It’s another fall week and we travel to the middle of California for a profile of a younger club today.  We then head to New York for a recruit profile who actually plays for a Florida team and then finish with some recruiting news and notes including a Washington standout who’ll play in Montana and several verbals from the Land of Lincoln.  How’s that for canvassing the country!

 

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CLUB PROFILE: CENTRAL CAL DIRT DOGS 14U

Brentt’s note: I had been thinking for a while that I needed to spotlight a team from Central California; we’ve profiled many SoCal and NorCal teams but not one from the middle of the state. 

I recently reported on a Central Cal Dirt Dog verbal commit and that piqued my interest.  When I heard about this young (14U) team with a ton of talent, I new I had found a team of note.  What makes it more interesting is this young team has the first 2020 recruits I’ve seen and from all indications they are going to be special.

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The Central Cal Dirt Dog organization is only seven years old but in that time has filled in 11 teams in the 10U to 18U divisions.

An up-and-coming organization based in the Central Valley area of Calif., which is about as big as West Virginia and is known for a lot of agricultural crops, the Dirt Dogs have produced players going to SEC and Big Ten schools as well as many schools up and down the Golden State coast.

Considered as one of the leading club programs in this large area, the Dirt Dogs are also starting to attract not just players, but also coaches.

Mike Wallace is in his first year with the organization and coaches one of the three 14U teams. Last year, he was with the Clovis (Calif.) Rockets and, after winning the Central California ‘A’ Metro Association Championship and finishing 17^th at the PGF Nationals, he spoke to Jeff Harger, the head of the Dirt Dog organization, and decided to make a switch.

“Jeff really expressed interest in our team and believed we would be great Dirt Dogs,” Wallace explains. “I had ton of respect for Jeff and the Dirt Dogs and knew with the talent we had currently and what we were bringing in, it would be  a perfect fit.”

Originally from Wyandotte, Mich., Wallace grew up playing baseball at the travel, high school and college level.

“I started coaching travel baseball about 15 years ago in the college fall leagues in Michigan. I realized early that I really enjoyed coaching and helping young players develop their skills. Very soon upon getting my introduction into fastpitch softball I realized how fast and how great of a game fastpitch softball is. I cannot see myself not coaching softball.”

A nine-year veteran police offer, Wallace is working on getting a teaching credential and hopes to spend even more time in the softball world.

“I am now completing my teaching credential which will allow me to spend even more time coaching and teaching this wonderful game. I will hang up my handcuffs as a police officer and redirect my future.”

Like with many, Wallace was on the sidelines watching his daughter, Madison, play when he got a little prompting from his wife to go from the stands into the dugout.

“Honestly, I had no intention of coaching fastpitch softball until the opportunity was basically thrown at me,” he continues. “I was content with being a softball parent when Megan began playing travel ball at nine years old. My wife always told me that I would end up coaching as she found it difficult to believe that my sideline pacing, knowledge of the game and love of coaching would allow me to stay on the ‘other’ side of the fence. She was right… again.”

When Madison’s first 10U travel ball team’s head coach stepped down mid-season and players were leaving to other organizations, Wallace was essentially drafted into action as the players’ families reached out to him and asked if he would be interested in coaching the team because of his baseball background.

“They believed I could keep the team together and recruit other players,” Wallace recalls. “I eventually accepted the role as Head Coach and stepped in and from that point on it has been 100 mph and it is not slowing down anytime soon.”

The Dirt Dogs-Wallace team will wrap up the fall season this weekend at the OnDeck Phoenix Jamboree and the Arizona Hotshots Thanksgiving Day Shootout in Phoenix and Peoria, Ariz.

After the season ends, the athletes will be participating in an intense strength and conditioning program and will continue to train at the Dirt Dogs’ hitting facility, The Next Level (TNL) Diamond Academy located in Clovis, Calif.

The venue is owned and operated by Central California softball legend, Gerry Gresham who now also coaches in the Dirt Dog organization with a ‘committed’ Dirt Dog team.

With a 14U team that is starting to draw attention from coaches nationwide, Wallace is most proud of the work his players put in.

“In the end all of this is for the athletes,” he states. “They work tremendously hard as Dirt Dogs and we have a very high standard which they continuously work to meet in the classroom, in the community and on the softball field.”

“I am very excited to see where the next few years takes this team. Due to our location, we travel a ton, mostly to Southern California, and it is not easy to find families who have the resources and desire to travel as much as we do. We are very fortunate.”

“I hope to continue coaching to see all of these athletes off to college and then start the process all over again with another group. Coaching provides such a positive reward to me and the difference we and the game makes in these kids’ lives is such a foundational piece for their future that I can’t see myself stopping anytime soon.”

 

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Here’s a player-by-player look at the Central Cal Dirt Dogs 14U team with comments by Head Coach Mike Wallace:

— P Madison Avery (2018, uncommitted)
“Madison is a big (5-foot-9) pitcher who already sits in the mid to high 50’s with her fastball. As she continues to develop that velocity will easily get into the 60’s. Madison also has a very powerful bat and has been hitting the ball very hard all fall. She is drawing attention already from college coaches.”

— 3B Carsen Beckwith (2018, uncommited)
“Carsen is already an elite level hitter who hits for average and power. She plays third base without fear and is also very versatile. Carsen has played every position on the field except pitcher and has one of the shortest, purest swings I have ever seen. She is drawing interest from Div. I schools.”

— P Kamryn Caldwell (2019, uncommitted)
“Kamryn is a top 2019 pitcher whose ‘stuff’ matches her mound presence. She is a bulldog on the mound and is a fierce competitor. I first noticed Kamryn when she was a sixth grader and immediately saw her ability. She throws hard (has hit 60 mph already) and hits for power and average. Kamryn will be a SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12 kid.”

— UT Lindsay Castellanos (2018, uncommitted)
“Lindsay is a versatile athlete who can play anywhere on the field except pitcher. She joined our team this fall and instantly made us better. Lindsay will hit for power and is an invaluable versatile athlete who is a team leader. She has a passion for the game and is getting better everyday.”

— OF Emily Cazares (2020, uncommitted)
“Emily is probably the most talented kid we have on the team and has absolutely owned the 14/16U age divisions as an 11 year old. Emily posted a 2.78 home to first at the Dirt Dog Organizational tryouts in August and that was the fastest time from 10U to 18U. She’s a slapper with power and has great range in the outfield with a very strong arm. The sky is the limit for “Flash Caz.”

— P Arianna Guzman (2017, uncommitted)
“Arianna is big (5-foot-8), strong power pitcher who will sit at 60-61 mph with her fastball. She also has a powerful drop ball and nasty curve. Arianna is a tireless worker who is at the very top of 2017 arms. She’s a bulldog on the mound and is a great role model for some of our younger players. Arianna is drawing interest from Div. I schools.”

— SS Vanessa Hernandez (2018, uncommitted)
“Vanessa is an unbelievable natural athlete who, at 13-years-old. is already 5-foot-9. She has proven to be one of the premier 2018 shortstops in the country and her athleticism and size combination at her position is off the charts. Vanessa hits for average, power and as a right-handed hitter is 2.9 to first base. Vanessa is drawing interest from several Div. I schools and was a recent OnDeck Softball 2018 Jamboree invitee.”

— C/OF Adriana Mirelez (2017, uncommitted)
“Adriana is one of the fastest kids I have. She is a versatile player who plays catcher and all the outfield positions. Adriana hits for the highest average when runners are in scoring position. She is a team leader who is a positive presence in and out of the dugout.”

— OF/IF Carrie Posada (2018, Uncommitted)
“Carrie is a kid I brought to the program last winter. She’s a great kid who can play multiple positions very well including center, shortstop and third at high levels which are amazing to watch. Carrie also can hit for average, power and is one of best bunters. She is a versatile player which some college program is going to be very lucky to have in a few years.”

— C Analiese Raley (2018, uncommitted)
“Analies is, hands down, one of the top 2018 catchers in the country. Analies stands out at every recruiting showcase and camp the Dirt Dogs go to. Recently at one college showcase she was the starting catcher over the other 2016s and ‘17’s.  Analies is a power-hitting catcher who can run with the best of them. She hits for power, average and is a true leader. With that said, Analiese arm strength at 13 is mind boggling and she has several Div. I schools after her.”

— 1B Emma Ruth (2018, uncommitted)
“Emma is big (5-foot-7), athletic kid who has one of the best gloves I have ever seen for this age group. She very easily could play shortstop for any other competitive travel team. Emma hits the ball as hard as anyone and is considered one of the top 2018 players anywhere. She hits in the three hole for our team.  Emma joined us last summer and instantly helped turn us into a team that can compete at the highest levels. Several Div. I schools are interested.”

— OF /1B/UT Jazmin Silvestre (2017, uncommitted)
“’JZ’ is the ultimate teammate and has been hitting at a .600 clip this fall. Jazmin is a team favorite and provides leadership. She comes to the ballpark everyday ready to work hard and give 100 percent. Jazmin rejoined my team this fall and I’m thankful she did.”

— OF/UT Ally Tomlinson (2018, uncommitted)
“Ally is a special kid and was recently voted team captain. Prior to this, we have never voted in a captain. Ally is a coach’s dream: she’s hardworking, focused, tough and always is smiling. She is also very talented with a powerful bat and 2.9 speed home to first from the right side. Ally joined us this fall and brought an energy and toughness that we did not have before. She is drawing the attention of several Div. I schools.”

— 1B/UT Megan Torres (2018, uncommitted)
“Megan is the heart and soul of this Dirt Dog team. No one outworks her and she is a special kid who leads this team on and off the field. Every player on this team has tremendous respect for Megan. Make no mistake, without her this team is not the same.”

— 2B Madison Wallace (2018, uncommitted)
“Madison is one of the youngest 2018s you will find as she does not turn 13 until December. However, her age has not stopped her from showing she is one of the top 2018 second basemen in the country. She is already 5-foot-6, very athletic, has advanced glove/footwork with a powerful arm. Madison has been invited to all the major recruiting showcases including the OnDeck Jamboree and the PGF Surf City Combine/Workout. She is a pure hitter with one of the prettiest swings you will see and is drawing interest from several Division 1 schools.”

 

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RECRUIT PROFILE: TONI POLK

Toni Polk is a rising junior who has great grades and although from New York competes on the Gold Coast Hurricanes out of Florida.

Grad Year: 2015
Pos: SS/OF
High School: Niagara Falls (N.Y.)
GPA: 4.0
Club: Gold Coast Hurricanes Gold (Cooper)
Honors: Softball: 2013 NFL Player of the Year/1st Team All-Western New York/3rd Team All-New York State; Basketball: 2nd team All League; Volleyball: 1st team All League second year in a row; varsity starter in volleyball, basketball, and softball since eighth grade.
College: Penn State

 

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: Tell us how you were first seen by the coaches, then how long until you were offered?
Toni Polk: My travel coach, Marty Cooper, told me about a camp they were having in September and said I should go. I wasn’t to keen about it because I was pretty sure I was going to accept Boston College’s offer and it was in the same day as my high school homecoming dance.

My Mom convinced me to go and I’m glad I went. I love the coaches’ enthusiasm and the organization. There was no time wasted and they covered a lot in a short time.  Coach (Amanda) Lehotak must have seen something in me because after the camp, she asked to see my parents and me and said she wanted to get me on campus. I went for an unofficial Oct. 11-13 and coach offered on Oct. 11^th.

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
TP: I committed the next day. That night my parents and I talked about how genuine the coaches were and the family atmosphere. We loved the whole “One Team” concept and it just felt so right. A lot of the bigger schools kept saying they needed to see me play more and this and that but Coach Lehotak believed in me right away and that meant a lot to me.

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches, in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
TP: I told them in person the next day right before we went in the gate for the Michigan/Penn State football game.

SSS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them, were you more nervous or more excited?
TP: I was more nervous than anything. It was a big decision, but I know I made the right one.

SSS.com: How far away from home will be?  Was distance a factor in your decision at all?
TP: It’s 4 1/2 hours away and the distance wasn’t a factor at all in my decision for a college. But now I’m glad it’s far enough from home but still close enough too. I had some local school offer me but I wanted to go away and see if I could play at a higher level.

SSS.com: What do you think (or have others said) are your strengths as a softball player?
TP: My athleticism and my ability to play multiple positions.

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career?
TP: My getting a single with two outs and my teammate hitting a ball over the fence to defeat our rival school.

 

Quick Hitters (short answers)

What do you want to major in?
Chemical or Environmental Engineering.

Fill in the blank… I’m happiest when:  
… I’m writing.

Favorite place in the world:
California.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I have severe OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and I have five adopted brothers and one adopted sister.

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

With Thanksgiving coming up, what are you most thankful for?
My family

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
Pen and paper to write.

The Holidays are fast approaching, what’s the No. 1 gift request you have in for Santa?
To meet LeBron James!

Other than family, who’s your hero or someone you look up to most?
My hero is Harry Martzolf.  He was one of my first travel coaches along with Jason Lee who really believed in me and got me to believe in myself.

I was originally an outfielder but Coach Harry said I was the best athlete on the team so I would be his shortstop. I knew nothing about the position but through his knowledge and my hard work, I became a pretty good shortstop. I owe it all to him because he truly believed in me and never let me take the easy way out.

He also turned me into a hitter and not just a bunter. He put me through some pretty intense hitting drills and even had me swing a pole once. I thought he was crazy but it worked. He used to make me stand right on the plate to get me to hit the inside pitch and it was either swing out in front and hit the ball or it was going to hit me. I also look up to LeBron James because he plays the game with a lot of passion, has a great head on his shoulders, and plays through all the animosity. He is selfless and is a true leader. He’s my favorite athlete of all time.

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Tori Lettus, a 2014 shortstop from Woodinville, Wash. has a very rare honor that only a few can brag about: she verbaled in September to Montana and has the distinction of being the first recruit to do so for this inaugural program starting the fall of 2014.

Tori primarily plays shortstop, but can play second, third and any outfield position.  She has above average speed and is great running the bases.  A “four tool player, Tori is working on her power and had three home runs for Woodinville High and four more on her travel ball team.

Speaking of high school, the Washington standout will be a four year varsity player (only one in her class) and her led the team to a 76-4 record since her freshman year.  This includes two years of national rankings, with an undefeated season (26-0) in 2012 and a 7th place ranking by Max Preps.  Last year, her junior year, she was the starting SS and the team went 25-3 in large part because Tori hit .456 with a .600 on-base percentage and led the team in scoring and stolen bases.

She played for the Washington Ladyhawks in 2012 and the Northwest Sidewinders in 2013.  This summer, her travel ball team qualified and played in both the PGF and ASA National Championships with the highlight being finishing 12^th in the Fireworks tournament where they beat the Wichita Mustangs.

Now with the Washington Acers Gold team, Tori will be one of the top shortstops/middle infielders in the Northwest this year before heading off to the Univ. of Montana which is about 550 miles from her Seattle suburb town.

Tori had several East Coast schools interested in her, but she chose Montana because it’s closer to home as well as the Grizzly coaches.

 

*** Congratulations to Lily Novak, a 2015 player for Illinois Chill, who will be playing at Northwestern.  A great student and long-time Northwestern fan, she also has family at the school as her mom works at the Big Ten university.

“”I am excited for the opportunity Lily will get at Northwestern,” says Gerry Quinn of the Chill organization.

“It is something she has worked hard for over the years. In the last year she has grown tremendously as a player and the Northwestern staff now sees in her the ability to contribute positively to the program. Because she has faithfully attended camps and clinics at Northwestern for years they know exactly what they are getting with Lily. As always, an opportunity at a world class education is something we all value very much.”

 

*** Devyn Trifari, a 2015 2B/infielder with the Firecrackers-DeLoza team that won the TCS/Firework NIT Championship in San Diego, has committed to Radford.

“Devyn fell in love with Radford and committed after visiting the campus, meeting the coaches, and checking out the curriculum over the last two years,” her father, David, told us today.

 

*** Several verbals to report from the Beverly Bandits (Ill):

— Alexee Haynes, a 2106 pitcher, has committed to Pittsburgh
— Meghan McMenemy, a 2017 3B/IF, will be headed to Ohio State
— Rachel Lewis, a 2017 SS/2B, has verballed to Northwestern

 

*** Two more verbals for the day:

— Savanna Corr, a 2015 pitcher with Teamsmith, has committed to Sacramento State.
— Autumn Gillespie, a 2015 catcher for So Cal Wicked, has chosen Central Florida.

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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.