Glad Friday’s here and wish all a great weekend.  Ironic twist to today’s Daily Update: we profile a Michigan club team that had Charles Fobbs as an assistant and then profile a Calif. player heavily recruited by the then Michigan State coach before he was killed in a car wreck.  We also feature a 6-foot-1 freshman pitcher who’s already making national waves and have an Ohio “Outlaw” who’s going to the Big Ten…

 

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CLUB PROFILE: FINESSE

Donny Dreher was born and raised in the Detroit suburbs and could have never imagined when he was younger that someday he’d end up leading one of the top club softball programs in the Midwest and probably the most prestigious organization in Michigan.

Unlike most, Dreher didn’t have a daughter in softball but did himself play in a nationally competitive modified fastpitch league and traveled the country.  He was part of seven State Championships and ion 1983 his team took third at the Men’s Major Modified Fastpitch Nationals.

At age 29, he stopped playing and thought his softball days were behind him until a friend—who knew of the Finesse program—suggested Dreher go check out one of the team’s games.

“I went to a few of the tournaments and got hooked,” Dreher, now the Head Coach of the 18U Gold team, remembers.  “I had coached some baseball, but it’s a different thing with the girls in fastpitch—if they believe you have their best interest in mind, they’ll give you everything you got.  I loved that.”

The coach lives in Commerce Township, a northwest suburb of Detroit located about 30 minutes from downtown Detroit, 30 minutes away from Ann Arbor (Univ. of Michigan) and 40 minutes from East Lansing (Michigan State).

His “day job” ties perfectly into his work with the Finesse program: he’s the Director of Softball Operations at the Total Sports Complex, a nearly 200,000 square foot indoor facility located in Wixom, Mich.

The facility has three indoor football fields, two 12,000 square foot fields, a huge domed field, 12 training tunnels (cages), three automatic batting cages and fields for baseball and softball.  It even has a restaurant and bar where parents can sit and watch their kids work out.

“One college coach called me a DOSO, which stands for ‘Director Of Softball Operations,’” he laughs.  “It’s better than our baseball guy, who’s a DOBO (‘Director of Baseball Operations’).”

Dreher has held that position for the last four years and was an instructor at the facility for 10 years before that.

Naturally, the Finesse program uses the facilities frequently—from tryouts to heavy winter workouts when the Michigan winters force athletes indoors.

Interestingly, Dreher was in the banking business much of his life until he went to his boss and said he was taking a mid-life retirement.

“The position become open at Total Sports Complex to run softball and two things lead to me taking it: I don’t have to wear a suit and tie and don’t have to drive in rush hour traffic anymore.”

Dreher started coaching in the Finesse program over 20 years ago and has coached at the 14U, 16U and 18U levels winning three National Championships in the two decades there.

He’s also put over 120 players into college programs including Michigan All-American Amanda Chidester.  Because the Finesse organization is so close to the two Big Ten schools in Michigan, it makes sense that many have gone to Michigan and Michigan State, but the program has also produced alums who attended Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana and many MAC schools among others.

The Finesse organization has been around since 1986 when founder Denny Schlimgen started a slowpitch team for his daughter, Shawna, and named it “Finesse” since he worked for Helene Curtis, famous for producing shampoos Suave, Salon Selective and, yes, Finesse.

“Denny is a fabulous guy who made it all happen,” Coach Dreher says.  “He has retired and lives in Florida and when we play there he comes out and supports us.  Denny will speak to the girls and get emotional, because we are here today because of him.”

When the Olympic Games came to Atlanta in 1996, the slowpitch game was phased out and fastpitch was integrated in.

Today, the Finesse 18U Gold team plays at an elite level and travels the nation playing top competition.  This past summer, the team qualified for PGF Nationals by winning a tournament at Edison, N.J.  It’s also common to see the Michigan program in Florida, Boulder and in Chicago competing against other elite 18U teams.

“Our goal is to train the kids and get them to a certain level,” Coach Dreher states. “It’s a priority for us to play the best competition and we know when we play against the best we get better.  For years we’ve qualified for ASA Gold Nationals and have gone to PGF because that’s where the best competition is too.”

***

Here’s a player-by-player look at the Finesse 18U team with comments by Head Coach Donny Dreher (note that this roster includes some 16U players who play up occasionally):

— OF/2B Mikayla Blaska (2015, uncommitted)
“Mikayla just came out to us and her thing is she does a great job in placing the ball and moving runners. I’m looking at her as being our No. 2 hitter and makes sure the leadoff hitter gets to second or third.  She’s a great contact hitter and forces defenses to make plays.  Mikayla is also a tremendously hard worker.”

— C Hannah Carson (2018, uncommitted)
“Hannah is just an eighth grader and got a lot of time in Florida because of injuries.  At a tournament she called pitches in a game and she called the pitches at the Sun Classic.  We project her to be a great player, she drives two hours for a half hour hitting lesson, that’s how serious she is about softball.”

— P/1B Leah Crockett (2014, Michigan)
“Leah is from New York and was caught by Michigan’s eyes at one of their camps and they said she was raw but had a ton of talent.  She’s six feet tall and is injured with a stress fracture in her ankle but when healthy she’ll be a power pitcher.  Leah comes in town every now and then to work with Pat Brower, who’s a pitching guru around here.”

— 1B/C Aidan Falk (2014, Michigan)
“Aidan is also from New York and the people there say she reminds them of Bryce Harper but I call her Roy Hobbs after the lead character in The Natural.  She’s a left-handed hitter, a great power hitter and the best first baseman I’ve ever had by far. I first saw her at a Notre Dame camp I was working at.  Last year, she joined up for my team at Nationals and had a hard decision choosing between Notre Dame and Michigan but the Wolverines won out.”

— 2B/SS Morgan Gardner (2015, uncommitted)
“Morgan is a new kid to our program, I spotted her at a high school tournament and after one inning knew I wanted her.  Her No. 1 sport was basketball but her dad called me and asked to tryout.  She’s never played at this level but is definitely a Div. I level athlete.  We project her by June of next year to be significantly better than she is right now.  She’s really strong and will just take off.”

— 3B/OF Shelby Hard (2014, North Dakota)
“Shelby is our vocal leader, she is completely outgoing and an outrageous kid.  She hits with power and played second with us and will probably play third at North Dakota so she’ll see both for us this year.  Shelby can hit the ball out of the park.”

— OF/2B Haley Hoogenraad (2016, uncommitted)
“Haley has not grown into her body yet and she is pounding protein shakes and is ready to put on a growth spurt.  She’s going to be an outfielder. Michigan State, Michigan and Notre Dame are all watching her. Providence said Haley stands out and they’d project her to go in and possibly be a starter.  She has great mechanics and is fundamentally sound offensively.”

— 1B/3B Abby Krzywiecki (2016, uncommitted)
“Abby’s meal ticket is on offensive where she’s a true power hitter and can hit the ball out of the park.  When she first started hitting with me I’d ask if she’d ever swing hard because it didn’t seem like she was, but it finally clicked.  She plays on the 16U team and will be backing up our two corners who are going to Michigan.  Her bat will take her to a high level at Div. I and Notre Dame, Northwestern, Michigan, South Alabama and Minnesota have shown interest.

— P Madeline Madday (2015, uncommitted)
“Madeline is a pitcher on our 16U team, she was a phenom as a freshman and she played with the Beverly Bandits.  She wanted to come back to a local team and is working with Pat Brower and is getting better.  She’s a great student and we think she’ll end up pitching for one of the Ivy League schools. Madeline has good movement on the ball in and out.”

— 3B/OF Jessie Mehr (2014, Virginia Tech)
“Jessie is a big-time power hitter and can hit a ball 300 feet.  She was good at a very young age and got noticed by Virginia Tech and once she committed she came out last summer and absolutely killed it.  Jessie can play both infield and outfield and has the power to miss-hit the ball and still have it go over the fence.”

— C/3B Alex Sobczak (2015, Michigan)
“Alex is a phenom.  When she was in seventh grade she was solid and as a 14-year-old I said she was good enough to play 18U.  She was dominating at that age and had to develop mentally. We had seniors who helped her out and took the mother role to give her tough love.  Alex is a dominant athlete and is the best third baseman I’ve ever had and will be an impact player at Michigan, which isn’t easy to do.”

— C/3B Sienna Surber 2014, uncommitted)
“Sienna and I have a great relationship, she knows I’m going to ride her and work her hard.  She’s a Div. I athlete and is being recruited by Florida State; her Dad lives in Florida so that’s her top school.  She’s very versatile for us, has great power at the plate, can hit the ball over the wall and has tons of personality.”

— OF Lacy Tolfree 2014, Central Michigan)
“Lacy is in her first year with me and she is by far our fastest player.  She has base stealing speed and can slap but also drive with power.  She’ll probably lead off and has a strong arm in the outfield.  We’re working on her as she’s a raw talent, but she’s loaded with potential.”

— SS/2B Rachel Vieira (2015, Central Michigan)
“Rachel is another first year with me and is one of the top shortstops who’ve ever played for Finesse.  She’s really smooth and quick. In Michigan we are so far behind in fielding but she looks like a California infielder.  Rachel has that aspect of the game down, she’s clearly our best shortstop.”

— P/1B Hannah Warren (2014, Central Michigan)
“Hanna is a six foot tall power pitcher and like Taylor Weaver she’s going to Central Michigan.  She can throw 65 mph and she’ll bring hard stuff and brings it a lot.  She’s also a very good first baseman and has tremendous potential offensively.”

— P Taylor Weaver (2014, Central Michigan)
“Taylor is going to be primarily a pitcher for us although she plays first base too. Last year took her high school team to the semifinals.  She’s a great location pitcher and has excellent movement in her curve and rise.  Taylor works hard on busting a batter on the hands and then moving outside.  She is more of a finesse pitcher although she can hit 61-62 mph.”

— OF/C Lexi White (2015, Michigan State)
“Lexi is a power hitter and is also a great athlete.  She’s coming off a broken leg, but can run like a deer when healthy.  She covers a lot of ground but her strongest attribute is her bat.  At New Jersey she hit a bomb that literally got us the berth to go to PGF.  When she came with me last year she looked intimidated and in the summer it was like a switch went on and she got it and began hitting the ball out of the park.”

 

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RECRUIT PROFILE: KELCEY CARRASCO

Kelcey Carrasco was first offered as a freshman and after shining at several showcases found out that Michigan State was the place she’ll someday call home.

But it wasn’t all joyful—three days after she took her trip to East Lansing, one of the assistant coaches she had become close to was killed in an auto accident.

Kelcey walks us through the recruiting process and what she suggests young people do who are just heading into these unknown waters!

Grad Year: 2016
Position(s): C/3B
High School: Tulare Western (Tulare, Calif.)
Sports: varsity letter’s in volleyball, basketball and softball
Club Team: San Jose Sting 18G-Perales
College: Michigan State

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: Walk us through your relationship with Michigan State, from when they first saw you to when you committed…
Kelcey Carrasco: I would say the relationship started when they first saw me at the OnDeck Arizona Jamboree in November of 2012.  They expressed interest to my coach who then relayed it to me and the process began.  When the summer season came around, again they saw me at the OnDeck June Jamboree.  They stayed watching me at the Jamboree until the end and as a player you just get that feeling that the interest is high.

They then showed up to a majority of my games all summer, from the Colorado Sparkler ending with the PGF Nationals.  If it wasn’t Coach (Charles) Fobbs in the stands watching me play, it was Coach (Jacquie) Joseph.  I really appreciate the time and effort they put into recruiting me.

Once the fall came, my parents and I took my unofficial visit out to East Lansing.  I really loved the campus and the welcoming by the whole team was awesome. There was a connection with the coaching staff immediately.  It felt great to finally get to talk to the coaches face-to-face instead of on the phone when I called.  We spent two days in East Lansing and it was a great experience to see how the student body has so much Spartan Pride! I could really see myself being a Spartan.  The one thing that really stood out to me, besides the beautiful facilities, was the academic center.   I know once I get to MSU I will have all the resources I need to succeed not only on the field, but in the classroom!

 

SSS.com: When you committed, what was going through your mind?
KC: When I committed, in my head I was thinking, “Is this the right school for me?”  I wondered, “If in three years when I get to Michigan State will it will be the best place for me not only as a player but as a student-athlete?”  Then I answered those questions in my head and said yes it is!

 

SSS.com:  It had to be tough for you when you found out Michigan State Assistatn Coach Charles Fobbs was killed in a car wreck… how close had you gotten to him?
KC: This to me was the toughest part about the whole recruiting process.  Coach Fobbs was the man!  He went to almost all, if not all, of my games at the Sparkler in Colorado.  Before I met Coach Jacquie, he was one of the main factors on why I had interest and wanted to go to Michigan State.

It’s crazy how I didn’t even know him until this past season and the impact he had on me on the field and with my parents in the stands.  The hardest part was being there with him, Coach Jessie, and Coach Jacquie that weekend on my unofficial visit, then we find out three days later he was killed in a car wreck. It was devastating!  I remember the last thing he told me before we left the football game on Saturday, “No matter where you go, kid, you’re going to be special and I just hope it’s here at Michigan State!”

 

SSS.com:  You’re a Big Ten quality player and will be playing against the likes of Michigan and Northwestern… has that sunk in yet? 
KC: It really has not sunk in yet.  I guess being from California and the conference located in the area it is has something to do with that.   Since I have verbally committed to MSU, I will definitely be following it a lot more closely through social media and the Big Ten Network.  It’s an honor to get the opportunity to play in the Big Ten and I look forward to when I get the chance to compete against the other conference schools, especially our in-state rival!

 

SSS.com: Tell us about you as a softball player… what do you do to hone your skills and game (like workouts, coaching, etc.)?
KC: Besides doing the normal stuff like seeing the batting, catching and core coach throughout the week I truly believe that playing different sports keeps me very fresh and helps to hone my softball skills.  I letter in volleyball, basketball and softball in high school and these sports all bring something different athletically out in me. I love representing my high school.

 

SSS.com: Have you decided what you’re going to study when you get to college?
KC: I have decided to major in Kinesiology.  Michigan State has one of the top programs in the country.   My long-term goal is to coach at the collegiate level or go into sports administration.

 

SSS.com: looking over your softball career, what memory immediately jumps to mind? 
KC: Two things actually. The first is the summer of 2012 when I played for RBI Softball.  That group of girls I played with and Coach Hillaree Bennett.  I thank my team and coach for helping me turn that corner to become the player I am today.  That was such a special team. To this day I hold all those teammates close to my heart and see them all as sisters!

The second I would say is this past summer when I helped my former team, the Central Cal Dirt Dogs, qualify for the 14U PGF Nationals.  We traveled from Central California to Southern California to grab that berth It was the first time a Central California team has ever qualified for PGF Nationals.

 

SSS.com:  What advice would you give to girls, say 10U or 12U, about the recruiting process?
KC: I would just tell them to have fun and play the game.  I still remember playing rec ball, those were some of the best years and memories I still have.  Once you get to travel ball it all changes.  It is fun but more intense.    You need to learn the game and listen to your coaches.   Respect the game and the players who have played before you.

Softball recruiting is so intense at such a young age.  I received my first offer in February of my freshman year.  I knew for myself that I was too young to make my decision.  Write those letters to schools and try to make it into those big camps.  The OnDeck Camps were huge for me and I thank the Allisters for the opportunities I was given this past year as I attended three of their camps leading into my verbal commitment.

Young players need to take their time and get a feel for the school they want to attend.  Make sure when you make the decision you have thought it through and you have walked on that campus.  One thing I would have done different in the recruiting process would have been to attend the camps that the schools you are interested in put on.  There’s nothing like getting in front of those coaches to show your skills.

Finally, never let anyone tell you can’t go where you dream of going!  Enjoy the process.  I had some great unofficial trips and met some great coaches/people through the process.

 

SSS.com: Your mother and father are in the education field… how has that shaped your perspective on academics and studies? 
KC: Education is and will always be a priority in our family.  I have heard the saying many times, “If you want to play at the next level you have to have grades,” and “Whether or not you play sports at the next level, you will go to college!” I can’t stress enough the importance of having your academics in order.  Younger players who want to play at the next level need to make sure they stay on top of their grades.  Colleges will just walk by if you don’t have them and you may miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime!

 

SSS.com: If a scout was talking to another scout about your game, what do you think he or she would say about you between the lines?
KC: She’s a leader, she’s a great teammate, she’s vocal and she is not afraid.

 

SSS.com: describe what you think it takes to be a good catcher…
KC: In my eyes, to be a good catcher you can’t be afraid to lead! You are the person on the field that everyone looks to for direction.  As a catcher you set the tempo for the game.  You can’t be afraid of talking, picking up your teammates, and having that special communication with your pitcher!

 

Quick Hitters:

Favorite dinner:
Pasta and mashed potatoes.

If you’re going to the movies, what are you most likely to see… a comedy, drama, musical, horror film, documentary or something else?
I would go to watch a comedy, because I love to laugh and have a good time.

If you were lost in the woods without a phone, what would you do?
I would make it and adventure and a challenge.

What scares you the most: high places, the dark, closed spaces, clowns, failing a test?
It would probably be high places, because I feel I have no control if something bad was to happen.

Favorite place you’ve ever visited:
That would be East Lansing, Mich., the place I will be calling home in the near future! It was so beautiful and all the people we met were so nice.

Fill in the blank, if I wasn’t playing softball, I’d be…
… chasing my dream in another sport and that would be basketball.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I see myself graduated with a Kinesiology degree and working as an assistant college softball coach.

 

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RECRUIT PROFILE: VICTORIA GALVAN

I first met Victoria Galvan at the 2013 National Elite Camp run by OnDeck Softball and she wasn’t hard to miss at 6-foot-1.

A hard-thrower, she has good genes as her mom, Traci, played softball in college and her 6-foot-4 father, Alberto, was born and raised in Italy and played semi-pro basketball there.

Here’s a closer look at the New Jersey freshman who at the Sun Classic Fall Showcase had a dozen college coaches watching her pitch in one game I saw…

Grad Year: 2017
High School: Manasquan (N.J.)
Club Team: Jersey Intensity
Stats & Honors: New Jersey Little League State Champions 11U, USSSA NJ State Champions 12U, Pony NJ State Runner up 12u, Pony National Runner up 12u.  Batting average for last summer .450 ERA: .075.  Several no-hitters.
Colleges interested in:  North Carolina, South Carolina, Penn State, Missouri, Georgia, Florida State, Florida, Maryland, Arizona State among others

***

StudentSportsSoftball.com: You impressed at two big events, the OnDeck National Elite Camp and the Sun Classic National Skills Clinic… were you nervous being in front of so many coaches?
Victoria Galvan: At first, yes, but then after a little while I settled in and got used to having them there.  At the Florida clinic, being able to talk to them one-on-one really helped to relax me.

SSS.com: When you’re in a stressful situation like that, are there any things you do to get yourself to focus, relax and go out and perform?  
VG: I try to act like no one is even watching me.  I pretend that I am in the park with my brothers and my dad and mom just playing a game.

SSS.com: You did well at the Halloween Day clinic even though you had just suffered a nasty injury… tell us about your arm injury. 
VG: Well, my injury was not too severe.  I slipped on the gym locker room floor and tripped over the bench in between the rows of lockers.  As I was falling toward the locker, I tried to protect myself by bracing my arms and my left arm got cut on the part where you put the lock on.  I got 15 stitches and had to be splinted. I was very worried that I was not going to be able to play in Florida, but luckily I healed enough to pull it off.

SSS.com: What do you think are your strengths as a pitcher?  
VG: I think my intimidating presence on the mound is a good thing.  I also think that my ability to come back in the count when I am down is a strength of mine.  I have a good curve and drop curve that I am very proud of and I use them very accurately.

SSS.com: What pitches do you have now and are you working on adding any new ones?  
VG: I can throw a drop, drop curve, change up (flip and off speed curve), back door curve, screw and of course, a fastball.  I am going to try to become more consistent this winter with my change up and get my rise ball to rise all of the time.

SSS.com: What are some areas you’d like to work on?  
VG: I would like to increase my speed and learn to use 100% of my legs to do this.  I would like to get my spins to get even tighter.

SSS.com: You’re also a talented basketball player we hear… are you still playing?  Have you had any recruiting interest for basketball?  
VG: Yes, I will begin basketball for school in the beginning of December.  I think it helps me with my softball as well.  I am faster on my feet and more agile because of playing hoops.  I have received some positive feedback from a few schools based on a showcase I went to with a team that asked me to help them out.  I am not planning on showcasing for basketball, as my dream is to play college softball, not hoops.

SSS.com: What’s in the plans for the rest of 2013 and the start of 2014?  
VG: I will be working on fixing little things that will eventually make me better.  So this winter, it’s going to be lots of lessons, practicing and I plan on finding many winter college clinics.  I would like to continue to showcase my skills in front of college coaches this winter

SSS.com: Recruiting-wise, what’s your situation; have you taken any unofficials and what schools seem to be showing the most interest?  
VG: I went on an unofficial to North Carolina and one to South Carolina is in the works.  I am not sure yet who seriously interested.  I am going try to get to a few more this winter.  I am not sure yet what exactly the best place is for me yet, so the more I see, the better able I will be to make a decision

SSS.com: Off the field, what do you like to do?
VG: I like to spend time with my family and eat delicious food.  Trying to play two sports at a high level and studying for school doesn’t leave me with much time to do many other things.

SSS.com: How do family and friends view you—goofy, serious, a clown, a brainiac?  
VG: I would say that many people find me to be pretty funny- so something in between a clown and goofy would be pretty accurate!

SSS.com: Finally, what are your goals in softball?  
VG: I would like to play at the DI level and not just play, but leave an impact on a program and make them better than they were before I got there.  A trip to OKC would be nice also!

SSS.com: You father is from Italy, do you speak the language?  
VG: I speak Italian and when I was young and my mom coached me, she used to call my pitches in Italian.

 

*****

RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Summer Constable, a 2016 shortstop with the Ohio Outlaws Gold team, committed to Purdue yesterday.

She was also recruited by Louisville, Harvard (she has a 4.49 GPA), Akron, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), Ohio Univ., Coastal Carolina, Northern Illinois, Penn State and Ohio State.

Summer originally played with the Ohio Lasers and followed one of the coaches to the Outlaws program, which finished ninth at the ASA 16U Nationals.

“We can’t really say enough about the Outlaws program,” said Summer’s father, Justin, “for putting out quality kids. Dave Blashinski is her coach and Warren Wolff is the head of the Ohio Outlaws program and we’re at the right place and at the right time to get all of our kids looked at.  We were at Chattanooga and Dave and Warren had 20 college coaches looking at our team.”

The Constable family just moved to La Grange, Ohio and Summer will attend Keystone High after batting .500 as a freshman at Ontario High (Ohio).

This summer just switched to the left side and Purdue said they found her on accident—Boilermaker assistant coach Jason Dorey asked a coach at Team NJ if there were any top players from Ohio since he hadn’t recruited the state yet.  The club coach replied and said there’s a shortstop for an Ohio team who wears a lot of face black.  The coach went a tournament in St. Louis and saw Summer and knew they wanted to have her.

Her strengths, according to her father, Justin, are her intangibles including leadership.

“Everything felt right when we went there,” said the athlete’s father.  “We were there 10 hours and my wife was tearing up because she knew if Summer was offered she’d take it and here was her baby going to be five hours away.”

 

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PIC OF THE DAY:

In the Q&A with Victoria Galvan (above) we talked about the National Elite Camp that was held last month in Southern California.

Today, another big event produced by OnDeck Softball is taking place: the East Coast Elite National Futures Camp which was held yesterday and finished today outside Atlanta, Ga.

Here’s a photo of three Tulsa Elite players signing the national map showing where girls come from… a cool way to see the representation the event gets from all over the country.

Picture are (l-r): Taylor Compton (2017 RHP), Ashley Fletcher (2015 1B) and Jessie Noftsger (2016 C/3B).

 

 

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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.