Pictured: new Florida commit Rylee Trlicek from Texas.

With the NFCA Convention taking place last week and running through Sunday, college coaches were busy in Atlanta it was still a sizable recruiting week as we’ll have close to four dozen new verbals.

Here are some highlights we have from the last week…

*** We start on a somber note as we update the tragic situation involving the Caymol family from Buford, Georgia which we first reported last week.

Logan Caymol is one of the top 2018 pitchers in the country and is committed to Tennessee.  She plays for the East Cobb Bullets – Biele team and last week her father, Teo, and brothers Drew (11) and Matty (13) were in a car accident a week ago tonight that took the life of Drew.

We’ve spoken to Bullet coaches, players and parents in the organization who’ve updated us on the situation and we want to pass along the latest as we continue to think about and pray for the Caymol family.

First, there’s a Facebook page the family has set up: Caymol Strong where you can follow the latest news involving the family.

Earlier today, Teo, underwent surgery for his displaced hip and he reportedly is doing better and able to talk to visitors despite the physical pain of his hip injury plus broken ribs, a fractured back and collapsed lungs.  He will have a long road to a full recovery but we are told he will make it.

Little Matty is still in an induced coma as he has swelling of the brain and the doctors are taking it cautiously slow to allow the body to heal more before taking further steps.  The point here is the young teen isn’t out of the woods yet, but all are cautiously optimistic.

As a parent of five, I can think of no more difficult trial in life than for a father or mother to bury a child.  What is impressive about the Caymol family is their strong faith and how it’s sustaining them in this, the darkest hours of their lives.

There’s a GoFundMe page set up to raise $100K for medical bills and it’s close to $69,000 as we write this… please support as you can.

And kudos to organizations like Top Prospect Network who are also promoting the GoFundMe account on their home page.

If you believe in prayer and divine support, we encourage you to keep the family in your thoughts.  Many have told us that the Caymols are the nicest people in the world and we wish them all the very best in this awful nightmare of sadness.

*** We hope you’re enjoying the Florida video series as Episode II dropped today, covering the championship run last year led by National Player of the Year Lauren Haeger who dominated the WCWS in the circle and at the plate.

When you add Hannah Rogers, Stephanie Brombacker and Stacey Nelson to the great pitchers that head coach Tim Walton and pitching coach Jennifer Rocha have developed, then you know they have a good eye for talent in the circle.

That’s why the news that the Gators have a pitching verbal from Texas is noteworthy.

The talented player is Rylee Trlicek who plays for the Texas Blaze White Prinzo 16U team.

Like Haeger, though, she’s not just a pitcher—Rylee can hit—and can also play the outfield or first base as a natural lefty power hitter and power pitcher.

The Gator commit attends Hallettsville (Texas) High and according to J.B. Slimp, the Recruiting Coordinator for the Blaze organization: “Rylee was one of the top recruited 2019 players in the country with multiple SEC, Big 12 and Pac-12 offers.”

“She has dominating speed for her age, Rylee consistently throws 64 mph with speeds clocked at 67 at an Arizona camp and 65 at a Tennessee camp.”

At the plate she had double-digit home runs last summer with her travel team, the Texas Blaze 14U Futures which finished 5th at the Boulder IDT.

Be sure to check in throughout the next few days as we’ll have a more in-depth Q&A with Rylee as we learn who she is and how the Florida recruiting process went.

Finally, congrats to the Blaze organization which has had about two dozen players commit this year alone:

• 2019 -- Rylee Trlicek - University of Florida
• 2017 -- Emma Holland - Nicholls State
• 2018 -- Kate Ryan - Michigan State
• 2016 -- Makenzie Carpenter - Louisiana Lafayette
• 2019 -- Kinsey Kuhlmann - Ole Miss
• 2018 -- Denay Griffin - Liberty University
• 2018 -- Maddie Jatzlau - Texas A&M
• 2017 -- Alyssa Montes - Mississippi Valley State
• 2016 -- Angel Jaminez - Garden Valley State
• 2016 -- Taylor Germain - St. Mary’s University
• 2018 -- Jillian Hefner - Abilene Christian University
• 2017 -- Alexandra Dale - Mary Hardin University
• 2017 -- Kloe Corbin - UT Arlington
• 2016 -- Shelly Snyder - Mary Hardin Baylor
• 2017 -- Chelsea Ham - East Texas Baptist University
• 2015 -- Marisol Quinones - Oklahoma Wesleyan
• 2017 -- Erin Mosely - A&M Corpus Christy
• 2016 -- Blake-Ann Fritsch - Texas A&M University
• 2017 -- Brycen Blinco - UT San Antonio
• 2016 -- Shelby Hughston - St. Edwards
• 2017 -- Kendall Lange - University of Central Florida
• 2015 -- Karli Sewell - Hendrix College
• 2015 -- Sam Faberge - University of Dallas

***

An update on “The Beast,” one of our favorite players to cover because she’s a workout warrior who can bench press 140 pounds.

The player is Pitt-commit Lexi Wagner and here’s a video of her a year ago when she tossed up 10 reps of 100 pounds:


Lexi made the 2018 Hot 100 list and now plays for the Outlaws Premier 16U team, which has a chance to make our FAB 50 16U rankings which will start on Sunday with the list of the “Next In,” the teams in the 51-100 spot.

Back to Lexi, she has played for the 18U team before and last summer helped Tomo Scanlon’s team to a 34-5-2 record with a club-leading .477 average, 13 doubles, eight homers, 44 RBI, 33 RBI and a 1.289 OPS.

All that being the youngest player on a team playing a top 18U showcase schedule. 

In the spring she had a strong freshman year in high school batting .489 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI along with 20 steals starting on a highly-ranked senior laden team. 

This fall in her first Season with Ohio Outlaws-Morrison, Lexi helped lead her team to a 14-1 record and she actually missed the only loss of the fall season. 

As for the change in teams, Lexi felt the opportunity to play on a team with three fellow Power 5 conference commits and 3 more D1 committed players overall was just too much to pass up especially considering most of her current team would be graduating this year and be moving onto college after a great run with Coach Scanlon.
 
For the year Lexi finished with 23 homers between high school and travel ball with over 100 RBI in the calendar year. 

***

Last week we reported on the Jacksonville Storm team coached by Addison Davis and how his daughter Madisyon is one of the top 2019’s in the country (she had recently visited Georgia Tech, next month she’ll visit Oklahoma State among others).

The Storm has another elite freshman and that’s Taryn Freshwater, a “masher” first baseman who has committed to South Florida and USA Softball National Team head coach Ken Ericksen.

Adds Coach Davis: “What makes Ken Erickson attracted to a player like Taryn Freshwater? Without a doubt, Coach Ken is looking for female athletes that have laser-like focus.”

“Taryn Freshwater is that type of player! Her ability to think and learn at an expedited pace makes her an attractive player. She is focused, dedicated, and hard working which defines who she is on and off the field.”


Taryn is an athletic 5-foot-9 and pounds the ball which ultimately allows her the opportunity to wear a Bull's uniform!”  

***

If you’re into learning about “top talent early,” then you’ll love our 2019 Hot 100 list coming out in January which we’re working on now as we compile top players across the nation.

One player to keep an eye on is Abby Herbst, a 2019 P/1B with a power lefty swing.  She plays for the Beverly Bandits Premier 16U team, the won that won Colorado IDT last summer, and Abby is the only freshman on the team.

She also bats clean-up and had a strong fall hitting .481 with 35 RBI and 35 RBI in 90 plate appearances.

Pitching wise she’s a right and throws 60-61 mph with great spin.  She changes speeds and her drop curve is her best pitch.  

This fall she threw 64 innings and went 8-1 with a 1.42 ERA and 26 K’s.

Abby pitches to contact—she doesn’t have a high strikeout percentage as she had 26 K’s-- but always seems to get the big K when she needs it.

Last year Abby was on the Beverly Bandits Demarini 14U team that finished 3rd at PGF nationals.  She led the team in hitting and only gave up one earned run as Alabama commit Montana Fouts pitched most of the innings at Nationals.  

Abby also pitched when the team beat Georgia Elite Hoover and won the 16U New Jersey Summer Showcase in June.  Moving up to 16's she hit a 280 foot home run duing the Labor Day Showcase during the camp off a live pitcher (one of the stations was hitting and pitching live), and she just continued to rake all fall.

The freshman has taken unofficial visits to Notre Dame and Washington, and has more planned to Stanford and Wisconsin. She has attended elite camps at Tennessee, Georgia, Missouri and others.

Abby currently has two offers, and is hoping to make a decision over the winter after her next few visits.

She is also an A student (she has four honors classes as a 1st semester freshman), which is why Notre Dame and Stanford are high on her.

****

Finally, one of the best club names is the Central California Dirt Dogs and Jeff Harger is doing well in getting his players on to the next level.

Here’s the Dirt Dogs list of commitments (note: Coach Harger says, “I have two more 2016’s on visits this week):

• Genesis Zamora-2016-3b-Idaho St.
• Cassidy Clark-2016-SS-San Jose St.
• Elizabeth Torosian-2016-C-Fresno St.
• Taylor Tiger-2016-OF-Long Beach St.
• Samantha Mejia-2016-P-Fresno St.
• Keeley Hernandez-2016-OF-Menlo College
• Faith Rousey-2016-3b-Fresno St.
• Halle Harger-2017-2b-Boise St.
• Julianna Martinez-2017-OF-Cal St. Northridge
• Kaitlynn Coffman-2018-Utility-Ohio St.
• Vanessa Hernandez-2018-SS-Fresno St.
• Ani Raley-2018-C-Nebraska