds the former college wrestler of why he loves to be involved with softball.

“It’s funny,” he begins, “that when you start a traveling team you hope to get some kids that buy into a system and get to play in college.  College athletics was one of the best times in my life and to be able to be a role model and offer that to girls in the organization is a dream come true.  My friends always ask, ‘Why the heck do you do this, there’s no pay… are you crazy?’ At that point, I know they don’t understand what it means to give back to these kids.”

Taylor says he gets a lot more out of it than most realize.

“It’s really me who get’s the honor of working with them,” he continues. “They are such special, mature, young women.  Watching their business approach and work ethic is awesome.  I’ve been blessed to have their parents believe in the system and support their kids missing school and traveling around the country.  You hope to get some kids into schools and for the kids to get the looks and scholarships we’ve had is absolutely amazing.  I think it’s a true testament how special they are and how hard they work.”

The young coach admits he instills some of what he learned on the mat into the workouts on the field.

“I think my practice structure comes from my wrestling background,” the coach says.  “These girls know that when they step in-between the lines it’s a grind! I don’t look at them as girls on the field, though; they are elite athletes and can complete with anyone, boy or girl. I’m excited to see what this group can do, probably my best team yet!  They are such an unselfish bunch that works for each other and are a true pleasure to be around.”

For now, the DeMarini Zephyrs will stay with the team he has with no plans to expand.

“People ask why we don’t add additional teams beyond 18U and 16U and my answer is that I’m a control freak.  I want to make sure it’s done right, because if there isn’t consistency I don’t want it.  Everyone needs to be on the same page and working for the kids and their dreams.”

Competitive though it may be, Ryan has been pleasantly surprised with the support he’s received in and out of his program.

“It’s been great to find coaches who have my passion and view.  I’ve also run into some really great travel ball coaches and college coaches who’ve helped me.  It’s crazy how small the travel ball world is and I love being a part of such a tight group.”

***

Here’s a player-by-player look at the DeMarini Zephyrs team with comments by Head Coach Ryan Taylor:

— UT Jessica Heese (2014, Southern Illinois-Carbondale)
“Jessica is one of our captains and can play third, outfield or just about anywhere.  She’s a two-time All-State player from North Platte High and batted a staggering .636 last year.”

— P Baylee Douglass (2014, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville)
“Baylee initially committed to North Texas but after a coaching changed decided she wanted to stay closer to home.  She’s probably one of the most decorated Missouri pitchers of all time and is coming off her third state championship.  Baylee absolutely dominated the competition this year.”

— OF/MIF Melissa Scholtzhauser (2015, uncommitted)
“Melissa is another All-State player.  She’s from Pilot Grove (Mo.) and has a great frame.  Melissa is new to the team this year and is excellent on the base paths and very fast down the line.”

— OF Alyssa Bates (2015, Iowa)
“Alyssa has blistering speed with a 2.65-2.70 home to first time and adds pop at the plate. She has a phenomenal arm and covers a ton of ground in the outfield.  She’s one of our four captains and was an All-State player batting over .600 her freshman year leading the team to a second place finish.”

— C/1B Brooke Rozier (2015, Iowa)
“Brooke has a powerful swing with tons of pop and will be joining Alyssa at Iowa in a few years.  Also a team captain, she has the ability to change a game with one swing.  Behind the plate, her arm is very powerful as well.”

— P/1B Mackenzie Ellis (2015, Northwestern)
“Mackenzie has played high school ball in Iowa and made drastic improvements over the fall.  She threw some serious strikeout numbers against some of the best competition in the country.  Her bat is very strong and Kenzie has the ability to put it over the fence.  She also has a great work ethic and the ability to make quick adjustments.”

— SS Lexey Kneib (2016, uncommitted)
“Lexey is a stud on the defensive side of the ball, she is like a vacuum at short.  A good all-around athlete she’s also a basketball player who has excellent range on the softball field.   Lex makes everything look so smooth.  Her older sister, Laney, pitches at St. Louis University.  Offensively, Lex is a gap-to-gap hitter and leads the team in RBIs.”

— C/3B Lindey Kneib (2016, uncommitted)
“Lexey’s twin (actually my second set of twins on the team!) has a great arm behind the plate.  I wouldn’t steal on her because she threw out nine of 12 runners.  Lindey has serious power at the plate too.”

— 3B/C Madison Heide (2016, uncommitted)
“Madison has excellent footwork on the corner with soft hands.  Her biggest attribute is her overhand throw clocked at 65 mph. She’s been behind the plate for about a year and it’s hard not to put that type of arm behind the plate.  Madison is a captain for us and led the team this fall in average at the plate.”

— OF/MIF Havyn Monteer (2016, uncommitted)
“Havyn is power plus lighting in a small frame.  The kid is a pure ball of muscle and has excellent arm strength and power at the plate.  She would give any slapper a run for their money, but you can’t take away her power from the right side.  Havyn is very blue collar and is always willing to leave her feet to make the play.”

— IF/OF Alyssa Menninger (2016, uncommitted)
“Alyssa is a big kid with power at the plate as well.  She is a true utility player who has the ability to play any position.  She will challenge the team as the home run leader this year despite only being a sophomore.”

— MIF Kendyll Bailey (2017, uncommitted)
“Kendyll is the baby of the young group, although she doesn’t play like it.  ‘KB’ has the ability to play Div. 1 basketball but has a true passion for softball.  With a 5-foot-10 frame, she’s very athletic and owns the middle infield with her soft hands.  She was second on the team in batting average and has gap-to-gap power but doesn’t strikeout.”

 

*****

RECRUIT PROFILE: SHELBY HAMMONTREE

Grad Year: 2016
Pos: catcher
High School: Heritage High (Ringgold, Ga.)
Club: Heritage Generals
Honors: NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete & All Region (2013) for catching
College:  East Carolina

***

StudentSportsSoftball.com: Tell us how you were first seen by the East Carolina coaches and when did they officially offer?
Shelby Hammontree: I caught for one of Coach (Beth) Keylon-Randolph’s pitchers during lessons when she was the coach at Chattanooga State. The ECU staff also saw me at fall exposure tournaments the fall they were named as the coaches at East Carolina. Finally, they were able to work with me at a camp in December 2012 at Tennessee Tech and then they offered in February.

SSS.com: What was it you liked about ECU enough to commit?
SH: The campus was absolutely beautiful and the athletic facilities were first class. Also, I believed what the coaches told me about the future of ECU softball.

SSS.com: What were the circumstances of when you told them you’d be going to ECU?
SH: I was on an unofficial visit in February 2012. They had offered before I left. I accepted on the spot.

SSS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them, were you more nervous or more excited?
SH: I was both nervous and excited. Very few freshmen are offered a Division I scholarship at a prestigious university such as ECU. I have worked extremely hard and I was thrilled that all the hard work had paid off.

SSS.com: How far away from home will be?  Was distance a factor in your decision at all?
SH: I’m nine hours away from home. Distance never really entered my mind.

SSS.com:  What do you love about softball?
SH: I found this quote of the Internet a couple of years ago and it explains the feeling that I have for softball completely: “People don’t play sports only because its fun. Ask any athlete; most of them couldn’t imagine their life without it. It’s part of them. It’s what they live for. They live for the practices, parties, cheers, long bus rides, invitationals, countless pairs of different types of shoes, water, Gatorade and coaches you hate but appreciate. They live for the way it feels when they beat the other team, and knowing those two extra sprints they ran in practice were worth it. They live for the way they become a family with their team, they live for the countless songs they sing in their head while training all those hours. They live for the competition, they live for the friends, the practices, the memories, the pain. It’s who they are. It’s who we are.”

SSS.com: Humility aside, what skills do you have which make you a college level player?
SH: I am a power-hitting, strong-armed catcher and my skills translate well to the Division I level.

 

Quick Hitters (short answers)

What do you want to major in?
Sports Medicine

My favorite flavor is:
Cherry Limeade

Best movie ever:
A League of Their Own

How would your family or friends describe you in one word?
Hardworking

With Thanksgiving this week, what are you most thankful for?
My family and friends… they get me through everything.

What’s the best gift or service project you’ve ever given?
I went to retirement homes and sang Christmas Carols. Then went and gave presents to kids at a Headstart program.

The Holidays are fast approaching, what’s the No. 1 gift request you have in for Santa?
I want some ECU gear and a new Louisville Slugger LXT or Xeno.

Where do you see yourself being in 10 years?
 In 10 years I see maybe still in college or med school getting my degree or working and getting my life together

 

*****

RECRUITING NEWS

*** Taylor Rahach, a 2015 pitcher for the Central Florida Stingrays, has committed to Coastal Carolina.

Taylor attends Walsh Jesuit High (Ohio) and is part of the Stingrays program that has ties to both Central Florida and Ohio.

She was also one of the standouts at the National Skills Clinic that was part of the Sun Classic Fall Showcase that took place Halloween weekend—we noted her as one of the dozen players there that stood out with the comment: “Saw several coaches write her name down when she was pitching… watch for her recruiting to go up exponentially.”

Also, in September we profiled the Stingrays and Head Coach Mark Tamanini said of his star player then:

“Taylor is an all-state pitcher in Ohio, she actually played in the 16U PGF Nationals with the Ohio Ice.  She has command of a lot of spin pitches and throws the ball very, very hard and has a devastating curve ball.”

*** More verbals:

— OF/UT Hayley Baker (2015, Belmont)… plays for Southern Force Gold
— P/3B Tatum Buckley (2014, Florida Atlantic)… plays for Gold Coast Hurricanes
— 3B/1B Skylar Johnston (2016, Fordham)… plays for Virginia Legends
— C/IF Marcella Kay (2015, Seattle)… plays for California Krytponite
— 2B Ryne Nakama (2015, Connecticut)… plays for Irvine Sting
— OF/IF Madisyn Palmer (2015, Florida Atlantic)… plays for Gainesville Gold
— P/1B Ashtin Strickland (2015, Florida Atlantic)… plays for Gainesville Gold
— SS/OF Kinsley Washington (2017, UCLA)… plays for the Corona Angels
— C Hannah Williamson (2016, Mercer)… plays for Carolina Elite Team Mizuno

 

 

*****

SIGNING SPOTLIGHT

*** Brentt note: one of the players who impressed me when I was in Florida at the Sun Classic was Elicia D’Orazio of the Wagner’s Gold-Dunn team.  I profiled the team the and remember what Coach Anthony Ocasio said about the senior:

“Elicia is the prototypical leadoff hitter and just gets on base.  She can play every position but pitcher and mostly plays second for us.  Elicia will run through a fence for you.”

You can’t have too many players who’ll run through a fencer or wall for you!  Here’s more on the Marshall signee who has an interesting background…

***

Elicia, listed as a senior infielder, has a nice accomplishment listed on her resume: this past summer, despite being only 16 years old, she was selected to play on both the Puerto Rican Jr. National team (19 years old and younger) and the Puerto Rican Women’s National team (21 years and over).

She says, “I traveled to Canada playing in the Junior Women’s World Championships, to Oklahoma to play in the Women’s National World Championship of Softball and I also traveled to Puerto Rico to compete in the Pan-American Qualifier in which we qualified for the Pan-American games in 2015 in Canada, the Latin American Games in Mexico and the World Cup in Netherlands.”

Pretty heady stuff for a player who’s only 16 years old.

Elicia has played catcher and shortstop in high school and was a 1^st team All-State pick at Montverde Academy (Fla.) last year and was chosen as the Lake County Athlete of the Year as she hit .511 with 32 steals in 29 games.  She also had some pop in her bat with seven triples and a pair of home runs.

The Florida standout was offered in January of 2013—midway through her junior year of school—and she verballed committed last April.

“I chose Marshall because I instantly fell in love with it,” D’Orazio was quoted as saying in the Thundering Herd’s official release. “Marshall is a school that has its history, and I love that the town and everyone around is so supportive. It gives that home feeling, and coming all the way from Florida, that is what I was looking for.”

She was part of the Wagner’s Gold team that finished second in the ASA 18U GOLD Nationals played in Clearwater, Fla. last summer.

“Elicia [D’Orazio] is a baller and such a versatile athlete, who can play multiple positions for us,” Marshall Head Coach Shonda Stanton said. “She will be a huge spark plug to our office with her quickness. She has such natural aggressive instincts on the bases that fit right into our style of play.””

*****

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!

 

*****

 

If you’d like to submit information, forward to brentt@studentsports.com.  Also, follow us on twitter at @SS_Softball.