One of the great things about a big tournament like the Sun Classic from last weekend was I got to meet a lot of coaches, both college and club, from around the country.  One of those was the Team Mizuno Impulse from Texas, which we profile today.  We also have a Recruit Profile on a girl headed to Texas from California and present a lot of recruiting news…

 

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CLUB PROFILE: TEAM MIZUNO IMPULSE

The Team Mizuno Impulse team out of Texas has only been around for three years but shows it knows how to win.

In 2012, the 16U squad finished third at PGF Nationals and five of the coreplayers on this year’s 18U Gold team—Kaitlyn Alderink, Maddie Holcom, Rhylie Makawe, Shannon Rhodes and Riley Sartain –have been in the top five in Nationals at every level they’ve played.

In 2013, the 18U team finished ninth at ASA Nationals and going back to the first year (2010), the 16U tied for 17^th at Nationals.

Again, that’s in only its first three years of existence.

What makes this team and program unique is its two key leaders, Alex Lozoya, who runs the Gold team, and Jason Gwyn, who oversees the 16U squad, both have worked in softball programs with major universities.

Head Coach Alex Lozoya explains, “The players and parents have faith in us and our background in collegiate softball helps us get into top tournaments like the Sun Classic where we had a great time over the weekend.”

Gwyn was a grad assistant at Texas Tech and then went to Texas in the same position while getting a graduate degree in Psychology. Lozoya met him in the athletic depart as he was working in the role of Team Manager for Longhorn Head Coach Connie Clark.

Both believe having college experience has paid off with the younger players they work with on the club level.

“It’s helped us to prepare the girls in what to expect when they get to college,” states Coach Lozoya.  “Especially with time management.  We were there at the collegiate level when the players had to get up at 6 am, got to an 8 am class, a 2 pm workout and then a 6 pm study hall and then they had to do it all again the next day.”

Both coaches also worked together at Texas Woman’s University from 2006 to 2008 as Gwyn was hired as a full-time assistant coach and invited Lozoya to be a grad assistant where he wore many hats, from taking tickets at a softball game to running the clock at a volleyball contest.

In 2009 both men started a Texas Impulse team after helping out with Texas Fusion.  Their young program later became Mizuno Impulse for two years and then got the latest name last year.

“We didn’t call it Team Mizuno-Impulse until last summer and originally we just had an 18 and 16U team.  Now we have two 18s, one 16U, one 14U and two 12Us.”

Working with Mike Stith—who oversees the Mizuno relationship and ran his own Team Mizuno program up until this year’s merger with the OC Batbusters—both Lozoya and Gwyn have developed a strong relationship with college coaches, many of whom they knew when they were working at Texas, Texas Tech or Texas Woman’s University.

“What’s helped us a lot,” explains Lozoya, “is we did a lot of networking when we were at the college level with college coaches who, in some places, we coached against.  We’ve kept in touch and now can say, ‘We have a kid you should look at,’ and when they say, ‘We’re looking at a 2015 first baseman,’ if it doesn’t fit what they’re looking for, I’m honest with them and they appreciate it.”

Both coaches are high school teachers – Alex is a level one Spanish teacher and is also the Head Coach at Midlothian High while Jason teaches Psychology and Social Studies to juniors and seniors at Hebron High.  Not surprisingly, they emphasize instruction on the field to their players too.

“We focus on breaking down the players into groups and making the teaching more personal.  ‘Less is more’ when is comes to working with the kids in smaller groups.  If there’s one thing the grads and parents say, it’s that they appreciate how we’ve taught them the game.

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Here’s a player-by-player look at the Team Mizuno Impulse team with comments by Head Coach Alex Lozoya:

— 2B Kaitlyn Alderink (2015, Texas A&M)
“Kaitlyn tore an ACL on one knee in the seventh grade and tore the other one in the eighth grade and for many people that could have been a sign it wasn’t meant to be.  She refused to believe that and has rehabbed extensively and still puts in over an hour per week.  She has soft hands, great range and a solid arm and was recruited heavily by SEC and Pac-12 schools and ended up going to A&M where her family had gone.  Kaitlyn has great bat control too.”

— SS Allie Arneson (2015, Virginia)
“Allie has one of the strongest arms in the 2015 class.  She only knows one speed and that’s full max at whatever she does. She has a lot of power from the right side and above average speed.  Allie has great range whether she’s at short or third base and she picked Virginia over several Conference USA and Big Ten schools in part because of academics.”

— P Danielle Brochu (2015, Texas Tech)
“Danielle is a pitcher who gets getting better and better every time out.  She was one of the two pitchers who helped the 16U team finish third in 2012 and finished ninth at ASA Gold last year.  She has incredible downspin and uses her length to get movement and velocity on the ball.”

— OF Jazz Crowder (2015, Houston Baptist)
“Jazz is that freakish athlete who’s good at everything she does.  She’s great at volleyball and basketball and one of those who wants to compete in everything and hates to lose.”

— P Chrisa Head (2015, Seton Hall)
“Chrisa is someone we picked up this year and we’ve had her for three months, but she has incredible potential and has a great frame.  She’s very coachable and wants to do everything possible to fulfill her potential.”

— OF Chandler Hoagland (2015, uncommitted)
“Chandler is the same way as Chrisa, she came to us about three months ago from our other 18U team.  She has a lot of power, her system is Taylor Hoagland who went to Texas and was on the National team. Chandler has a great glove at first and makes the hard scoops look easy.”

— OF Maddie Holcomb (2014, Oklahoma State)
“Maddie is the ultimate competitor.  She is very fast from the left side and has great power and a strong arm from the outfield.  She’s similar to Jazz in that she hates to lose, even if it’s checkers.  The kid’s an outstanding player.”

— OF Rhylie Makawe (2015, uncommitted)
“Rhylie is a very solid outfielder with great range and a strong arm.  She has lots of power from the plate and is getting a lot of Ivy League attention because she’s very high on academics..”

— P Sarah Miller (2014, Binghamton)
“Sarah is a strong pitcher with great movement on her pitches.  There’s still a lot of potential for growth and Binghamton is getting a steal because she’s going to develop into a very solid pitcher.”

— P Brooke Moss (2014, Weatherford College)
“Brooke came to us last May and is not going to wow you with velocity, but she understands she needs to pitch.  She’ll wear you out with ground balls as she does a good job in keeping the ball down.”

— OF Jill Nicklas (2014, Illinois)
“Jill is a very strong hitter from the right side and a good athlete who can play multiple positions.  She, like all our kids, is a strong competitor and is a very intelligent ballplayers, especially at the plate.”

— 1B Anna O’Connor (2015, uncommitted)
“Anna was just picked up three months ago, she has a strong bat from the left side.  She’s a good athlete who can play both infield and outfield and has lots of potential. Anna has a very strong arm and is very intelligent when it comes to defensive situations.”

— 2B Shannon Rhodes (2016, uncommitted)
“Shannon is powerful in her batting and graceful with her glove and smooth when she runs.  You can look at her and think she’s not running hard but has such smooth strides it surprises you as she makes up ground on balls.  She’s always played up and has always been a great student of the game. Recruiting-wise she has Pac-12, Big Ten and SEC programs after her.”

— 3B Riley Sartain (2015, Texas A&M)
“Riley has a powerful bat from the right side and is very quick.  She’s very smooth with the glove and can play all infield positions.  Riley picked A&M over Stanford, Washington, Texas, Missouri and many others but her parents are Aggies and she felt A&M fit her best.”

— C Taylor Sieber (2014, uncommitted)
“Taylor has been hurt with an injured thumb, but when healthy has a lot of power in her bat and is a great athlete.  She can play catcher, infield and outfield—everything but pitch.  Taylor’s a competitor and wants to compete and earn everything she gets.”

— C Cherlynn Townsend (2015, uncommitted)
“Cherlynn is one of the most intelligent ballplayers I’ve ever worked with.  She does a good job with our pitching and I trust her so much I let her call pitches and she has free reign to call defenses.  She is the smallest on the team, but has earned the respect of everyone with her game and toughness. She’s looking at somewhere where she can get into physical therapy.”

 

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RECRUITING PROFILE: MIRANDA MILES

Maybe this is a gross generalization, but it seems to me that if you go to the National Elite Camp run by OnDeck Softball (that’s Derek and Joann Allister, for the unitiated!), then you’re pretty much going to be going to the next level to play.

One of the standouts from the most recent Elite Camp was Miranda Miles, a sophomore from Northern California known for her bat and glove.  She has pulled the trigger and will become an Aggie… here’s more on the standout:

Grad Year: 2016
Position(s): 1B/OF
High School: Elk Grove (Calif.)
Club Team: Nor Cal Firecrackers-Baisdon 16U
College: Texas A&M

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: Tell us how you committed to the Aggies?
Miranda Miles: Me and my parents knew this was the school for me so after talking to Coach (Jo) Evans in her office on my last day on the visit she asked me if I wanted to be a Aggie and I said yes.

SSS.com: Were you more nervous or more excited to tell the coaches?
MM: I was nervous when I got on campus but after spending some time there was not nervous at all when I committed –just very tired from a long weekend. I knew Texas A & M is the place for me

SSS.com: When and where did they first find out about you, was it the OnDeck Elite Camp or before that?
MM: Coach Evans was looking for a left side hitter and watched me in a Firecracker Showcase in Los Angeles. Their coaches did not attend the OnDeck Camp but did talk to Derek Allister after the camp.

SSS.com: What did the coaches tell you they liked about you enough to offer?
MM: They said they liked my athleticism, swing and attitude.

SSS.com: What was it about A&M that made you want to go there?  And did you have an “ah ha” moment where it just clicked?
MM: On my unofficial visit I just fell in love with the campus and Coach Evans and the staff, who really made me fell comfortable. Even though I live far away in California, it just felt right and like home. We visited the strength and conditioning coach and she was telling us that you need to work hard to be here. If you don’t want to work hard than don’t go to school at Texas A&M. I want to work hard and be pushed so Texas A&M is the place for me.  It’s just amazing,

SSS.com: What’s been the most memorable part of your softball career so far?
MM: Being able to travel and play a game I love in different places across the country.

SSS.com: What are your goals now that you’re committed?
MM: I want to continue to work hard and help win a championship for my Nor Cal Firecracker – Baisdon team in the summers and also work had at keeping my grades up.

 

Quick Hitters:

Favorite subject in school: Biology
If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be? Blake Sheldon
What do you like to do away from the softball field? Reading and hanging out with friends when I have time.
With Thanksgiving coming up, what would you say you’re most thankful for in life? I am most thankful for having my family, friends and coaches helping and guiding me in the right direction.
Fill in the blank… If I had one wish that would come true, it’s be… to be happy.
Do you have a favorite slogan or motto? “Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”
What’s your guilty pleasure, meaning something you love but might feel a bit guilty doing? Sleeping in!
Thing you love most about playing softball: The thing I like about playing softball is the friendships and competing.

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Congratulations to Maddy Kaplan, the speedy 2014 SS/2B who plays for the Firecrackers-Blanco 18U team.

Maddy will be going to Harvard and attends Harvard-Westlake in Southern California, which is one of the top academic schools in the state if not the country.  The school has put other players in the Ivy League including Chloe Pendergast (2013, Cornell) and Lauren Li (2012, Penn).

In fact, 55 current seniors at the school will be going Ivy League!

Another grad in another sport—football—is currently in the sports news… NFL lineman Jonathon Martin of the Miami Dolphins who has left the team after alleged bully threats from another lineman.

*** One of our favorite East Coast coaches, Anthony LaRezza of Immaculate Heart Acad. in N.J. writes: “My 2014 outfielder, Angelina McGuire, has committed to Fairfield Univ.  She plays for the NJ Heist.”

*** Congrats to 2015 SS Toni Polk, who plays for the Gold Coast Hurricanes-Cooper team.

The talented infielder is Penn State bound.

*** Also from Florida is news out of the West Pines Diamond Dusters program… 2014 P Valerie Lamb is headed to McDaniel College and 2014 3B Erica Pavlo is going to Babson College.

*** Ariana Belarde, a 2016 outfielder, verbally committed to the University of Illinois this past summer.

Last season, she played for OC Batbusters – Ted Catalano which is now with the Firecrackers organization under Firecrackers 16U – Ted.  Thanks to Arian’s mother, Andrea, for the note!

*** Rachel Phillips, a 2014 3B for the Riptide Gold, has committed to San Diego.

*** Haley Finn, a 2016 SS for the Explosion 16U team, has committed to North Carolina State.

When we profiled her in our 10.10.13 Daily Update, here’s what her coach Greg Borzilleri had to say about her:

“Haley is one of our blue-chippers, a 5-foot-9 shortstop who can make all the plays and has a hose.  She hits the snot out of the ball and is one of the top players in the 16U division. She’s had offers from the ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Pac-12 schools looking at her.  Haley has the potential to be an All-American in college.”

*** Teagan Cowles, a 2016 catcher for the NW Batbusters, will be headed to Stanford.

 

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

From time to time we get good e-mails and correspondence from the softball market and thought I’d pass along this note that came in today.  Keeping ID secret, but she has some good points about teams from off the usual recruiting path who have to fight to get the attention of college coaches… I wonder how many others have had this same experience?

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My daughter is a ’99 (2017 grad) and plays for one of the top two or three 14U travel teams in (our state) and over the past 6-8 months, we have begun to ramp up our college search/recruiting efforts – attending camps, going to showcases, emailing coaches, etc.  She lead her high school varsity team in ERA as an 8th grader, and I’ve been told by many people, both by her coaches and through objective evaluations, that she has D-I ability, so we’re trying our best to get her and her teammates’ names out there the best we can.

One of the things that we have struggled with, and I think would be an interesting topic for someone like you, is good players from lesser-known recruiting areas (and not part of a top travel ball organization) finding ways to get exposure.  I won’t pretend my daughter is among the top 2017 players in the country, but she has college talent and it’s tough when you’re from a state like (ours) and struggle to get recognized for showcases or for opportunities to qualify for ASA nationals (because of high school ball, we can’t start travel ball until mid-June), and consequently, have a hard time getting seen by coaches.

One of the frustrations we’ve had is so-called “showcases” that have gotten so big that they’ve now segregated the real showcase from the rest, charging teams like ours the same amount as “super pool” teams then sending us to play on fields no coaches will visit.

We had this happen last weekend at (a tournament) – we finished as runners-up in the 14U division, yet played all of our games, even the championship, at fields away from where all the coaches were.  We had a great weekend, yet we did not get the “showcase” we paid for.  And in the case of the championship bracket, there were fields available for us to play on where the 14U super pools were going on, but the tournament director refused to move our games.  It left a sour taste in our mouths for sure.

Anyway, I think the topic of under-the-radar teams/players from areas other than the typical recruiting hotbeds is an interesting topic that will resonate with a lot of the softball community.  (My daughter’s) team won’t win every game we play, and I’m sure taking on teams from Florida and out West would be a major challenge, but we’d love the opportunity.  We went 30-8-1 this fall against very good competition in friendlies and showcases.  We went (to another state) and won the tournament over Labor Day weekend – which, it turned out, was mostly ’98 teams that had yet to move up to 16U.  So we know we’re a good team, we just want the girls to get the opportunity to show it in front of college coaches.

Sorry I got on my soapbox a little – our (tournament) experience is still quite fresh.

A softball parent

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UNCOMMITTED 2014 PROSPECT TO WATCH: BRITTANY AMEZQUITA

Grad Year: 2014
Pos: 2B/OF
High School: South Hills
GPA: 3.6
Club Team: Firecrackers-Snyder 18U Gold
Video: YouTube
Profile: Shutterfly
Honors: 2013 Sierra League; 18U Gold 2012 USSSA World Series Champions

 

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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.