In honor of the Early Signing Period, we’re going to start running a bunch of pics showing select softball athletes signing their Letter of Intent.  If you’d like to submit a photo to run this week, e-mail to brentt@studentsports.com and please ID who’s in the pic along with the athlete!  Also, with college classes being made official, we’re linking to some that have been released.  There’s more signing and recruiting news, too, including one player who’s attending a school because

 

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EARLY SIGNING PERIOD PHOTOS (PART I):

 

 

 

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TOP 25 SIGNING CLASSES

With Wednesday (Nov. 13) being the first day players could sign Letters of Intent, some universities have already received all the paperwork necessary to announce their classes and post signing info.

Here’s our table of the Top 25 classes for the 2014 class with those schools in blue having links to their official signing release. Note: the “Signings” category indicates known verbals if the signing release isn’t officially released.

Ranking	University	Points	Hot 100 Players	Signings
1	UCLA	356	#'s: 2, 4, 10, 32, 96	5
2	Cal	290	#'s: 8, 20, 37, 45	5
3	Oregon State	277	#'s: 23, 27, 33, 40	4
4	Florida	272	#'s: 6, 9, 15, 98	5
5	Washington	256	#'s: 12, 14, 64, 67, 87	7
T6	Oregon	245	#'s: 1, 16, 68	4
T6	Tennessee	245	#'s: 5, 7, 43	6
8	Georgia	185	#'s: 18, 26, 71	6
9	Alabama	169	#'s: 19, 30, 82	3
10	North Carolina	150	#'s: 17, 41, 92	5
11	LSU	145	#'s: 21, 24	4
12	Auburn	134	#'s: 11, 55	2
13	Northwestern	111	#'s: 47, 62, 80	4
14	Pacific	110	#'s: 39, 51	4
15	Oklahoma State	109	#'s: 13, 78	5
16	Missouri	102	#'s: 60, 63, 75	6
17	Ohio State	101	#'s: 57, 65, 77	4
18	Michigan	98	#'s: 3, 100	4
19	Nebraska	96	#'s: 50, 54	6
20	Baylor	94	#'s: 46, 48	8
21	Oklahoma	93	#'s: 36, 83, 88	6
22	Arizona	86	#'s: 35, 79	2
23	South Carolina	78	#'s: 22	6
24	Mississippi State	76	#'s: 24	4
T25	Maryland	75	#'s: 25	5
T25	Texas A&M	75	#'s: 58, 74, 93	7
Bubble	Arizona State	74	#'s: 56, 70	5
Bubble	Utah	74	#'s: 29, 97	4
Bubble	Stanford	72	#'s: 28	5
Bubble	Boston College	69	#'s: 31	6
Bubble	Ole Miss	62	#'s: 38	7
Bubble	Tenn-Chattanooga	58	#'s: 42	5
Bubble	Notre Dame	58	#'s: 61, 81	4

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RECRUIT PROFILE: OLIVIA TAMEWITZ

Grad Year: 2016
Pos: centerfield
High School: Heritage High School (Ringgold, Ga.)
GPA: 3.75
Club: Heritage Generals
Stats: 2013 (sophomore season): 81 hits in 158 at bats for a .513 average, 56 runs scored, 22 RBI, eight triples and 42 stolen bases in 43 games; 2012 (freshman season: 57 hits in 120 at bats for a .475 average, 42 runs scored, 10 RBI, four triples and 38 stolen bases in 36 games
Honors: 2013: Region Champs, GA State Runner-Up (AAAA) with 34-9 record; All-Region 1st Team (outfield); 2012: Region Runner-Up — GA State, made it to Round of 16 (AAAA) with 27-8-1 record; All Region 1st Team, North Georgia Dream Team, 1st Team (outfield), All State, 2nd Team, Outfield, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Best of Preps, 1st Team Outfield
College: Ole Miss

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: Tell us how you were first seen by the coaches, then how long til offered?                                               
Olivia Tamewitz: They saw me at an exposure tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. in the summer of 2011.  About two years and five months later I got offered by Ole Miss on September 15 of this year.

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
OT: My first unofficial visit I knew it was right for me, I loved the coaches, campus and softball facilities. I was invited back for a second unofficial visit and that’s when Ole Miss offered and I accepted.

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches, in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
OT: On an unofficial visit.

SSS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them, were you more nervous or more excited?
OT: I was more excited than nervous. I felt as if a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

SSS.com: How excited are you to play in the SEC?
OT: I can’t put my excitement into words, its such a blessing. This is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m thankful for the opportunity.

SSS.com: How far away from home will be?  Was distance a factor in your decision at all?
OT: It’s a five hour ride from my house, about 310 miles. Yes, I really didn’t want to travel more than seven hours.

SSS.com:  What do you think (or have others said) are your strengths as a softball player?
OT: I would like to think that people think of me as a well-rounded player, but if one thing stands out it would be my speed.

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career?
OT: Hitting my first home run over the fence this past season along with making a catch while crashing into the outfield fence to rob someone of a would-be home run during the Georgia state tournament.

 

Quick Hitters:

What do you want to major in?
Nursing

Fill in the blank… I’m happiest when:
…I’m with friends and family

Favorite place in the world:
The beach

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I’m learning to play the ukulele.

How would your friends describe you in one word?
Crazy!

With Thanksgiving coming up, what are you most thankful for?
The family that God has blessed me with!

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
My best friend, Alison

The Holidays are fast approaching, what’s the No. 1 gift request you have in for Santa?
A car, because I’m a month away from my 16th birthday!

Other than family, who’s your hero or someone you look up to most?
God, because He is the Almighty! 

 

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SIGNING NEWS:

*** Brentt note: yesterday we posted the news that Maria Pappano, a 2014 middle infielder and pitcher for the Ohio Pumas, has signed with the Univ. of Findlay. Her father, Bill, tells us Maria is going to Findlay, which is only about two and a half hours a way, for a very cool reason:

“We are from Uniontown, Ohio which is between Akron and Canton,” he begins.

“Maria’s ultimate goal is to go to Ohio State Graduate School for Veterinary Medicine and choose the University of Findlay for several reasons but most importantly because of their exceptional Pre-Vet Undergraduate Program. The acceptance rate into Ohio State Graduate School in this field for students coming out of Findlay’s four-year program is very high, in fact it is one of the highest if not the highest around.

Also, it is a small private university with a lot of attention to students. Everyone pretty much knows each other.

That being said she didn’t think she could accomplish this academic program and play softball at the same time because of its very difficult workload. She attended a softball clinic at Findlay a year ago and spoke with several other players already on the team and to our surprise were going through the Pre-Vet program and playing softball as well.

The coach showed interest in her from this event and came to a few of her summer games and asked her to come out to practice with the team and they made her an offer which she accepted. She absolutely loves the coach and the girls on the team.

I truly believe the magic of this being possible for the girls to be able to do both is Coach Ammons. He is a very strong supporter of academics and being a successful student athlete.

It all worked out for her and she sort of got the best of both worlds.”

*** Here are players we found from the NY/NJ area that we didn’t have on our Master List which have signed LOI’s

— P Devin Durando (2014, Albany)… plays for NJ Heist Gold
— SS/3B Lauren Catena (2014, Boston)… plays for NJ Heist Gold
— IF Marisa Monasseri (2014, Caldwell)… plays for Jersey Flames
— IF Lorena Alvarez(2014, Hampton… plays for Lady Yellow Jackets
— P/1B Jada Fields(2014, Hampton)… plays for NJ Thunder
— OF Alexa Altchek (2014, Harvard)… plays for Jersey Outlaws
— OF Brielle Pietrefesa (2014, Hofstra)… plays for NJ Mystics Gold
— C/3B Victoria Ross (2014, Manhattan)… plays for NJ Heist Gold
— CF Gabrielle Kelliher (2014, Marist)… plays for Jersey Flames
— C Sam Reilly (2014, Marist)… plays for Jersey Flames
— SS Carly Lesko (2014, Maryland-Baltimore)… plays for East Coast Elite
— P Emily Schaffer(2014, Post (Conn.)) … plays for Jersey Flames Gold
— OF Mia Baldassari (2014, Siena) … plays for NJ Pride Black
— 2B Shannon Puthe (2014, St. Joseph (Pa.))… plays for New Jersey Gators
— CF Dylan Jarvis(2014, Towson) … plays for NJ Mystics 18U

 

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RECRUITING NEWS

*** More verbals that have come in over the last day:

— C/OF Allie Johnson (2016, Ohio State)… plays for So Cal Choppers-Shipman/Ziese
— 1B/C Noelle Hee (2017, Washington)… plays for OC Batbusters-Ybarra/Lastrapes
— 3B/OF Emilee Eastman (2014, Oregon Institute Tech.)… plays for Oregon Thunder ’95 Gold
— C/3B Amy Latner (2014, South Georgia State)… plays for Mid Georgia Panthers
— OF Haven Sampson (2017, Arkansas)…plays for Georgia Impact
— SS/3B Blaire Bass (2015, Auburn)…plays for Impact Gold
— OF Kelsey Johnson (2014, Buffalo)…plays for Battery Lightning Gold
— OF Adriana Toro (2015, Coastal Carolina)…plays for Rhode Island Thunder
— P Jillian Stockley (2015, Connecticut)…plays for Rhode Island Thunder
— 3B/2B Maddy Myers (2015, Lamar)…plays for Aces Express Gold
— MIF Destiny Martinez (2016, Longwood)…plays for Williamsburg Starz Gold
— OF Alicia Hanson (2014, Tennessee Martin)…plays for Cincy Doom Gold
— C/3B Emily Garza (2014, Texas-San Antonio)…plays for Texas Firecrackers
— IF Bethany Canada (2015, Wichita State)… plays for St. Louis Esprit

 

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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.