The Early Signing Period, which started last Wednesday (Nov. 13), wraps up this Wednesday (Nov. 20) and we continue honoring those “living the dream” by featuring some additional signing photos.  We also profile a Big Ten-bound freshman who’ll be just minutes from home and have more signing and verbal news (16 more covering Washington to Florida with stops in California and Texas).

 

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EARLY SIGNING PERIOD PHOTOS (PART III):

 

 

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RECRUIT PROFILE: MEGAN MCMENEMY

Grad Year:  2017

Pos:  3B/IF

High School:  Westerville Central (Westerville, Ohio)

GPA: 4.35 (3^rd in her class of 508)

Club:  Beverly Bandits

College: Ohio State

 

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: How did Ohio State first found out about you and did you know they were interested in you?  
Megan McMEnemy: During the summer, I attended their camp and they watched some of my team’s games.  This fall, my Bandits coaches, Bill Conroy and Chad Moran, my hitting coach Glen Widner (Ohio Lasers Black), and my sister’s coach Steve Gambone (Ohio Lasers Gold) all told me that Ohio State was interested.  They watched me in California at the OnDeck National Elite Camp and Surf City October Showcase.

SSS.com: When did they offer and what was the timeline of you then deciding to commit? 
MM: I went on an unofficial visit on November 8, 2013 and that’s when they made me an offer. After dinner, seeing a volleyball and hockey game, and meeting several players, it confirmed that I wanted to be a Buckeye.

SS.com: What factors led you to the decision?   
MM: The opportunity to play in the Big Ten, close to home and a great education. I’ve attended the camps since I was 12 and I always dreamed of being a Buckeye.

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches you’d be a Buckeye?
MM: I talked it over with my parents and as we were leaving, I told Coach (Kelly Kovach) Schoenly that I would love to be a Buckeye.

SSS.com: You’re from Columbus, did you grow up an OSU fan?  Was it always your goal to play there?  
MM: Yes, I’ve always been an OSU fan, and after going to camps since I was 11 years old, it has been my dream to go there.  My family actually has always divided between Michigan and Ohio State. My dad and my grandpa grew up big Michigan fans and the rest of my family is Ohio State fans.  After I committed, my dad, who grew up in Columbus, bought his first Ohio State hat.  Now I just have to work on my grandpa!

SSS.com: What are your thoughts on being minutes from home so all your family and friends can see you play? 
MM: I’m really excited about it because with my travel team, I rarely place close to home. So it will be nice that my family and friends can now come watch me play.

SSS.com: How did you get to be on a Beverly Bandits team?  
MM: I joined the Beverly Bandits this fall after playing with Ohio Lasers for six years. Bill Conroy was expanding into Ohio and offered me the opportunity to play on the Ohio-based DeMarini 16u team. We split practicing between Columbus and Indianapolis and occasionally in Chicago when all the Bandits teams get together.

SSS.com:  You’re only a freshman so you have a lot of time before you step onto the Ohio State playing field.  What will you focus on improving as a softball player in the years before you get to college? 
MM:  I will continue to work on my hitting, fielding and throwing. I’m also working with a personal trainer for strength and conditioning. Playing on the Bandits will keep me prepared by playing the best competition out there.

SSS.com: You have a 4.35 GPA, which is awesome! Where does that put you in your class?  How do you achieve such a great GPA and what is it that allows you to succeed academically as well as athletically? 
MM: I think I’m in the top 5%. I’m taking honors classes in English, Biology, and History. I’m a very competitive person in the classroom as well as on the field.  I get mad at myself when I miss a couple points on a test or assignment. My typical day involves coming home from school, working out, homework, then work on hitting and fielding with my dad.

SSS.com: Did you do anything fun to celebrate committing?
MM:  My parents took me shopping to get some Ohio State gear. Then we combined my celebration with my sister’s for signing her Letter of Intent to play softball at the University of Akron.  My dad also took me to an Ohio State hockey game.

 

Quick Hitters (short answers)

What’s your dream job?  
FBI agent

Where is the most exciting, exotic or interesting place you’ve travelled to?  
Oklahoma City and Disneyland

Fill in the blank… I’m happiest when:_________
I’m playing softball

Favorite food:  
Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Least favorite food:  
Pickles

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?  
I’m good at logic and Sudoku problems

If you were in a spelling bee, would you make it to the finals, drop out in the first round or do well enough to not embarrass yourself?  
Do well enough to not embarrass myself.

With Thanksgiving almost here, how will you be celebrating it?  
Going to my grandparents’ house for dinner.

Other than the obvious (family, friends, etc.), what’s one thing particular to you that you’re thankful for?  
The opportunities I’ve had to travel around the country playing softball.

What’s on the top of your Christmas wish list?  
Anything Ohio State.

Finally, being from Columbus, what’s the thing (other than Ohio State!) that your hometown does best or is most known for?  
The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
 

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SIGNING NEWS:

*** Each day, more teams in our Top 25 Recruiting Classes release their signing lists/bios… today’s includes Pacific, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

Click on the link above to see those who have information available on their new signees.

 

*** Alexis Barkwell, a 2014 pitcher who plays for the SoCal Fury Gold-Goodacre team, has committed to Dixie State.

A senior at North Medford High School in Medford, Ore., Barkwell was offered a scholarship on October 19th at the end of the Surf City October Showcase and went on her official visit to Dixie State on October 31-November 2.

She committed about two weeks later.

“When she stepped on campus she said it just felt right and the more time she spent there the more she felt at home,” explained her father, Tom.

“Alexis really enjoyed spending time with the girls on the team and they made her feel extremely comfortable. She attended a class with her sponsor and really liked the smaller class sizes and that the professors really know who you are. She was looking for a small Division I school or a larger Division II school so it really worked out well for her.”

The Oregon athlete earned 2^nd Team All-Conference honors as a pitcher and first baseman and helped lead the team to the Oregon 6A state championship.  Alexis wants to study Kinesiology and Physical Therapy for the Red Storm, which is located in Dixie, Utah.

 

*** Chloe Howerth, a 2014 OF/2B with the Illinois Chill organization has signed with Monmouth University.

Says Chill Gold Head Coach Gerry Quinn, “Chloe joined my team this year as a senior after playing the last three years with the Chill team coached by Pat Morris.”

“She has fit in beautifully with our team form the start in that she is athletic, versatile and humble. She had a great fall season in front of the college coaches and had a number of schools interested in her. Chloe visited Monmouth and felt it was a good fit for her athletically and academically and we are all thrilled that she will get a great opportunity there.”

 

*** Dan Piening of the Lady Lightning Gold softball program in Old Tappan, N.J. writes to say that:

— Nicole Parks, a 2014 pitcher/outfielder, has signed a letter of intent with the University of Albany
— Zoe Singer, a 2014 pitcher/first baseman, has applied for an early decision at Hamilton College, a private school which should let her know her status by Dec. 15.

 

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RECRUITING NEWS

*** Lexi DiEmmanuele, a fast 2015 outfielder who’s the proto-type lefty slapper and table-setter, has committed to Boston College according to Steve Svekis of the Sun Sentinel (Fla.).

DiEmmanuele plays for the Gold Coast Hurricanes-Cooper team and helped the Florida powerhouse finish tied for ninth at PGF Nationals this past summer and seventh at the Triple Crown Sports National Championships in Sparks, Nev.

Lexi attends Cypress Bay High (Fla.) where she’s been a two-time Sun Sentinel Broward large-school All-County 1^st team pick.

 

***  Zoe Goodman, a 2017 C/IF with the Texas Glory-Naudin team and a student at McKinney North (Texas), committed to North Carolina today according to Glory head man Kevin Shelton.

“Zoe is a big strong kid with a powerful upper body,” says Coach Shelton.

“She can drive the ball to all fields and has a ‘plus arm’ behind the plate.  Zoe is young but has developed quickly.  Her talent has been evident for some time.  She was the only eighth grader on our 16U Texas Glory (Naudin) team last spring.  Zoe’s growth, with the help of her 16U coaches Ed Naudin, Aaron Lusk and Mike Miller, has been notable.  She’s a hard worker who loves the game.”

The 16U Naudin squad is one to watch this year: it has played 18U most of the fall and done well including going 6-1 the previous weekend in Arizona.  From what we hear, too, the team just added a good 2017 lefty hurler that is getting Big 12 and SEC interest.

The Texas Glory program overall is thriving with eight signees and 23 commits of underclass players.

 

*** Maddie Shaffer, a 2015 pitcher with the Illinois Chill, has committed to Penn State.

“Maddie is a Pennsylvania girl and a Penn State legacy,” explains Gerry Quinn of the Illinois Chill.

“Getting the opportunity to play softball at Penn State is a dream come true for her. Maddie worked extremely hard this fall and made strides with her offspeed pitch and her pitching velocity. The last few weeks of our fall season things really kicked in for her and she established herself as a D1 pitching recruit.”

 

*** More verbals:

— P Julie Kestas (2015, Bradley)…Plays for Dirt Devils Elite
— OF Ivey Wagner (2015, Cornell)…Plays for Wagner’s Sports 55
— P/1B Paige Warfel (2016, Delaware)…Plays for Newtown Rock Gold-Garvey
— SS/C Emily Wetzel (2015, Illinois of Chicago)…Plays for Dirt Devils Elite
— OF/1B Caitlyn Daly (2014, Illinois State)…Plays for Dirt Devils Elite
— 2B/OF Sarah Coyne (2014, Maine)…Plays for Newtown Rock Gold-Amendolara
— OF/1B Jenny Van Geertry (2015, Northern Illinois)…Plays for New Lenox Lightning Gold
— OF Kayla Landwehrmier (2014, Ole Miss)…Plays for St. Louis Chaos
— P/OF Sydnee Strong (2015, Sacramento State)…Plays for San Jose Lady Sharks
— P Tori Perkins (2015, Stetson)…Plays for Firecrackers-DFW (Rosales)
— OF Julia Hollingsworth (2015, Tulsa)…Plays for Firecrackers-DFW (Rosales)
— SS Rachel McClaskey (2014, UNC Greensboro)…Plays for Newtown Rock Gold-Amendolara
— OF Amirah Milloy (2015, Washington)…Plays for Absolute Blast

 

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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.