We end this first week in October by profiling a Northern Calif. program that has one of the top club teams historically and today has two of the top 10 seniors in the country, look at a multi-sport star from Texas who’s headed to the Sunshine State, present a catcher who has college talent and list the teams in one of the top club events of the weekend…

 

*****

TEAM PROFILE: SORCERER GOLD

Note from Brentt: When I first started StudentSportsSoftball.com back in 2006, one of the first articles I did that got a lot of attention was a piece called “The Top 10 Club Teams in the U.S.”  I surveyed two dozen club coaches from across the nation and collected their input to get the list.

Coming in at No. 7 on the list was the Sorcerer Gold team led by Phil Mumma.  I remember how appreciative he was about that—again, it wasn’t MY opinion but his peers—and that was even before the team won the 2009 ASA Gold Nationals.

Phil was always supportive of my efforts, he was kind to me and certainly passionate about his girls.  I will always remember how he helped me reach out to a young sophomore pitcher of his who he said would be a good blogger for our audience.

Her name…  Keilani Ricketts.

In the upcoming weeks I’ll pull out some of her blogs, but today I wanted to honor Phil, who passed away two weeks ago (Sept. 23, 2013) and his organization.  You can see how well he was beloved by the twitter responses of former players.

One typical tweet came from Katie Keller, a 2^nd team All-American at Louisville this past year:

Not only made a huge impact on my softball career but on many girls career in NorCal. Could not give you enough thank yous Phil Mumma!

One thing many might not know about Phil was he was scared to fly so either drove to tournaments if they were close enough or took a train to farther destinations.

“He always shared how much he enjoyed riding the train from California to the Colorado Independence Day tournament,” recalls Jeff Perez, whose daughter Kylee is one of the star seniors on this year’s Sorcerer team.

“Phil also shared what it meant to him to respect the game, that was to play like there is no tomorrow and have no regrets when you walk off the field. We share with the girls before each game that to honor Phil Mumma ‘is to respect the game.”

As Phil would want it, we honor him by honoring his team and girls.  Bill Schroll is now the President of Sorcerer Softball Inc. and Joe Mello is the Head Coach.

***

Here is a player-by-player look at the Sorcerer Gold roster with quotes from the current coaching staff:

— P/IF Holly Azevedo (2017, uncommitted)
“Holly is a very poised 5-8 freshmen with great ball movement and speed. The future is wide open for her.”

— OF/IF Mia Camuso (2016, Oregon)
“Mia is a smooth left-handed power hitter. She is the future of this organization and we look forward to watching her grow into a leadership role on the team.”

— P/IF Lindsey Chalmers (2014, Cal Poly)
“Lindsey is Miss Smooth in the circle and a nightmare for hitters. She is a calm, confident senior and a top-notch teammate on and off the field.”

— IF Julia DePonte (2014, Washington)
“Julia is a phenomenal sure-handed infielder who has power from chalk to chalk. She is a leader and the spark plug for this team.”

— IF Melissa Eisen (2015, Arizona State)
“Melissa is another great athlete with great softball instincts to complement her soft hands and strong arm. She brings a calm confidence each time she steps on the field.”

— C/IF Brianna Gerhardt (2015, uncommitted)
“New to the team this fall, Brianna is an athletic catcher with a great arm. With Brie’s athletic abilities and academic drive she will follow the Sorcerer tradition well.”

— OF Marisa Given (2015, Oregon)
“Marisa is a sure-footed, quick outfielder who brings arm strength and accuracy to the grass. She has grown into a solid line drive hitter and we look forward to her anchoring the outfield for years to come.”

— P/IF Johanna Grauer (2014, UCLA)
“Johanna is not only a Senior Captain for this team but a mentor to our underclassmen. She has phenomenal ball movement and power along with a mound presence that is second to none.”

— OF/IF Eliana Mello (2014, uncommitted)
“Eliana has been injured and looks to return back to the diamond after undergoing shoulder surgery to repair her torn labrum.”

— IF/OF Sierra Mello (2016, uncommitted)
“Sierra is a sneaky slapper with some pop. She has a great glove with solid softball instincts.”

— C/OF Victoria Molina (2014, Stanford)
“Vic is Miss Consistent behind the plate which puts our pitchers at ease. She is known for that timely line-drive double when we need it most.”

— IF/OF Briana Perez (2017, uncommitted)
“Briana brings top-notch speed with great base running instincts. She has big pop with the bat and a great small-ball game.”

— IF/OF Kylee Perez (2014, UCLA)
“Kylee is a outstanding shortstop with a great arm. We love Kylee’s ability to hit the ball out of the park then sneak in a bunt. She has grown into a great leader for our Sorcerer team.”

— OF/IF Rachel Tadlock (2015, uncommitted)
“Rachel is a powerful utility player with a phenomenal arm. Her bat will take us deep this year. We are so grateful we will have her again next year.”

— IF/OF Liesenia Torres (2014, Long Beach State)
“L.T. is a great defensive athlete and is a triple threat with the bat. She is a soft spoken cornerstone for this team.”

— C/IF Taylor Zehr (2015, uncommitted)
“Taylor brings a solid glove behind the plate and timely power with the bat. We look forward to watching her grow as a catcher for this team.”

 

*****

 

RECRUIT PROFILES: Morgan Klaevemann

Senior Morgan Klaevemann can do it all: she excels in the classroom and is an all-state softball player as well as dominating in basketball, track and even has won awards in weightlifting!

The multi-sport athlete is becoming an increasingly rare breed, but Morgan –true to her Texas roots — has shown that if you’re going to do it, do it big!

High School: Refugio, Texas
Club: Texas Bombers Gold
Pos: OF/UT
Grad: 2014
College: Florida State
GPA: 4.0
Stats: 2013: batted .500 with 42 runs scored, seven doubles, five triples, 18 RBIs
Honors:  2013: Texas Sportswriters Association Class 2-A All-State team, Caller Times All-South Texas team, District 30-AA Offensive Player of the Year
Other Sports: Basketball Academic All-District 2011, 2012, and 2013; District 31-AA Basketball 2^nd team All-District, RHS Powerlifting award in 2011 and RHS Track Award in 2013

***

StudentSportsSoftball.com: What’s your earliest memory of playing softball?
Morgan Klaevemann: I started playing softball in Little League when I was six, but I always played on teams in the higher age group because my skill set was much more advanced than the ones my age.

My first time to play with the Texas Bombers was in February, 2006, at a tournament where it was 20 degrees.  It was so cold, I had so many layers of clothes on.  We all could barely move.  I was guest playing and after that tournament, I was asked to join the organization and have been with them ever since.

 

SSS.com Walk us through the recruiting process… when did Florida State first see you, how did they contact you and ultimately offer and how and why did you decide FSU was the place for you?
MK: I originally attracted the attention of Assistant Coach Craig Snider in 2010 (my freshman year) when he was an assistant coach for Stephen F. Austin.  He followed me throughout the year and in the summer of 2011, he took a similar position with Florida State.

He alerted Head Coach Lonnie Alameda about me and said she needed to come watch me play.  She came and saw me play in the Premier Girls Fastpitch National Tournament in California at end of July 2011 and, after watching the first game, she came to every game after that.

I was one of the top hitters for the tournament, having the fourth best batting average out of all the players in the event.  She immediately contacted the recruiter for our team and said they were very interested in me and wanted me to come for a visit as soon as possible.

I visited FSU the first weekend of September 2011 (my sophomore year) and at the end of the visit an offer was made.  I had made some visits to colleges my freshman year and I visited a couple more my sophomore year before deciding FSU was the place for me.

I verbally committed to  Florida State the day before Thanksgiving in 2011.  When I made my visit, I immediately felt like I was “home,” that FSU was the place for me.  I loved the campus and the coaches are phenomenal.  I felt like I was already a part of the team, and that feeling has not changed.

I am impressed with their softball program, and I was very impressed with the academic standards of the college and all the support I will get while going to school there.  I can’t imagine myself going anyplace else.

 

SSS.com: Did you visit any other schools or seriously consider anyone else? 
MK: My freshman year I visit LSU and Oklahoma.  My sophomore year, I visited Stephen F. Austin, Florida State and University of North Texas.  I was also invited for a visit to Texas, Tulsa, Arkansas, Florida International and several others.

 

SSS.com: How would you say Texas softball compares with that on the West Coast or East Coast?
MK: There is definitely more competition in softball on the West Coast.  Once upon a time, Texas softball was far behind the West Coast, but I feel that we have come a long way and can compete with the best teams from the West Coast.  Playing any of those teams definitely makes you a better player.

I feel that softball on the East Coast is comparable to softball in Texas.  I don’t feel they are more advanced.

 

SSS.com If you weren’t playing softball, what would you doing?
MK: I would be going on more camping trips with my family.  Before I started playing select softball, we had a RV and went camping all the time.  I love the outdoors and love to go kayaking.  I have been playing softball for so long, I really can’t imagine myself doing anything else.

 

SSS.com What would you say are your strengths on the field?  And in what areas would you like to improve?
MK: My strength is speed.  As an outfielder, I am able to cover a lot of ground in a very short amount of time, catching fly balls that other players wouldn’t necessarily get.  My speed has also helped me steal many bases.  I am a slapper, so my speed has definitely been put to good use.  My average home-to-first time has been clocked at 2.59 before by several coaches.

I would like to become a better power slapper, and that is something I have been working on and getting better at.  I fell I am great at the short game and can lay down a wicked bunt and very seldom get thrown out!

 

SSS.com What will you study in college?
MK: I will be pursuing a degree towards becoming a pharmacist.

 

SSS.com: What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
MK: I have great core strength and can lift my legs off the ground and hold my body sideways on a pole, like a flag.  I used to be a gymnast and I am still able to do a back handspring.

 

SSS.com If you had the chance to go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?
MK: Italy because it is so pretty and I love the culture.  I especially love Italian food!

 

SSS.com: What is more scary to you… speaking to a group of 500 people or playing softball in front of 5,000 people?
MK: Speaking to a group of 500 people.

 

SSS.com: Finally, what are your plans for Halloween… going to a party, trick or treating, dressing up, or will you be playing softball?
MK: In years past, Halloween fell on the weekend that we played in the Ronald McDonald College Exposure Tournament which is a huge tournament in Houston.

Our coach always let us dress up for the last game we played.  The last year I dressed up like one of the members of the band KISS with two other players.  There were so many coaches that came to our game just to see all of us in costumes.  We had a blast.  Something I will always remember.

Since Halloween does not fall on a weekend this year, I get to hang out with my friends and go trick or treating.  A group of my friends are going on a scavenger hunt around town, which should be a lot of fun!

*****

RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Got four new verbals courtesy of Corey Reid, the Head Coach of the OBS Monarchs based in Northern California:

— OF Jazmine Clarke (2014, Utah State)
— CF Hanna Holland (2014, Humboldt State
— P/1B Alexis Metler (2015, Delaware)
— C/3B Lauren Sanders (2014, UC San Diego)

 

*** We have a lot of college coaches who follow us and this is directed at them/you:  if you’re in the market for a 2014 catcher, you might want to look at Keiko-Madison Saacke from the Strike Force Gold team which won the 2013 PGF 18U Platinum National Championship.

According to her coach, Gabe Guerra, she has college level talent: “I have signed many athletes to college and this has me a bit confused, as I’m not too sure how or why she is still unsigned.”

Saacke has a 3.2 GPA and 1580 SAT and also can play 3B/OF/2B.

Here’s an evaluation from Coach Guerra:

Offense: “Madison can hit for power and for average.  Madison is a super smart base runner that anticipates very well.  She gets great jumps on the ball and takes advantage of every defensive mistake.

Defense: “Madison is a very polished receiver.  She has excellent technique behind the plate and is able to get strikes on those borderline pitches.  Madison strongest attribute behind the plate is her arm.  Madison keeps all base runners in check with her quick release and will pretty much squash any base stealing threat from the opposition.”

Intangibles: “Madison has a very high softball IQ; exactly what you want and need from your catcher.  She understands the pace of the game very well and is able to direct the defense with confidence and authority.  Madison is a wonderful teammate and is a pleasure to work with.”

Anyone interested in learning more can reach Coach Guerra on the Strike Force Gold website

 

*****

EVENTS: TCS SOCAL SHOWCASE AT BIG LEAGUE DREAMS

This weekend, one of the biggest events in the country will take place at the famous Big League Dreams parks in West Covina and Chino Hills, Calif.

Running from today through Sunday (Oct. 4-6) is the Triple Crown Sports and Firecrackers presented “Showcase at Big League Dreams” tournament which is loaded with teams from mostly the West Coast (California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington), but also as far away as Kansas and Florida.

We were there today to see the 130-player combine that’s taking place as well as cover games that start this afternoon and run through Sunday evening. We’ll have more in the next few days..

Here’s a list of the confirmed teams:

18 and Under

1. Absolute Blast Gold (Glenn)

2. American Pastime Gold

3. Arizona Cats Gold

4. AZ Desert Thunder

5. AZ Hotshots (Davis)

6. AZ Killer Bees

7. AZ Storm (Brun)

8. Batbusters (Fox/Tellez)

9. Bownet Gold

10. CA Cruisers Gold (Mel)

11. CA Cruisers 18G (Phil & Lyn)

12. Cal Lite

13. Cal Nuggets (Flier)

14. California Thunder (Valerie)

15. Case Batbusters 18 Gold

16. Combat Panthers

17. Corona Angels (Howard)

18. Corona Angels (Tyson)

19. Firecrackers-AZ (Kaye)

20. Firecrackers (Blanco) Gold

21. Firecrackers (Rico)

22. Firecrackers (Snyder)

23. Fury Softball (Goodacre)

24. Gold Coast Hurricanes (Cooper)

25. Lakewood Firecrackers

26. Lil Rebels 96

27. Lil Saints Gold

28. Minor’s Gold (Lovelace)

29. Minors Gold (Macias)

30. Nemesis Elite 18u Gold

31. Nor Cal Patriots

32. Oregon Blaze Gold

33. Pure Fastpitch

34. Quakes Gold

35. RR Gold (Bob)

36. San Diego Legacy

37. San Diego Renegades

38. San Jose Sting (Perales)

39. San Jose Sting (Tellez)

40. So Cal Athletics (Richardson)

41. So Cal Athletics (Sota)

42. So Cal Breakers (Beddow)

43. So Cal Choppers

44. So Cal Diamonds

45. So Cal Fillys Gold

46. So Cal Pumas Gold

47. So Cal Wicked

48. Sorcerers (Phil)

49. StrikeForce Gold (Guerra)

50. Team Mizuno (Gonzalez)

51. The Next Level Gold

52. USA Athletics GOLD

53. Washington Ladyhawks Gold (Miller)

54. Wichita Mustangs

 

16 and Under

1. American Pastime (Garcia)

2. AZ Killer Bees (Grimaldi)

3. Arizona Storm-Mizuno

4. AZ Suncats

5. Cal Lite

6. California Cruisers

7. Corona Angels

8. Explosion 16u (Greg)

9. Firecrackers (Brashear)

10. Firecrackers-AZ (Henry)

11. Lil Rebels

12. Minors Gold (Camacho)

13. Pure Fastpitch

14. San Diego Power Surge

15. San Jose Sting (Perales)

16. So Cal Athletics (Myers/McNee)

17. So Cal Breakers (Imoto)

18. So Cal Choppers (Shipman)

19. So Cal Pumas

20. Sorcerers

 

*****

HOT 100 PROSPECTS: CLASS OF 2014 (last day!)

On Monday we begin our countdown of the Hot 100 list of the top 2014’s… thanks to all those who sent in information, all players are considered and we’ll likely cover your athlete sooner or later!

If you’d like to recommend a current senior for consideration, send in your info to us at brentt@studentsports.com.  We’ll take stats, honors, accomplishments, recruiting info, photos and promote as appropriate.

 

 

*****

 

 

If you’d like to submit information, forward to brentt@studentsports.com.  Also, follow us on twitter at @SS_Softball.