Today, we continue our look at the top 100 players in the 2019 class… we’re spotlighting 10 each day as we count down from 100 to No. 1. These players were
Feb 5, 2016 by Brentt Eads
Today, we continue our look at the top 100 players in the 2019 class… we’re spotlighting 10 each day as we count down from 100 to No. 1.
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Today, we continue our look at the top 100 players in the 2019 class… we’re spotlighting 10 each day as we count down from 100 to No. 1.
These players were chosen based on input and feedback from college and club coaches who’ve seen them play all across the nation.
Criteria for choosing and ranking the players including performances at the club and high school levels and projecting how they will play at the collegiate level.
Today we feature players No. 20 to 11 with standout players from Arkansas, California (5), Florida (2), Georgia and Texas.
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20—Lexi Sosa, P/UT… So Cal Athletics – Mercado (UCLA) Lexi is a flame-throwing pitcher who hits 65 to 67 mph consistently with a great riseball and change. Her velocity for her age group has always been ahead of the curve in part because she has great size at 5-foot-9 and strength. But she’s not just one-dimensional; Lexi has a great stick as well. She’s a power-hitter who drives the ball to all fields. Originally from El Paso, Texas, she’s been lighting up the young club divisions for so long she had 21 offers when she committed to UCLA in January of 2015 at the age of 13 years, five months, making her the Bruins youngest verbal ever.
19—Sharlize Palacios, C/1B… OC Batbusters – Campbell (Arizona) Sharlize has been on the national recruiting scene for several years going back to 2013 when her Bonita Valley 12U team took 2nd at the ASA Western Nationals. She’s a right-handed catcher and corner infielder who has great tools on defense with a cannon for an arm, quickness behind the plate and the frame to become a high-level college standout. The So Cal athlete has great tools on defense now and she’s dialing in on her hitting with power to drive the ball to all fields. One coach says of Sharlize, “She has all the talent in the world, she will be an absolute beast.”
18—Hannah Kumiyama, 3B/P… So Cal Athletics – Mercado (South Carolina) Hannah is following in the footsteps of her older sister, Alyssa, a 2017 catcher/first baseman who is also headed to South Carolina. Both sisters have won national championships—five between them in fact—and that’s because they bring a winning mentality and competitiveness to their team. Hannah is a great all-round athlete and had quit softball between her first and second years of 12U to focus on basketball, but couldn’t stay away from the field where she dominates now. She destroys the ball offensively and every at-bat is a threat to go deep. On defense, she throws in the 60’s and fields well. Her basketball-enhanced reflexes help her handle rockets at third very well.
17—Leea Hanks, OF/SS… Jersey Intensity (Notre Dame) Leea is a speedy outfielder with the skills to play the middle infield. The Florida native is a triple-threat slapper who first drew attention as an eighth grader when she was described as “phenomenal” and “showing flashes of brilliance” at an OnDeck camp where she had the second fastest shuttle of all the talented attendees. Her stock exploded in 2015 with the Intensity as she played in major tournaments and caught the eye of Notre Dame at the Diamond9 Sun Classic in June. She ultimately committed on November 14 during a visit to South Bend after having received strong interest from ACC and SEC schools.
16—Alex McManus, P… Beverly Bandits 14U Premier (Notre Dame) Alex is a polished pitcher with a high ceiling and no end in sight to how good she can become. The Arkansas native uses both sides of the plate as well as anyone in her age group and throws in the mid 60’s with a curveball that buckles knees. Her riseball is arguably her best pitch but her strength is she has a real understanding of the plate and uses it to the best of her ability to pitch up and down while living on the black. Alex has won several state championships at the 12U and 10U titles so she’s been on the national radar for a while. She had double-digit numbers of major programs after her before she narrowed it down to Arizona State, Arkansas, Michigan and Oklahoma before she decided on Notre Dame, beneficial in that she has several family members in the Chicago area.
15—Maddison Koepke, MIF… East Cobb Bullets – Biele (Auburn) Maddison is one of the premier hitters in the country and last season playing for the Georgia Impact-Lewis team which finished 2nd at PGF 16U Nationals, led the team with 15 home runs against premier competition. One highlight was a key two-run home run in a comeback victory of the defending champion Corona Angels. Her big bat also helped her high school win the Georgia 6A high school state championship. One coach said of her, “She hits the top pitching better than anyone I’ve seen.” Maddison has a smooth glove in the infield and committed to Auburn in December of 2014, making her one of the first verbals in the 2019 class.
14—Baylee Goddard, 3B… Jacksonville Storm – Davis (Florida) Baylee has great athletic DNA as her late father, Jonathan Goddard, played defensive end in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts. She is a premier hitter, one who hits for high average as well as for power due to her great hand speed. The last eight weeks of the club season she batted close to .600 and had 15 bombs. When Baylee’s in a groove and on fire, there’s no stopping her at the plate. Defensively she’s a standout at third, but her greatest attributes are her leadership and focus on excelling. One coach said of the Florida star, “Baylee is the model for all players and forces athletes to mirror the identical mentality for the game.” One source close to the Storm adds, “With her ability to lead on and off the field, our players are better people from being around Baylee.”
13—Taylor Pleasants, IF/OF… Texas Bombers Gold (LSU) Taylor is a 6-foot middle infielder with a slick glove. The Texan is a ferocious lefty hitter with plus power and is a great athlete who can run. She also plays volleyball at a high level. Taylor has an advanced understanding of the game which translates into all areas and she plays much bigger than those her age. She has great hands at the plate and at the TC/USA Nationals in Reno last summer put on an exhibition in the field in front of coaches from major programs such as Florida, Oklahoma and her eventual pick, LSU, who she committed to in November.
12—Jaelyn Operana, OF/P… Firecrackers – Brashear (Tennessee) Jaelyn is an elite athlete with great skills. She plays on the Brashear 16U team which is loaded with talent and many scouts think before she graduates Jaelyn will be a Top 10, maybe even a Top 5 player, in her class. She's a switch hitter with excellent power from the right while being able to run a 2.6 home-to-first from the left side. Jaelyn typically plays centerfield but can pitch also and has played at the highest levels for years which has included winning an ASA 12U National Championship. She committed to Tennessee in December over heavy interest from Pac-12, Big 12 and other SEC schools.
11—Brooke Marquez, MIF… Corona Angels (Notre Dame) Brooke is an example of the player who has the “It” factor, they have the intangibles and the skill set that together creates the formula for success. Some players, like Brooke, work their tails off and make it look effortless. She never takes a day off because of her competitive fire to be the best in the game. Brooke has played the game since she was age 7 and has competed at the highest level of play which has included being a key cog in the Corona Angels 14U team that won PGF Nationals in 2014. Major programs from all over recruited her and she did her homework visiting eight campuses, but fell in love with Notre Dame in September on an unofficial visit and committed in November.
