Alrighty then, let’s get going on some fun stuff today: we go to the East Coast to look at the new lineup for one of the premier programs there, learn why a Calif. beach girl wants to play in the Northwest and preview one of the top events of the fall that’s part of our updated list of fall tourneys, showcases, jamborees, tryouts, regionals, etc.!

 

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TEAM SPOTLIGHT: JERSEY INTENSITY

Jersey Intensity, lead by the indefatigable Head Coach Kevin O’Donnell, always seems to be one of the top programs in the nation.  This summer, the 18U team finished tied for 9^th at the PGF Premier National Championship.

As with most teams, graduation hit hard—in this cause Intensity lost 10 players that leave spots to fill.

We spoke with Coach O’Donnell and he updated us on how the reloading is going… here are the players returning and the quartet of new talent that has been added with comments from KOD:

 

Returning Players

— OF Bailey Biglar (2014, Notre Dame)
“She’s a tenacious, tremendous leadoff hitter who covers a lot of ground in the outfield.”

— OF Rebecca Drake (2015, uncommitted)
“Rebecca has a huge upside, she’d overcoming a major injury but is probably the next high level recruit to come out of the organization.”

— P Allison Frei (2014, Boston College)
“She’s probably one of the top five pitchers in the country, she’s a six foot girl with a lot of movement on her pitches and she throws a unique pitch, it’s like a baseball cutter.”

— 2B Katie Marino (2016, uncommitted)
“A high level recruit as well, Katie has four major schools looking at here and she’ll probably commit by January 1.  She’s come in to fill the void at second and has looked great.”

— C/OF Ally Moore (2015, uncommitted)
“A lefty-lefty (hitting, throwing), the pitchers love the way she calls a game.”

— SS Carly Severini (2015, Boston College)
“When people see her play they always say she plays shortstop like a guy, meaning she’s smooth and effortless.”

— C Alyssa VanDerveer (2014, Penn State)
“Nicknamed ‘The Wall,’ she will be one of the top power-hitters in the country this year.  She had 28 hour runs in the fall and summer.”

 

New Players

­— P Maddie Smith (2016, uncommitted)
“Maddie has one of the biggest upsides of any ’16 pitcher in the country.  She’s another high level recruit.”

— 1B Kyra Lockhart (2017, uncommitted)
“If you remember Dorian Shaw, Kyra has that same type of pure power and will be one of the top ‘17’s in the nation.”

— 3B Sabrina Turner (2015, Mississippi State)
“Sabrina plays like a California girls, she’s polished and a fierce competitor who knows how to win.”

— OF Annie Murphy (2014, uncommitted)
“She’s a five-tool player with high academics.”

 

Open Spots

Coach O’Donnell says that there are seven spots remaining, which will go to players from “uncommitted rosters,” meaning the Jersey Intensity coaching staff will be watching and evaluating throughout the fall to see who could fit and come in and play.

 

Final Intensity notes:

*** You may remember Kevin’s daughter Brittany, who’s played at Notre Dame.  He says she’s finishing up getting a degree in South Bend and next year will joining the Auburn coaching staff.

*** Finally, one of the coaches last year for Intensity, John Pandolfo, will be an assistant (part-time) for Boston College helping out as a hitting coach.

 

 

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RECRUIT PROFILE:  BRITTANY WERRE

Brittany Werre, a 2015 infielder from Mira Costa High (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and new member of Explosion committed to Washington last weekend.

Go to her Twitter page (@brittanywerre) and she makes it clear where she’s headed, saying “Furture softball player for the University of Washington.”

We had a chance to query Brittany about her verbal as well as what life being a beach girl is all about… here’s a closer look:

 

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Student Sports Softball: How did you first get into playing softball?
Brittany Werre: My parents signed me up for t-ball when I was 5 years old and I quickly found a passion for the sport!

SSS.com: When did you know it was something you really wanted to work hard at and pursue seriously?
BW: I used to pitch up until 12u and around that time I knew that softball was something I for sure wanted to take seriously. In 2009, I was given the opportunity to be a bat girl for the University of Washington softball team and after that awesome experience, I knew I wanted to work hard to reach my goal of playing Division 1 softball

SSS.com: You go to Mira Costa High, known as one of the top volleyball schools in the country… did you ever consider playing volleyball or other sports?
BW: I grew up playing a bunch of sports: AYSO soccer, basketball, and even swim team. I never played volleyball on a formal team but I’m always up for a fun game on the beach!

SSS.com: Living in a Southern Calif. beach city, Manhattan Beach, do you surf?  Is the beach something you go to frequently and is it sometimes hard to have to go work out or practice over heading down to the sand with friends?
BW: I did three years of L.A. County Junior Lifeguards and learned to surf there! My family owns a surfboard, but unfortunately I don’t get to use it that often. I love going to the beach! This summer, I didn’t go that much because of all the traveling I did for softball. It’s hard to tell friends “no sorry I can’t go, I have softball” but hey, you got to have the right priorities and I wouldn’t change a thing!

SSS.com: So last weekend you committed to Washington… you admit you’ve been a lifelong fan of the Huskies, tell us what your connection is to the Pac-12 school?
BW: Washington has always been my dream school. My dad grew up in the state of Washington and my uncle, aunt, and dad all went to UW! It’s pretty cool that I’ll be a second generation Husky. I grew up watching Husky football and I love everything about the school and Seattle. I’ve always considered the Pacific Northwest my second home.

SSS.com: What were the circumstances around your commitment, you were at a UW camp, correct?
BW: Yes, I was up there for their High School Showcase Camp as well as an unofficial visit.

SSS.com: Was it at the camp they offered you?  And how long did it take you to say “yes?”
BW: I sat down with the coaches after the last day of camp (Monday night) and committed then! To be honest, it took me a while, maybe about 10 minutes, to say “yes” because I was so in shock that Coach Tarr told me she wanted me to be a Husky!

SSS.com: What was it they said they liked about you enough to offer?
BW: Coach (Heather) Tarr really liked my love for the school and how passionate I am about the Husky softball program and Husky athletics! I stayed persistent in my pursuit of UW and kept working hard and it has really paid off!

SSS.com: Finally, have you done anything fun to celebrate getting the offer to your dream school?
BW: I met up with some of my future teammates after I committed and we went to go get some frozen yogurt and shop around at the University Village. After that, my family and I went out to dinner at my favorite restaurant in Seattle, Wally’s. Always got to get some good King salmon while I’m up there!

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MORE VERBAL NEWS

*** Ashley Ross, a 2015 P for Explosion is headed to Boston College.  She played for the So Cal A’s-Sota team last year.

*** Hannah Murphy has verballed to Morehead State University. Shes a Class of 2014 infielder who plays for the Lady Lasers Black and attend Pickerington North High in Columbus Ohio.

 

Let us know who we’re missing, who, perhaps, has changed teams and who has a good story to tell!  Brentt — brentt@studentsports.com

 

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EVENT PREVIEW: DIAMOND 9 SUN CLASSIC FALL SHOWCASE

You might want to not lock in trick-or-treating plans with your favorite softball player as there’s a good chance she could be at, or travelling to, one of the elite events for the Fall season.

The Diamond 9 Sun Classic Fall Showcase runs from October 31 to November 3 this year at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. and will see many of the top teams and players participating, including 35 teams from California alone.

You’ve got quality, for sure, and certainly the quantity: there will be close to 200 teams this year with an estimated 300 college coaches in attendance.

To give you an idea how the event has grown immensely, consider these numbers:  in 2010, the first year of the Fall Showcase, there were 75 teams.  Year 2 had 109 and last year, Year 3, saw 150 compete.

The structure is a five or seven game guarantee and according to the event’s director, Kevin O’Donnell, it’s a “pure showcase” which will also included a National Skills Combine on Halloween Day where 25 college coaches will instruct and coach uncommitted players.

Here’s a partial list of some of the elite teams expected to attend from across the nation:

— four So Cal A’s teams (including the PGF champion Bruce Richardson-led team)
— four Mizuno-sponsored teams, including both OC Batbusters teams (see yesterday’s Daily Update for those team rosters)
— Arizona Hotshots
— Beverly Bandits (Ill.)
— Birmingham Bolts (Ala.)
— Carolina Elite (S.C.)
— East Cobb Bullets (Ga.)
— Houston Power (Texas)
— Miami Stingrays (Fla.)
— NC Lady Lightning-Miken (N.C.)
— Nebraska Nemesis
— Ohio Outlaws
— Rhode Island Thunder
— Tampa Mustangs (Fla.)
— Team North Florida
— Texas Blaze
— Tennessee Fury
— Tulsa Shootout (Okla.)
— Wagner’s Gold (Fla.)
— Washington Ladyhawks
— Windermere Wildfire (Fla.)

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FALL EVENT CALENDAR

Here’s our latest updated list of key Fall softball events… let us know if there are any to add! New ones this week include OnDeck, PGF, Triple Crown,  and Scout Softball events.

Tournament	Division	ST	Dates
OnDeck NorCal Jamboree	Classes 2014-2018	CA	9/6/13
Frozen Ropes PGF Regional Qualifier	12U, 14U	NY	09/07/13 to 09/08/13
Organizational Workout Weekend	12U, 14U, 16U, 18U	CA	09/14/13 to 09/15/13
PGF Midwest Regional qualifier-Downers	16U, 18U	IL	09/14/13 to 09/15/13
PGF Midwest Regional qualifier-J&J	14U	IL	09/14/13 to 09/15/13
PGF Midwest Regional qualifier-J&J	12U	IL	09/14/13 to 09/15/13
Sidewinders Tournament	16U, 18U	WA	09/14/13 to 09/15/13
Scout National Senior Showcase	Classes 2014-2018	TX	9/15/2013
SoCals Finest - Fall Kick Off	16U, 18U	CA	09/21/13 to 09/22/13
OnDeck Texas Jamboree	Classes 2014-2018	TX	9/27/13
Field of Champions Fall Invitational	18U	PA	09/28/13 to 09/29/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	IA	10/4/13
Firecrackers & TCS present: Showcase at BLD	16U, 18U	CA	10/04/13 to 10/06/13
Best of the West All Star Game	Classes 2014-2018	CA	10/5/13
Ohio PGF Bash	14U, 16U, 18U	OH	10/05/13 to 10/06/13
Scout Showcase Showdown	16U, 18U	VA	10/05/13 to 10/06/13
PGF Gulf Coast Exposure Tournament	14U, 16U, 18U	MS	10/11/13 to 10/13/13
Surf City Fall Showcase	16U, 18U	CA	10/11/13 to 10/13/13
Team NJ Fall Showcase	16U, 18U	NJ	10/11/13 to 10/13/13
West Coast National Elite Futures Camp	Classes 2014-2018	CA	10/17/13 to 10/18/13
Surf City October Showcase	16U, 18U	CA	10/18/13 to 10/20/13
College Bound Showcase Spectacular	16U, 18U	NY	10/19/13 to 10/20/13
Stingrays Invitational	14U, 16U, 18U	OH	10/21/13 to 10/22/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	MO	10/24/13
Rising Stars Individual Fall Showcase	16U, 18U	FL	10/24/13
CBS Sports TV TCS Rising Stars	18U	FL	10/25/13 to 10/27/13
Surf City Halloween Showcase	16U, 18U	CA	10/25/13 to 10/27/13
St. Louis Showcase	16U, 18U	MO	10/25/13 to 10/27/13
OnDeck Arizona Tryout	Classes 2014-2018	AZ	10/26/13 to 10/27/13
Nightmare Octoberfest	18U	NJ	10/26/13 to 10/27/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	TX	11/1/13
D9 Sun Classic Fall Showcase	14U, 16U, 18U	FL	10/31/13 to 11/03/13
Ronald McDonald Tournament	14U, 16U, 18U	TX	11/02/13 to 11/03/13
East Coast National Elite Futures Camp	Classes 2014-2018	GA	11/07/13 to 11/08/13
So Cals Finest - Tournament of Champions	16U, 18U	CA	11/09/13 to 11/10/13
USF Showcase	Classes 2014-2018	FL	11/09/13 to 11/10/13
OnDeck Phoenix Jamboree	Classes 2014-2018	AZ	11/15/13
D9 Coastal Fall Classic		MS	11/15/13 to 11/17/13
Surf City Early Thanksgiving Showcase	16U, 18U	CA	11/22/13 to 11/24/13
So Cal National Showcase	14U	CA	11/23/13 to 11/24/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	FL	12/1/13
So Cals Finest - Feed a Family Tourney	16U, 18U	CA	12/07/13 to 12/08/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	TX	12/8/13
D9 National Skills Exposure Camp		CA	12/14/13 to 12/15/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	CA	12/15/13

 

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