Oakville High School lost to Jefferson City High School in the Class 4 State Championships. Oakville could not get their bats going and the Jays capitalized on mistakes made by the Oakville squad.
 

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Seventh inning, down by three.

The easy route is to give up, but Parkway Central High School out of  Chesterfield, Mo. never says die.

The count was 3-2 and Alyssa Waitz started the rally reaching first on a walk. From there, it escalated quickly. Ali Gorman followed with a hit and Tia Pennington drew a walk to load up the bases with no outs. Cassie Rupel, the team's pitcher, helped herself by knocking in the first run, closing the gap to 4-2. Lori Jones and Emily Greenstein followed with walks with the bases loaded to score two more for the Colts.

With the score tied 4-4, the Fort Zumwalt South pitcher, Lexy Moore, threw a wild pitch and Rupel scored from third to win the game for the Colts.

In the beginning of the inning, the Bulldog fans had been chanting "State! State! State!” as this was the last inning of the game that would lead them to playoffs. Their fans were silent and the Colts took over the cheering.

 

 

What's the moral of the story? Never quit!

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Oakville High School (St. Louis, Mo.) won three games in a row to make it to the semi-finals of the state championship taking place this weekend.

 In their quarterfinal game against Summit High School, Chloe Wolf hit a game-winning sixth-inning double to push Oakville 1-0 against Summit.

 

 Wolf had struck out her previous two at bats, but with two outs and one swing she made up for it.

 

*****

Oakville senior Maggie Ruckenbrod broke the high school career hits record for the state of Missouri on Friday. She had four hits in a 12-1 win over Hillsboro.

In the sixth inning she hit a double to centerfield and that hit tied her with the record at 181 hits. Her next at bat she hit another double and it pushed her over the current record.

Nicole Hudson of Webb City held the previous record set last year. Ruckenbrod becomes the fourth player to break the record in the last decade.

 

 

 

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ESPN RISE takes a look at up and coming sophomore pitcher, Kelsey Schifferdecker. The Belton Lady Pirates took second in District this fall season and Kelsey put up some impressive numbers. She faced 569 batters in 2009 and struck out 254 of them. She allowed only three earned runs in 162 innings pitched. Her ERA was 0.13. Throughout the season there were several highlights including a 19-game winning streak, an 18-inning win, striking out 20 batters in one seven innings game, and recording 14 shutouts, five no hitters, and one perfect game.

Name: Kelsey Schifferdecker
Year: 2012
Position: Pitcher
HS: Belton Lady Pirates
Club team: Originals (Waterbury)

	Courtesy of the Schifferdecker family
	Kelsey Schifferdecker

ESPN RISE: How old were you when you started playing softball and how did you get started?

Kelsey Schifferdecker: I was five and started playing t-ball on a summer league.

ER: What did you have to do and how did you train to stay in shape when you were younger? What do you do now? 

KS: When I was younger I also played basketball, volleyball and danced competitively. Now I follow the workout/conditioning routine from my club team.  I also have a pitching workout I follow 4-5 times weekly year round.

ER: What are some accomplishments you have had on the field so far, and what are your goals for the future?

KS: I've had multiple shutouts, no-hitters and a few perfect games pitching.  One thing I've enjoyed this year is the opportunity with my High School team to bat.  There were two games this year where I drove in the winning/tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

My future goals are to lead my high school team to the state playoffs and my club team to a national title.  After high school, my goal is to lead my college team to the World Series.

ER: What are some personal successes you have had on the field throughout your career, specifically this year?

KS: I set a goal to raise my strike out percentage by 10% this year on my high school team and achieved that by raising it from 28% to 45%.

ER: What is your favorite accomplishment or accomplishment you are most proud of?

KS: Receiving the Kansas City Star Player of the Week award.

ER: What is your favorite softball moment?

KS: Winning the District Title last year and taking third place in the 14A ASA Nationals in 2008.  Also the team bonding events with my club team throughout the year.

ER: What is your most embarrassing softball moment?

KS: Once when a girl hit a ball towards me, it sounded and appeared to be a line drive so I ducked, but it turned out to be a pop up and I looked stupid.

ER: Do you play any other sports? What sports?

KS: I quit my other activities two years ago to concentrate on softball as we play and practice year round.

ER: What made you choose softball over the other sports?

KS: It's a team sport and I realized I had a natural talent for pitching.  I enjoy the feeling I get when I'm on the mound.

ER: What are some other extracurricular activities that keep you busy off the field?

KS: I am in Student Council, Pep Club, A+, YouthFriends, Young Life and am active at church.

ER: Are there any academic accomplishments that you are especially proud of?

KS: I received an Academic Letter last year; receiving straight A's and am currently first in my class.  I also was selected to First Team All State Academic for softball.

ER: Where are you in the recruiting process?

KS: I am unable to be officially recruited until next year; however I am sending my profile and information to various colleges.

ER: What factors do you consider when looking at a college?

KS: I am interested in a college that will offer challenging and rewarding academics and provide the opportunity for playing time all four years.

ER: What has been the biggest obstacle you have overcome? 

KS: When I was younger, it was difficult for me to maintain focus and drive though the winter training.  My parents supported me and worked to come up with innovative ways to make training more fun.

ER: What do you like to do when not playing?

KS: Hang out with my friends, go shopping and go camping and boating.

ER: What was the most memorable game you have played this season? Why?

KS: When my high school team won the 18-inning game.  We beat one of the best teams in the area, stayed focused as a team and were able to work out of a few jams.  It helped build trust on our team because nobody gave up.

ER: You were playing well together in the post season, but fell short of a state title. How did the season end for the team?

KS: We finished second in our District.  While we enjoyed good pitching and defense, our offense struggled all year.  We won the semi-final game by 1 run in the bottom of the eighth, but lost the title game 0-1 in nine innings.

ER: What are your goals for the future?

KS: To continue to improve my skills and to find a college that fits my academic and athletic requirements.

 

Now I will start the sentence and you fill in the blank:

If I could have only one material possession on a deserted island it would be…

My cell phone.

Something most people don't know about me is…

That I can't swim under water without holding my nose.

Something unusual about myself is…

I can beat anyone in Wii tennis playing left handed.

A food you couldn't pay me to eat is…

 Raw fish

The best and worst movies ever are…

Best: A League of Their Own
Worst: Swing Vote

 The hardest I ever laughed was when…

When my friends made cookies and watched HS Musical 3 and it was so bad we just laughed the whole time.

The topical issue that most interests me in the world is…

Environmental issue such as finding alternative energy sources.

The best thing about softball is...

Striking someone out on a really good pitch.

If I could have one superhuman power it would be…

To be able to travel back in time.

 ESPN RISE Softball | Promote Your Page Too

Belton Pirates pitcher Kelsey Schifferdecker, Belton, Mo.,  finished the regular season 17-1 with 1 save, throwing 13 shutouts, 5 no-hitters, and 1 perfect game. Her lone loss came in extra innings the first game of the year.

Schifferdecker faced 484 batters, striking out 220, with 8 walks and 39 hits. She allowed just 3 earned runs in 138 1/3 innings for an ERA of 0.15. At the plate, she collected 15 hits, knocking in 12 RBI's and scoring 8 runs.  The Lady Pirates are the undefeated Mid-Six conference champions, going 10-0 and winning all 10 games by shutting out their opponents.  Schifferdecker pitched 9 complete games of the 10. 


Schifferdecker was named the Kansas City Star Athlete of the week 10/2/2009 after pitching her Pirates to a 5-0 record that week. The week began and ended with marathon pitching performances. Against Liberty, Schifferdecker pitched all 18 innings in the 5-4 win. Schifferdecker capped her week in a doubleheader against Raytown South. In the first game, she threw eight shutout innings, and the next game she no-hit the Cardinals.

Schifferdecker is looking to take her team deep into the post season, and with the way she is throwing, look for the Pirates to keep plowing down opponents. 

 

Zumwalt South High School (St. Peters, Mo.) came back in the bottom of the seventh to tie up the game 2-2 before taking the lead in the bottom of the 10th and winning 3-2 against Howell Central (St. Charles, Mo.).

In the bottom of the 10th there was a runner on third and Kayla Lockwood stepped up to the plate. The junior shortstop hit an RBI single to right field after going 0 for 4 in the beginning of the game.

Lexie Moore took the win on the mound after an impressive outing She pitched all ten innings and allowed two runs on three hits and truck out 20 batters.

 

 PLAY OF THE WEEK

St. Dominic High School – O'Fallon, Mo. 

 

St. Dominic High School shut down St. Francis Borgia in the finals of the St. Dominic/Howell Central tournament last week with a game changing play.

St. Dominic looked like they were in trouble in the fifth inning when they were on defense with no outs and runners on first and second base.

The Knights' batter attempted to move the runners with a sacrifice bunt. She popped up the bunt and the Crusader's first baseman, Colleen Dees, caught the ball, and threw a laser to the centerfielder who was covering second base. Not only did she catch the runner on second off the base for the second out, but the runner from first was running to second and the centerfielder, Amy Runge, tagged her out as well. The triple play ended the inning and gave the Crusaders the momentum to win the game.

At that point the game was 1-0 with the Crusaders leading. After that play in the fifth, they went into the dugout and immediately scored two runs. They ended the game 4-0 and took the tournament title.

By Garland Cooper

 1)    Gordon Lee High School (Chickamauga, Ga.)

This past weekend Gordon Lee High School won its second consecutive Cherokee Invitational tournament. The Trojans finished the tournament an undefeated 6-0 and plowed through three state-ranked teams on Saturday. The Trojans have depth on the mound in the form of Jonia Taylor and Brenna Nation. Taylor gave up only two earned runs and had 27 strikeouts in her three games, and Nation gave up no earned runs and recorded 20 Ks. They combined to allow ten hits. Sam Taylor batted .611 on the weekend, Lesslie Bohannon batted .500 and Holli Brooks batted .389. Their strong offensive leads them to score an average of 7.4 runs a game. With the combination of hitting, pitching, and depth on the mound this team will be hard to beat in the post season. They improved to 15-2 and have won 14 consecutive games! They are HOT HOT HOT! 

 

2)    Kayla Wyatt – P – Purcell High School (Purcell, Okla.)

Kayla Wyatt pitches for the No.1 team in 3A Oklahoma softball, Purcell High School. She is 15-1 on the season and has a 0.31 ERA. She has struck out 134 batters in 81 innings. Needless to say, she is the driving force behind the tough Dragons squad. In her last outing she led her team to a 3-0, ten-inning win over Newcastle. She struck out 14 in the game. Purcell is now 18-1 on the season and will vie for a state championship. 

 

3)    Legacy High School (Broomfield, Colo.)

This team is 6-0-1 on the season so far behind all-star pitcher Shelby Babcock. Babcock, an Arizona recruit, has a 0.00 ERA on the season and is batting .444. She has struck out 51 batters in five games and 35 innings pitched. Between Babcock's strength on the mound, and the team's offensive strength (they have outscored opponents 35-2) watch for the Lightning to take their third straight 5A state title.

 

4) Kelsey Kessler – P – Blue Springs High School (Blue Springs, Mo.)

Kessler went her whole freshman season undefeated on the mound (30-0). While she has lost one game so far this season, she is still 7-1 and dominant from the circle. It won't be another undefeated season, but Kessler will give the Wildcats a chance to repeat as state champs.

 

5)    Webster Groves High School (Webster Groves, Mo.)

Before losing to 3^rd seed Summit last week (a team they had previously beaten) the Webster Groves high school team, who came in as the 11^th seed, had proven it could play with the best. They went on an eight game winning streak playing a tough schedule. They beat the 3^rd seed Summit, 6^th seed Lafayette, and the 2 seed Oakville (1-0 in nine innings). Their record is 11-2 and their only losses come from two teams that they also have beaten. Their success comes mostly from their big bats. They have scored 74 runs on 13 games. The top half of their lineup include Medina West, Cassie Rizzo, Katie Heidinger, and Emma Buckles have a combined average of .428 with 47 RBI. If they can stay hot and keep scoring runs and blowing out opponents, things are looking good for them in the post season.

 

 

 

 

By Garland Cooper

 

Kelsey Kessler - P - 2012 - Blue Springs HS

This hurler led her team last year to a 31-0 finish in her first high school season. The Blue Springs High School Wildcats (Blue Springs, Mo.) became the only team to go undefeated in the history of Missouri Class 4 softball. She recorded a 0.40 ERA with 300 strikeouts in 188 innings and only eight batters walked. She also led her team on offense batting .366 with 17 RBIs.

 

 

Jessica Damico - 2B/SS/OF - 2011 - Pacific HS

Damico was named an Under Armour All-American after her efforts in 2008. She also was First Team All-Conference, All-District, All-Region, and All-Metro as a sophomore at Pacific High School in Gray Summit, Mo. She batted .488 with an impressive ten triples, eight doubles, 31 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, and a slugging percentage of .913.

 

Stay tuned for more players to watch this fall high school season!

By Garland Cooper

**Northwestern acts as the caboose of the list with the tenth best recruiting class. A couple of girls from Mo. and a couple from Calif., they will add one top pitcher as well as some consitent bats and speed.

10. NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern rounds out the list with the tenth best signing class. They have signed some of the best athletes from their region as well as a couple of girls out of Calif. Emily Allard, out of Calif., is a speedster and was perfect on the base paths her junior season with 25 steals in 25 attempts. She also was an ESPN/Under Armour All-American after batting .513. Pitcher Meghan Lamberth, a Mo. native, rewrote her high school record books and now boasts six pitching records and four batting records. She recorded 242 Ks in 208 innings pitched her junior season and was .416 at the plate. Lauren Ackerman is also a Mo. native and batted .450 last season with 19 homers. Kristin Scharkey, out of Calif., batted .478 with a league-best 30 runs and 27 steals. She also will add speed to the line-up. With the sticks, the speed, and the strength on the mound, these freshmen will contribute greatly to the Wildcat roster.

 **Check back for honorable mentions and some more up-and-coming collegiate programs that have signed some impressive athletes!

Questions or comments please email: garland@studentsports.com

By Garland Cooper

TEXAS

Four athletes have signed the NLIs to become a Longhorn. They are: Kimberly Bruins out of Redlands, Calif., Taylor Hoagland from Flower Mound, Texas, Blaire Luna out of Austin, Texas, and Torie Schmidt from Yorba Linda, Calif.

Bruins, a pitcher, plays for Redlands High School and the Calif. Cruisers. Last season she batted .412 and also dominated on the mound with 227 Ks.

Hoagland is a third baseman for Flower Mound High School and the Schutt Avengers Gold. She was an All-State player this past season.

Luna pitches for Bowie High School and the Round Rock Blaze. She boasts only three earned runs in 137 innings pitched, which helped her team to the class 5A state championship game.

Schmidt is s second baseman and outfielder for the Calif. Raiders and Valencia High School. Schmidt has helped to lead her high school team to two CIF championships.


KANSAS

Kansas has signed six athletes to round out their 2009-2010 roster. The players include: Kalum Haack out of Katy, Texas, Maggie and Rosie Hull from Lawrence, Kan., Mariah Montgomery from Ralston, Neb., Alex Jones out of Edin, Okla., and Kendall Patterson out of McLouth, Kan.

Haack is a shortstop for Katy High School. In 2007 Haack was the leader in hits, RBIs, total bases, doubles and runs scored in the whole Houston area. She has been All-District the past three seasons.

The Hull sisters play the outfield for Free State High School. Maggie was First Team All-State, All-Kansas City, and All-League in 2007. In 2006 Rosie was a Second Team All-League selection.

Jones pitches for Enid High School where she has been the MVP of her league the past two years and was the Offensive Player of the Year this past season. She recorded a 0.11 ERA with a .643 batting average. She was awarded All-State honors for her efforts.
 
Montgomery has been First Team All-State the past three seasons. In 2008 she hit ten triples, a state Class B record. She also broke the school record for homeruns with seven and for RBIs with 41. She ended the season with a .414 batting average.
 
Patterson catches for McLouth High School where she has been an All-State selection for three seasons. She hit 23 doubles in 23 games and had 17 RBIs and a.810 batting average.


OKLAHOMA STATE

The Cowgirls have signed four for their 2009-2010 campaign. The athletes include: Katie Asher out of Tucson, Ariz., Kat Espinosa from Houston, Texas, Amy Graham from Hominy, Okla., and Taylor Smith from Newcastle, Okla.

Asher plays third base for Canyon Del Oro High School. She was First Team All-State as a junior and has led her team to back-to-back state championships.

Espinosa is a righty hurler for Bellaire High School. In 2008 she went 20-8 on the mound with a 0.80 ERA and 291 Ks. For her efforts she was named the District MVP, First Team All-Greater Houston, and First Team All-District (third year running).

Graham plays infield and outfield for Hominy High School. She was an All-State selection this fall season and has been the MVP of the Varsity squad the past three season. Her impressive .667 batting average her sophomore year was a state leader as well as her 76 stolen bases.

Smith is a utility player for Newcastle High School. She was an All-State selection as a senior and was also the conference MVP.

MISSOURI

 Missouri has signed five to join them in 2009. They are: Rachel Hay out of Kansas City, Mo., Nicole Hudson from Webb City, Mo., Jenna Marston from St. Louis, Mo., Lindsey Muller from Stilwell, Kan., and Ashlie Oretga out of Brighton, Colo.

Hay plays for Oak Park High School and the Olathe Rockets. She was an All-District selection the past three years, and was All-Region for two years. In her high school career she has recorded an impressive .425 batting average. In 2008 alone she batted .470 with seven homeruns.

Hudson is a third baseman and outfielder for Webb City High School. She has been a First Team All-State selection since 2005 and holds several state records. She can be found in the record book under Career RBIs (185), Career Walks (77), and Career Homeruns (40).  Her career batting average is a whopping .593 and on the mound she has accumulated 73 wins and only eight losses throughout her time on the varsity squad. Her efforts helped her team to a State Championship in 2007.
 
Marston is a shortstop and utility player for Principia High School and the Mo. diamond Cats. She has been First Team All-League since 2005 and was First Team All-State in 2007 and Second Team All-State in 2008. She has over a .600 batting average the past three years of high school and recorded a .486 batting average in club play.

Muller is a utility player for Blue Valley High School and the Olathe Rockets. She was First Team All-League in 2007 and 2008 and batted .493 her senior year. In club play she was .413 at the plate this past season with nine homers.

Ortega is a shortstop and utility player for Erie High School and the Colo. Stampede. She was a member of the All-Colorado Team in 2008 and has a .431 career batting average. Her senior year she recorded a .576 slugging percentage, a .773 on-base percentage, and hit nine triples. Her efforts led her team to a 2008 Colo. State Championship.

GEORGIA

The Bulldogs bring five new players to their 2009-2010 squad. They are: Alison Owen out of Sharpsburg, Ga., Katie Rietkovich from South Guyton, Ga., Amberlie Saxton out of Jefferson, Ga., Sara Sikes from Douglasville, Ga., and Laura Trout from Summerville, S.C.

Owen is a pitcher and utility player for East Coweta High School and the Georgia Impact. Her senior year she dominated on the mound with a 12-6-1 record and a 0.65 ERA. For her efforts her team named her Pitcher of the Year. She also did well at the plate, leading her team in homeruns her senior year. She has been an All-County selection the past three seasons.

Rietkovich is an infielder for South Effingham High School and the Angles Gold. She holds several school records including single season batting average (.467), hits (46), doubles (16), homeruns (3), RBI (28), and stolen bases (20). She holds career records as well including batting average (.386), hits (151), doubles (37), homeruns (5), RBI (66) and stolen bases (56). She was First Team All-Region and First Team All-State for her efforts.

Saxton is an infielder for Mill Creek High School and the East Cobb Bullets Gold. She led her team to a State Championship this past fall season. Her team named her the Offensive Player of the Year for all four of her years on the varsity team. Three seasons she was an All-County selection and twice she was a First Team All-State selection and County Offensive Player of the Year.

Sikes is an outfielder for Chapel Hill High School and the Georgia Elite Gold. At the plate, Sikes recorded a .457 average with 30 doubles, five triples, two homers, 30 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. She was her team's Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and was the team MVP as a junior.

Trout is an infielder for Spartanburg Methodist College. She led her community college in batting average (.492), triples (9), homeruns (10), and RBI (33). She was an All-Region, and a NJCAA Second Team All-American.

NEBRASKA

The Huskers will bring five athletes to round out their 2009-2010 roster. They are: Gabby Banda out of Texas, Kylee Muir from Ore., Keela Scott from Mo., Megan Southworth from Neb., and Brooke Thomason out of Kan.
 
Banda is an infielder for Angleton High School and the Texas Sudden Impact Gold. She was First Team All-County and All-District this past season.

Muir is an infielder for Lincoln High School and the Northwest Bullets Gold. She has been All-State for three seasons and was Fist Team All-League for three seasons as well. She was league MVP in 2007.

Scott is an infielder for Liberty High School and the KC Zephyrs Gold. She was First Team All-District and Second Team All-Conference for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

Southworth is a catcher for Papillion LaVista High School and the Omaha Select. She led her high school team to a second place finish in the state championships this fall season after taking the title in 2006 and 2007. She was a two-time First Team All-State selection in 2007 and 2008. She put up impressive numbers her senior year batting .422 with 29 RBIs and 11 doubles.

Thomason is an outfielder for Blue Valley Northwest High School and the KC Peppers. She batted .470 in 2008 earning First Team All-Metro and All-League honors. She also recorded a .742 slugging percentage, .527 on-base percentage, nine doubles, three triples, 22 RBI, and 12 stolen bases.

**For more information, refer to each college's athletic website.

PURDUE

The Boilermakers have signed three athletes to play the 2009-10 season. They are: Maia Moncheck out of San Mateo, Calif., Julia Rice out of Oak Park, Calif., and Erika Petruzzi from Carmel, Ind.

Monchek plays the outfield for Notre Dame High School and the San Jose Sting Gold. She has been an All-League selection the past three years and led her team to a League Championship this past season.

Rice pitches for Oak Park High School and the Worth Firecrackers. She has been a three-time Daily News All-Area player, three-time team MVP and three-time All-League selection. She also was First Team All-County and Second Team All-State this past season. Rice holds several career records including perfect games, shutouts, no-hitters, one-hitters and strikeouts. In her career she has a 40-9 record with 28 earned runs in 339 innings pitched.

Petruzzi is a pitcher and outfielder for Carmel High School and Team Indiana Gold. This past season she was Second Team All-State after leading her team to a league championship. She batted .442 at the plate and recorded a 15-4 record on the mound. She also has been an All-League performer for the past two years.

MICHIGAN

Michigan brings three athletes to round out their 2009-2010 roster. They are: Amy Knapp out of St. Joseph, Mich., Ashley Lane out of Escondido, Calif., and Stephanie Speierman out of Columbia, Md.

Knapp has been All-Conference the past two seasons at Lakeshore High School and led her team in batting average for both years. She batted .450 with 10 triples and 18 RBI for 2008.

Lane was All-CIF and Second Team All-State this past season at Escondido High School. She batted .459 with 20 RBI and 25 runs scored. She has won three league championships and two state titles in 2006 and 2007. She also is the two-time team Offensive Player of the Year.

Speierman was an ESPN/Under Armour All-American after accumulating 354 Ks, nine no-hitters, one perfect game, and an 18-4 record in her junior season. She also performed at the plate with a .418 batting average.


MICHIGAN STATE

The Spartans will bring in four for their 2009-2010 campaign. The athletes include: Kylene Hopkins out of Menifee, Calif., Jayme O'Bryant out of Buchanan, Mich., Jennifer Ramsaier out of Mesa, Ariz., and Shelby Wise out of Jonesboro, Ark.

Hopkins is an outfielder for the Corona Angels-Phil and Paloma Valley High School. She has been the team Offensive Player of the Year for two years as well as being named First Team All-County.

O'Bryant is a shortstop and third baseman from Buchanan High School and the Michiana Mystique. She batted .425 last season with 45 RBIs. She was an All-State, All-Region, All-district and All-League selection in 2008.

Ramsaier is a utility player for Mountain View High School and the Lil' Saints club team. She lettered in 2007 and 2008 with her high school team and helped them to a top ten finish as the starting shortstop.

Wise pitches for Nettleton High School and the Kansas City Xtreme. Last year she was dominant on the mound with only one loss and 29 wins and a 0.19 ERA. She also recorded 348 Ks in 185 innings and pitched eight no-hitters and four perfect games. At the plate she batted .319. This was enough to earn her All-Conference and All-State honors and she was named the Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year and an EA Sports Second Team All-American.


INDIANA

Five athletes will become Hoosiers for the 2009-2010 season. They are: Katherine Allert out of Lowell, Ind., Samantha Heyman out of El Segundo, Calif., Cassie Loweth from Columbus Ind., Breanne Saucedo out of Ontario, Calif., and Amanda Wagner from Burbank, Ill.

Allert suffered an injury and missed much of last season, but she has been on the Varsity squad for four years at Lowell High School. She started as a freshman and her sophomore year she was All-Conference and All-District after leading her team the state playoffs.

Heyman helped El Segundo High School to the CIF playoffs last season and earned First Team CIF Southern Calif. and First Team All-League honors. She also plays for the SoCal Pride club team.

Loweth has been an All-Conference selection the past four years for Columbus North High School.  She also was named the All-Area Player of the Year for her 2008 campaign, which consisted of a .526 batting average and a 0.84 EAR on the mound. For her efforts, she also was an All-State selection and the team MVP.

Saucedo was a Second Team All-League selection for her junior season at Chino High School. She also was her team's Offensive Player of the Year for this past season.

Wagner plays for Queen of Peace High School. She was All-Conference the past two seasons and helped lead her team to two regional championships.

NORTHWESTERN

Four athletes will play for the Wildcats in their 2009-2010 campaign. They are: Lauren Ackerman from St. Louis, Mo., Emily Allard out of Antioch, Calif., Meghan Lamberth from Wildwood, Mo., and Kristin Scharkey out of Yorba Linda, Calif.

Ackerman plays with the St. Louis Diamond Cats as a catcher and utility player. She has recorded at least a .450 average her past three years and hit 19 homeruns in a single season

Allard plays in the outfield for Deer Valley High School. The past three seasons she has been an All-Conference selection and her junior year she was named the MVP of the league as well as an ESPN/Under Armour All-American. In her 2008 campaign she recorded a .513 batting average and was perfect on the bases with 25 steals in 25 attempts.

Lamberth pitched for Lafayette High School where she rewrote the record books and now holds six pitching records and four batting records. She has been All-Conference and All-District the past three seasons and was an All-State and All-Region selection her last two years. As a senior she had a 0.54 ERA, 24 wins, and 242 Ks in 208 innings pitched. She also batted .416 at the plate.

Scharkey is an outfielder for Esperanza High School and the So Cal Explosion Gold. This past season she was First Team All-League, All-CIF, Second Team All-County, and was an All- State Underclass selection. She led her team to a league championship in 2008 with a .478 batting average and a league best 30 runs scored, and 27 steals.

PENN STATE

The Nittany Lions have signed five athletes to join the team for the 2009-2010 season. The athletes include: Cassidy Bell out of Bakersfield, Calif., Shannon Hutchinson from Sewell, N.J., Kailyn Johnson from Calif., Alyssa Renwick out of Laurens, S.C., and Lauren Yao from Los Angeles, Calif.

Bell is an outfielder from Liberty High School and also plays for the Orange County Batbusters. She was a CalHi Sports First Team All-State selection as well as a First Team All-Area and First Team All-Conference athlete.

Hutchinson has won two out of three conference championships with Washington Township High School as an outfielder. She led the team in total bases, on-base percentage, and runs scored. She started all four years of her Varsity career and has been a First Team All-Conference and All-County selection.

Johnson plays for Esperanza High School and has recorded a .370 batting average and a .516 average in league play. She has been All-League for two seasons and helped her high school to a league championship this past season.

Renwick plays in the infield and outfield and attends Clinton High School. She was Region III 3-A Player of the Year and All-State for her junior season.

Yao plays for Cantwell Sacred Heart High School and was Second Team All-CIF in 2007 and was the CIF Player of the Year in 2006. She has also won a scholar-athlete award for excelling in the classroom and on the field.

**For more information see each school's website.

By Garland Cooper

The KC Zephyrs have added their seniors to the early signing list. They all will be accepting offers from Division I schools!

KC Zephyrs Gold
Keela Scott - SS - Nebraska
Maggie Strange - C - Wisconsin
Sam West  - CF - Drake
Shelby Pohlman - OF - Dayton
Nikki Bruce - 2B - Eastern Kentucky
Patrice Jackson - 1B - San Diego State

By Garland Cooper

Early signing day is only two days away! Below are some additions to the list of seniors that will be signing their Letters of Intent on Tuesday.

MD Wagner's Gold
Ashleigh Williams - P/3B - Bloomfield College (NJ)

Midland Magic (IL)
Sydney Shelton - Southern Illinois, Carbondale
Alex Pflieger - Western Illinois
Kelsey Michelini - Western Illinois
Sara Bradley - Illinois State
Heather Austin - IUPUI
Abby Wood - Eastern Illinois
Lindsey Coleman  - SIU Edwardsville
Janele Robinson - Middle Tennessee State
Kaitlyn England - Murray State

Olathe Rockets Gold (KS/MO)
Rachel Hay - C  - University of Missouri
Maggie Hull- OF - University of Kansas
Rosie Hull - OF - University of Kansas
Brittney Lang - P/OF - Southern Illinois University
Lindsey Muller - P/3B - University of Missouri
Kendall Patterson - C/3B - University of Kansas
Janessa Swinney - OF - University of Missouri, Kansas City
Lauren Himpel  - OF - Washburn University

St. Louis Diamond Cats
Jenna (JJ) Marston - SS/CF - University of Missouri
Lauren Ackerman - C/UT - Northwestern University

San Jose Sting Gold
Keilani Ricketts-P- Oklahoma
Molly Medeiros-P- LMU
Kelly Schulze-C- UC Davis
Caitlin Breen-OF- Stanford
Kelly McDonald-3B UCSB
Bina Abbott-1B-Towson
Ali Palermo-C- Sonoma State University
Maia Monchek-OF- Purdue

What are your plans for signing day? Share your experience with ESPN RISE! Email: garland@studentsports.com
 

	KIRSTIN OLSEN
	SPARQ Testers in St. Louis.

This past weekend in St. Louis, over 1,000 athletes participated in SPARQ Testing. The testing took place at the St. Louis Fall Showcase on Oct. 31.

SPARQ Testing consists of four events: 20-Yard Dash, Rotational Powerball Throw, 20-Yard Shuttle, Vertical Jump. When the testing is completed, the athletes receive an overall SPARQ Rating that measures the athleticism of a softball player.

There were many impressive performances at the Showcase including a lofty jump by the weekend's top tester, Mackenzie Sykes, with a 26.5 vertical. Another top performer was Kylee Polsley who threw the Powerball 45 feet!

Below are the top testers in each category.

VERTICAL JUMP
Mackenzie Sykes-2010-Originals-2B-26.5
Ellen Homan-2010-Omaha Finesse Gold-OF-26.4
Erika Reinagel-2009-Heartland Travelers-OF-25.3
Staci Bonezek-2011-Homer Hawks Black 16U-3B-24.9
Kacie Calabrese-2009-Illinois Outlaw Elite-2B-24.8
Danielle Reilly-2009-Homer Hawks Gold-SS-24.8
Katie Janis-2009-Missouri Outburst-OF-24.7
Brianna Corwin-2010-Originals -C-24.6
Braylyn Bivens-2010-Originals -SS-24.6
Amanda Self-2009-Originals -C-24.6

20-YARD SHUTTLE
Jelly Brannick-2010-Illinois Chill Gold -2B-4.40
Marissa Mersch-2011-Lemont Rockers -OF-4.47
Jenna Marston-2009-St Louis Diamond Cats-SS-4.59
Lauren Ackerman-2009-St Louis Diamond Cats-C-4.59
Cherrod Gwaltney-2010-Louisville Lady Sluggers-OF-4.65
Alyssa Smith-2011-Oak Park Windmills -2B-4.66
Jessie Damico-2011-St Louis Chaos -2B-4.71
Allie Anttila-2010-Illinois Chill -OF-4.72
Alyssa Mcbride-2011-Michigan Athletics-2B-4.72
Brittany Mills-2009-Indiana Shockwaves Red-OF-4.75
Megan Wildhaber-2009-Missouri Warcats Gold-SS-4.75
Carrie Binder-2010-Missouri Rattlers-OF-4.75
Ashley Brentz-2010-St Louis Energy-SS-4.75

20-YARD SPRINT
Lauren Eisenreich-2009-Originals Gold-OF-2.80
Brandi Hermandez-2010-Beverly Bandits-OF-2.80
Kylee Polsley-2010-Omaha Finesse Gold-P-2.81
Amy Pierce-2010-Kc Wahoos-SS-2.83
Megan Kubesh-2011-Chitown Express Silver 16U-2.85
Marissa Mersch-2011-Lemont Rockers -OF-2.86
Jessica Brewer-2009-Originals Gold-2B-2.86
Mackenzie Sykes-2010-Originals -2B-2.87
Brianna Corwin-2010-Originals -C-2.87
Kacie Calabrese-2009-Illinois Outlaw Elite-2B-2.87
Lori Jones-2010-St Louis Angels-OF-2.87

ROTATIONAL POWERBALL THROW
Kylee Polsley-2010-Omaha Finesse Gold-P-45.0
Charlotte Hoffman-2009-Northern Ice -P-44.0
Cassie Loweth-2009-Team Indiana Gold-P-44.0
Mackenzie Sykes-2010-Originals -2B-43.0
Cynthia Miller-2010-Illinois Bandits 18u Gold-OF-43.0
Kelsie Jones-2011-Southern Force-OF-42.0
Kassi Farmer-2012-Southern Force-C-42.0
Brooke Spencer-2009-Chitown Express Black 18U-3B-42.0
Veronica Kraly-2010-Northern Ice -P-42.0
Jay Gremley-2010-Oak Park Windmills -2B-42.0
Stephanie Fougerousse-2010-Team Indiana Gold-P-42.0

For more compreshensive results see SPARQTraining.com.

	KIRSTIN OLSEN
	SPARQ Tester running her 20-Yard Sprint.

This past weekend in St. Louis, over 1,000 athletes participated in SPARQ Testing. The testing took place at the St. Louis Fall Showcase on Oct. 31.

SPARQ Testing consists of four events: 20-Yard Dash, Rotational Powerball Throw, 20-Yard Shuttle, Vertical Jump. When the testing is completed, the athletes receive an overall SPARQ Rating that measures the athleticism of a softball player.

Below are the SPARQ Ratings of the most athletic girls at the tournament.

TOP OVERALL SPARQ RATINGS
Mackenzie Sykes -2010-2B-Originals (RE) -133.02
Brandee Bohr -2009-OF-S E Iowa Softball Allstars -126.75
Brianna Corwin -2010-C-Originals (RE) -120.27
Jenna Marston -2009-SS-St Louis Diamond Cats -120.12
Marissa Mersch -2011-OF-Lemont Rockers (DD) -120.09
Cynthia Miller -2010-OF-Illinois Bandits 18U Gold -118.65
Alyssa Smith -2011-2B-Oak Park Windmills (MS) -115.68
Allie Anttila -2010-OF-Illinois Chill (BE) -115.26
Staci Bonezek -2011-3B-Homer Hawks Black 16-U -113.82
Lauren Ackerman -2009-C-St Louis Diamond Cats -111.6


For more information on SPARQ and more complete results see SPARQTraining.com.
Keep checking in for the top ten testers in each event!

IN OTHER NEWS:
Lindsey Davis, a 2009 catcher for the KC Wahoos, has commited to play at the Univ. of Missouri Kansas City.

By Garland Cooper

In light of the fast approaching early signing day, below is a list of many club teams and the seniors on those teams that will be signing to play college at the next level.

The list is alphabetical by the name of the travel team.

	LAUREN SEWELL
	Lauren Sewell of the Florida Gold will sign with the Univ. of Ala.

Ca Cruisers Gold
Jenna Rich - SS/P - Stanford
Samantha Dodd - OF - DePaul
Melanie Fagaly - C/3B - Florida State
Kim Bruins - P/2B/1B - Texas

Corona Angels (Tyson) (CA)
Shawna Wright - IF - Univ. of Washington
Kamerin May - P/UT - San Diego State
Kristin May - C/3B - San Diego State
Kaylan Howard - SS/2B - Univ. of Oregon
BB Bates - OF - UCLA
Tiffany Corder - SS/2B - UCSB

Florida Gold
Lauren Sewell - P - Univ. of Alabama

Houston Power Gold (Glowacz)
Kimberly Damian - UT - Sam Houston
Ashley Isbell - C/1B - Sam Houston
Stephanie Regan - OF - Harvard

Impact Gold (TX)
Shelbi Tucker - 2B/SS/OF - Sam Houston
Maegan May - C/1B/3B - Texas A&M
Anna Hernandez - 3B/OF - Texas State
Bailey Watts - P/1B - Univ. of Houston
Bree Brown - P/OF - DePaul

Jersey Inferno Gold
Olivia Galati - P/IF - Hofstra
Kerilyn Svenson - New Haven
CJ Slugh - UT - Hofstra
Tammy Wray - LSU
Chelsea Kehr - Boston Univ.

Jersey Intensity Gold
Amy Buntin - C - Univ. of Notre Dame

KC Wahoos (MO)
Morgan Brunmeier - Southwest Missouri State
Chantelle Dietz - OF - Butler Community College

KC Zephyrs Gold
Keela Scott - SS - Nebraska
Maggie Strange - C - Wisconsin
Sam West  - CF - Drake
Shelby Pohlman - OF - Dayton
Nikki Bruce - 2B - Eastern Kentucky
Patrice Jackson - 1B - San Diego State

Lady Magic (CA)
Jolene Henderson - P - Cal
Lindsey Ziegenhirt - C - Cal

MD Wagner's Gold
Shanna Brown - UT - University of Memphis
Lauren Gibson - IF - University of Tennessee
Courtney Liddle - C - Virginia Tech University
Jen Reading - 1B - Drexel University
Brooke Tull - P - Seton Hall University
Liz Wedell - UT - Shippensburg State University
Taylor Williams - OF - University of Virginia
Ashleigh Williams - P/3B - Bloomfield College (NJ)

Midland Magic (IL)
Sydney Shelton - Southern Illinois, Carbondale
Alex Pflieger - Western Illinois
Kelsey Michelini - Western Illinois
Sara Bradley - Illinois State
Heather Austin - IUPUI
Abby Wood - Eastern Illinois
Lindsey Coleman  - SIU Edwardsville
Janele Robinson - Middle Tennessee State
Kaitlyn England - Murray State

NJ Breakers Gold
Abbey Houston - P/OF - Rutgers
Melanie Mitchell - P - Univ. of Virginia
Lauren Szymanski - IF/OF - Univ. of Maine
Katie Warrington - P/OF - Liberty

North Florida Gold
Samantha Rich - Jacksonville State Univ.
Hilary Chapman - Northwest Florida State College
Tiffani Brown - SS/2B - Florida State University

OC Batbusters (CA)
Stephanie Aguirre - OF/2B - Nevada
Chelsea Barilli - SS - Nevada
Cassidy Bell - IF - Penn State
Raven Chavanne - IF/OF - Tennessee
Teagan Gerhart - P - Stanford
Ashley Lane - OF - Michigan
Lauren Lastrapes - OF - Nevada

OC Lionettes (CA)
Chelsea Velovich - P - Univ. of San Diego

Olathe Rockets Gold (KS/MO)
Rachel Hay - C  - University of Missouri
Maggie Hull OF - University of Kansas
Rosie Hull OF - University of Kansas
Brittney Lang P/OF - Southern Illinois University
Lindsey Muller P/3B - University of Missouri
Kendall Patterson C/3B - University of Kansas
Janessa Swinney OF - University of Missouri, Kansas City
Lauren Himpel  OF - Washburn University

Pennsbury Gems Gold (PA)
Ashley Dimon - Syracuse
Kirby Groves - 1B/3B - Seton Hall
Ali Robinson - Temple

St. Louis Diamond Cats
Jenna (JJ) Marston - SS/CF - University of Missouri
Lauren Ackerman - C/UT - Northwestern University

San Diego County Breakers
Danielle Smith - OF/3B - LMU

San Diego Renegades (Tillet/Fox)
Amanda Carpenter - OF - Ball State
Lauren Gellerman - C/1B - Ohio Univ.
Maggie Doremus - 2B/SS - Oregon State
Anita Green - OF/2B - Cal Baptist
Shannon Tillet - 1B/C - Miami-Ohio
Amanda Ziegler - 3B/OF - UCSB
Stephanie Speierman - P - Michigan

San Jose Sting Gold
Keilani Ricketts-P- Oklahoma
Molly Medeiros-P- LMU
Kelly Schulze-C- UC Davis
Caitlin Breen-OF- Stanford
Kelly McDonald-3B UCSB
Bina Abbott-1B-Towson
Ali Palermo-C- Sonoma State University
Maia Monchek-OF- Purdue

Shamrocks Gold (VA)
Courtney Liddle - UT - Virginia Tech

So Cal Explosion Gold
Elizabeth Santana - SS/2B - UC Davis
Melanie Nichols - P - Ohio State
Kelly Nolan - C - Ole Miss
Caitrin DeBaun - OF - Long Beach State

So Cal Panthers (Combat Panthers)
Teresa Conrad - SS/OF - New Mexico

So Cal Pride Gold
Morgan Barchan - OF - Southern Illinois
Samantha Heyman - OF Univ. of Indiana

Sorcerer Gold - Pete (CA)
Jessica Moore - P/SS/OF - Oregon
Chelsea Cohen - P/1B - Arkansas

Sorcerer Gold - Phil (CA)
Jordan Wallace - IF - Cal
Whitney Massey - OF/C/IF - Univ. of Wisconsin
Emily Allard - OF/IF - Northwestern
Maya Burns - C/OF - Stanford
Michelle Gascoigne - P - Oklahoma
Hannah Williams - P - Fresno State

Stone City Sharks (Joliet, IL)
Kayleigh Bertram  - IF - Grand Valley State
Melissa Gunderson - IF/OF - Bethel College
Jhavon Hamilton - OF - Illinois State University
Nellie Kosola - OF - Grand Valley State
Coryn Schmidt - C/IF - University of Illinois (Chicago)
 
TC Tremors (NY)
Alicia Cacciotti - C/3B/P - Lockhaven
Hali Enderby - OF/2B - St. Bonaventure
Lucia Meola - OF/3B/2B - Binghamton Univ.
Morgan Nandin - SS/OF - Syracuse
Rosie Roessel - 2B/OF - Lehigh
Stacy Kuwik - P/OF - Syracuse

Texas Glory Gold
Brittany Caruthers - C/UT - Stephen F. Austin
Kallan Thompson - IF/OF - Lousiana Tech
Kayleigh Walts - C/UT - UTEP
Angela White - P - Stephen F. Austin
Brooke Blackford - C/UT - Tennessee State
Kathy Shelton - IF/OF - Baylor
Stevie Pierce - IF/OF - Missouri State
Hannah Schnebly - P - Tennessee State
Christina Roosmalen - 1B/UT - Southern Miss
Jessica Sheldon - P/OF - Centenary

Texas Storm Gold
Kelsi Kettler - 1B/3B - Baylor
Beth Dietrich - P/1B - Southern Miss
Anne Marie Taylor - P/OF - Texas State
Brooke Baker - OF/3B - Texas State

Virginia Stars Gold
Callie Eward - Georgetown
Cassie Greenhawk - Bucknell

Washington LadyHawks Miller
Allie Burger - OF - Univ. of Oregon
Jordan Goschie - SS/2B - Univ. of Iowa
Allegra Wilde - 3B - Seattle Univ.
Caitlin Colvin - P/1B - Ohio Univ.
Allyson Johnson - IF - Univ. of North Carolina Greensboro

West Jersey Witches
Katherine Vanbenschoten - OF/1B - Fordham Univ.
Shannon Hutchinson - IF/OF - Penn State
Chelsea Palumbo - IF/OF - Fordham Univ.
Kelly Schymanski - P/OF - Caldwell College
Katie Trotter - UT - Univ. of Maryland - Baltimore

Worth Firecrackers (Rico) (CA)
Sara Acosta - OF - Maryland
Ensley Gammel - P - Florida
Baillie Kirker - IF - Arizona
Jessica Shults - C - Oklahoma
Rebecca Walker - IF - Fresno State


  What are you doing to make your signing day experience special? Share it with ESPN RISE and email garland@studentsports.com!

By Garland Cooper

GEORGIA

A
Eagle's Landing Christian Academy defeated Gordon Lee in the state tournament championship game. They beat the Trojans twice, 2-1 and 3-0, to take the Class A Title.

In game one, Hope Rush hit a homer in the fourth to put ELCA ahead 1-0. Rush also was a force to be reckoned with on the mound. Gordon Lee was able to tie the game up, but after ELCA scored in the eighth, Rush held Gordon Lee and they were unable to answer back forcing the "if game for the title.

In the second game it was Rush versus Gordon Lee's Jonia Taylor. Both pitchers performed well on the mound, but in the end the Trojans could not top ELCA.

Rush recorded 14 Ks in the first game and allowed three hits. In the second game, she struck out 13 and allowed one hit. For Gordon Lee, Taylor only allowed three hits in each game.

AA
Buford was able to defend their Class AA championship this weekend, defeating Calhoun 5-1 in the final game.

Maddie Monroe pitched for Calhoun. She pitched a total of 42 innings on the weekend.

Calhoun had a tough route to the final game, beating Southeast Bulloch in ten innings 1-0. They had lost to Buford their first game of the tournament to be sent to the loser's bracket. Their win over Southeast Bulloch forced a rematch, but Calhoun was unable to seek their revenge.

AAA
Oconee took their seventh Class AAA State Title this weekend. The championship came after they defeated Lakeview Fort-Oglethorpe 2-1 in the finals.

Jessica Penney pitched five games in three days for LFO on their way to the championship. Leading up to the state tournament, Penney pitched three out of four games including one perfect game.  She finished 22-7 on the season.

PrepGameFace.com has all the details.


MISSOURI

Class 4
Jocelyn Price was the hero for Blue Springs this weekend. In the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs she nailed a double and drove in the winning run to claim a 6-5 semifinal victory over Webb City. What is most impressive is that she was able to come through in the clutch for her team after suffering a finger injury, strained ligaments, earlier in the game.

Third baseman Mackenzie Sykes was a big player for Blue Springs as well. She played great defense, diving to catch a pop fly and turning a double play at one point in the game. She also drove in the tying run before Price hit in the game-winner.

Kelsey Kessler took the win on the mound striking out 14 and putting her at 30-0 on the season. She gave up two earned runs and her defense struggled behind her giving up five errors before pulling out the victory.

Amanda Self hit a two-run homerun in the game to get the Cats on the board after falling behind 3-0.

In the final game it was Jocelyn Price who, once again, came up big for the Cats. She hit a leadoff homerun in the fourth inning against Parkway South, which would be the first run of the game and the first of four that they would rally to score in the inning. Kelsey Kessler helped herself in the inning, hitting a double to score Amanda Self and Anna Cole.

Kessler put in another solid performance on the mound and also drove in four runs in the final game.

Blue Springs ended their season a perfect 31-0.


Class 3
Platte County took the Class 3 state title this weekend after defeating Cape Girardeau Notre Dame 7-1.

The win gave Platte County their first softball state title and the first title in any girl's sport.

The Pirates had a big fourth inning, scoring six runs on five hits and two errors. Doubles were recorded for Brianna Corwin, Sydney Reynolds and Cacy Williams.
 
Haley Pypes took the win on the mound.


For more on the games go to Examiner.net and KansasCityStar.com.

By Garland Cooper

 Below are some top peformers this past week out of Georgia and Missouri. This next weekendthe high schools will compete for a State Championship.

GEORGIA

 - Senior Jessica Penney threw a perfect game for Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. The 3-0 win over Ringgold helped send the team to the Class AAA GHSA State Tournament.

Penney pitched a 10 inning 1-0 loss the game before against Pius X. Just short of a half an hour later, Penney faced what could have been the last game of her high school career.

She has led LFO to three regional championships, but this will be the first time she will compete in the State Tournament

Also for LFO, Monica Vickory remains undefeated on the mound. She earned her ninth win against North Atlanta on Friday.

 - Caty Sparks for Ringgold pitched two shutouts before pitching in the season-ending game against LFO. The junior's shutouts were against West Hall (3-0) and Cedartown (4-0). Ringgold finishes 24-12.

 - Pepper Gay, pitcher for St. Pius X, took a win on the mound against Cedartown. She pitched the whole game and struck out 12 batters.

 - Kristen Little was on the mound for Cedartown in their win against White County. They won 11-1 and Little recorded no walks, allowed no hits, and struck out 13 batters.

Jolie Mason for Cedartown led the way on offense against White County. She was three for four at the plate and had an RBI.

Cedartown was able to defeat Central-Carroll 5-4, but they fell short of the State Tournament.  They ended their season with a 25-12 record after losing to Ringgold.

 - Calhoun will be competing in the State Tournament this weekend. They defeated North Oconee in 12 innings (4-3) to advance.

Two freshmen were impact players in the win, Morgan Stewart threw out a runner at the plate in the 11th to keep the game going. Morgan Hill forced a North Oconee error after laying down a bunt in the 12th, allowing the runner on third to score.

Maddie Monroe was on the mound for all three of Calhoun's win including a 15 K performance against North Oconee. She pitched a shutout against Adairsville in a previous game (2-0).

 -  Danielle Abernathy for Adairsville had a good weekend before being eliminated by Calhoun. The pitcher recorded 11 Ks in a win against Crawford, and 12 Ks in a win against East Jackson.

 - Hanna Hitchcock led the way for Rockmart, pitching a 5-0 shutout against Pike County. However, they later lost to Calhoun, 4-3, and were eliminated.

 - Ieshia Alexander was a perfect four for four at the plate for Coosa in a 19-3 win over Heard County. One of her four hits included a solo homerun.

 - Gordon Lee dominated in their state sectionals defeating Pace Academy 17-0 in four innings to earn a trip to Columbus for the State Tournament.

To the Tournament:
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
Calhoun
Gordon Lee

For more see Prepgameface.com.

MISSOURI

Kelsey Kessler continues to shine on the mound. She threw a perfect game and a one-hitter for Blue Springs. The one hitter came in an 8-0 win over Belton on Thursday, and her perfect game (third perfect game of the season, eighth no-hitter) was against Kearney on Saturday. She struck out 18 of the 21 batters.

For the whole story refer to Examiner.net.

By Garland Cooper

Lindsey Davis, a Missouri native, is a 2009 graduate and a catcher for Archbishop O'Hara High School and the KC Wahoos.

Davis has been a force for her high school having lettered since 2005. She has also received First Team All-League and First Team All-District honors since she joined the Varsity squad in 2005. In 2005 she was also a First Team All-Region selection and in 2006 she was she a Second Team All-Region choice.

Davis is not only a star on the field, but off the field as well. She is a member of many academic organizations including being the President of the National Honors Society, a Student Ambassador, and a participant in Lasallian Youth. She has been a member of the Honor Roll, the Academic Knowledge Bowl, and the Student Council. On top of all that, she maintains over a 4.0 GPA and has received service and leadership awards as a result of her efforts on and off the field.

Head Coach Deb Schmidt on Davis: "Lindsey is the best receiving catcher I've ever seen. She also has a great bat and is a very disciplined hitter.

By Garland Cooper

GEORGIA

Defending champions Calhoun won the 7-AA region tournament title again this year, but Rockmart did not make it easy. They defeated Rockmart 4-3 in the second game of the championship round but only after losing their first game 5-4. Although they couldn't pull off a regional championship, Rockmart played strong offensive led by Kellee Stone who went three for eight with four stolen bases and scored three runs.

For more see Prepgameface.com.

NEBRASKA

Beatrice won a district championship this past weekend by winning two games in extra innings. They beat Seward twice, 1-0 and 6-5, both in eight innings.

Omaha Gross won five games in a row in the tournament including two wins over Ralston, 2-0 and 3-0. Gross was lead by pitcher Rachel Dukich who pitched most of the innings for the Cougars.

Papillion won their district after defeating Fremont 8-0 in five innings in the championship game. Alexis Glessman went three for three at the plate with two doubles and Megan Southworth was two for two on the day.

Becca Changstrom struck out 17 as Millard South defeated Southwest 3-0.

Kaiti Williams, a sophomore from Papio South, had an RBI double and hit a two-run homerun to lead her team to beat Lincoln Northwest 8-0 in six innings.

Yutan Mead won their region with the help of several athletes that have had great seasons thus far. Kelli Fisher is the pitcher in charge for the team, she has 356 Ks and is 18-1 on the season.  Kaylea Kule (.457) and Robin Nagle (.498) lead the offensive charge for Yutan Mead.

For the whole story see the Omaha World Herald Online.

COLORADO

Shelby Babcock for Legacy threw a no-hitter against Loveland in which she struck out 14 in the 10-0 six inning win. She also pitched against Palmer to give her nine innings pitched, 23 Ks, no hits allowed and two wins on the day. Melissa Marcovecchio and Buggs Torrez went three for four and Marcovecchio had three RBIs and Torrez had two RBIs. Babcock also contributed at the plate with two runs knocked in and she also went two for three. Shae Rodriguez led the offensive push in the Palmer game, she hit a grand slam and went to for two with five RBIs.

Rocky Mountain News Online has the whole story.

MISSOURI

Kelsey Kessler strikes again with her seventh no-hitter of the season which clenched a district title for Blue Springs. Blue Springs beat Blue Springs South 2-0

Jenny Bowen, just a freshman for Truman, shined on the mound and at the plate as they beat Suburban Big Six champions Winnetonka. She singled and doubled for Truman as well in their 4-1 win.

Linley Tate pitched in a 2-1 William Chrisman win over Fort Osage. She allowed only two hits in the district championship game.
 

More at the Examiner.net.

OKLAHOMA STATE FINALS

Class 4A Final

Tuttle won their second straight state championship after defeating Fort Gibson in the final game. Nicole Workman was the hero, hitting a bomb over the fence in the bottom of the seventh to clench the 8-7 win.  She also pitched the game for the Tigers, after not pitching much of the season due to a shoulder injury.

Class 3A Final

Washington beat Adair to take the 3A state championship. They won 5-2 with help from catcher Caitlyn Marcum who led on offense. She hit a homerun in the fourth and had three RBIs and scored one run on the day.

Class 2A Final

Hope McLemore was the force that Ringling needed to overcome Latta in the championship game of the state tournament. They won a 1-0 nail biter and a lot of it had to do with McLemore's efforts on the mound and at the plate. She was on base three times and she scored the only run of the game on offense. She also pitched a shut out and had 16Ks on the day.

Class A Final

Michelle Hanna pitched a shut out as Depew beat Velma-Alma 3-0 for its first state championship. Kyla Sutton pitched a great game for Velma-Alma retiring 11 batters in a row at one point in the game. It was one big inning for Depew that gave them the three runs they needed to take the title.

Class B Final

Freshman Marissa Shaffer led Sasakwa to a state title after beating two-time defending champion Red Oak. She only faced two batters over the minimum in the 2-0 shutout. This was Sasakwa's first state appearance not only for softball, but also for any women's sport in the school. Shaffer struck out 14 in the game.

For more information on the state finals see CoachesAid.com.
 

By Garland Cooper

OKLAHOMA

NOTEWORTHY:

Class 2A's Hope McLemore of Ringling bombed one over the fence on the very first pitch of the game against Commerce. Not only was she a force at the plate, but she also struck out 17 on the mound and allowed only one hit on the day.

In Class A, Fort Cobb-Broxton put on a show coming back in the final inning to score six runs, tie up the game, and send it into extra innings. Kim Johnson led the push with a three-run homer in the seventh, and despite a six run deficit, the Mustangs came back to tie it up. Johnson also scored the winning run in the ninth after hitting a deep double.

In Class B, Cayce Coleman allowed only one hit and recorded 11Ks as Red Oak continues in their pursuit of another state title.

Results:
Class 4A
Thursday
Game 1: Fort Gibson 6 Bethel 5
Game 2: Cache 3 Harrah 1
Game 3: Lone Grove 2 Seq. Claremore 0
Game 4: Tuttle 3 Piedmont 2

Friday (Field 4)
Fort Gibson vs. Cache winner, Noon
Lone Grove vs. Tuttle, 4 p.m.

Saturday (Field 1)
Championship, 7 p.m.

Class 3A
Thursday (Field 4)
Game 1: Washington 6 Meeker 3
Game 2: Caney Valley 1 Purcell 0
Game 3: Adair 5 Little Axe 2
Game 4: Seq. Tahlequah 2 Verdigris 1

Friday (Field 4)
Washington vs. Caney Valley, 10 a.m.
Adair vs. Seq. Tahlequah, 2 p.m.

Saturday (Field 1)
Championship, 3 p.m.

Class 2A
Thursday (Field 3)
Game 1: Healdton 5 Stroud 2
Game 2: Rush Springs 10 Mangum 2
Game 3: Latta 1 Colbert 0
Game 4: Ringling 3 Commerce 1

Friday (Field 3)
Healdton vs. Latta, Noon
Rush Springs vs. Ringling, 2 p.m.

Saturday (Field 1)
Championship, 1 p.m.

Class A
Thursday (Field 2)
Game 1: Fort Cobb-Broxton 8 Fletcher 7
Game 2: Depew 1 Davenport 0
Game 3: Keota 2 Dewar 0
Game 4: Velma-Alma 1 Bray-Doyle 0

Friday (Field 1)
Depew vs. Keota, Noon
Fort Cobb-Broxton vs. Velma-Alma, 2 p.m.

Saturday (Field 1)
Championship, 11 a.m.

Class B
Thursday (Field 1)
Game 1: Moss 5 Tupelo 3
Game 2: Sasakwa 5 Forgan 1
Game 3: Red Oak 7 Binger-Oney 0
Game 4: Arnett 3 Leedey 1

Friday (Field 1)
Moss vs. Red Oak, 10 a.m.
Sasakwa vs. Arnett, 4 p.m.

Saturday (Field 1)
Championship, 5 p.m.

For the whole story visit Coachesaid.com.

GEORGIA

NOTEWORTHY:

In 7-AA play it has come down to Calhoun and Rockmart in the region finals. Both have already qualified for the state tournament, now they are vying for the top seed. It will likely be a pitcher's duel between Calhoun's Maddie Monroe and Rockmart's Hanna Hitchcock. Monroe threw a three-hit shutout against Rockmart earlier in the tournament, handing them their only loss in regionals. Hitchcock pitched a no-hitter earlier in the tourney to shutout Adairsville in a 8-0 win. Calhoun is currently on a 21 game winning streak.

Gordon Lee is also on a hot streak having won their last 25 games putting their record at 30-5. They won the 6-A regional after beating Trion 7-2 in the final. Shauna Gallahar homered in the first inning and went two for three with three RBIs in the championship game. Jonia Taylor was pitching a perfect game until it was broken up in the seventh inning.

For more see Prepgameface.com

MISSOURI

NOTEWORTHY:

St. Mary's lost their first game in their first appearance at the district tournament. Tiffany Weinzatl of North Platte allowed only one hit in the 14-0 win.

First Round Wins:
Lee's Summit North
Lee's Summit
Raymore-Peculiar

Examnier.net has the whole story.

NEBRASKA

NOTEWORTHY:

North Star's ace Paige Policky, a junior, recorded 17 Ks out of 20 batters faced in their win over Burke.

The following teams recorded Wednesday night wins, advancing them to their district championship game:
Papillion-La Vista
Lincoln Southwest
Lincoln North Star
Papillion-La Vista South
Millard North
Omaha Westside



The Omaha-Herald Online has all the details.

By Garland Cooper

MISSOURI

NOTEWORTHY:

Blue Springs South, with the help of pitcher Mariah Glasscock, defeated Raytown South this week to give them some added confidence going into the district tournament. Glasscock, despite walking eight batters, pitched a no-hitter. She struck out 11 to give the Jaguars a 5-0 win.

The District Tournament games begin October 8.

MATCHUPS
Class 4 District 13 Tournament at Legacy Park, Lee's Summit
First Round
Lee's Summit North vs. Sedalia Smith-Cotton
Lee's Summit West vs. Raymore-Peculiar
Lee's Summit vs. Warrensburg

Class 4 District 14 Tournament at Blue Springs South High School
First Round
Raytown South vs. Notre Dame de Sion
Raytown vs. Grandview
Blue Springs South vs. Hickman Mills

Class 4 District 15 Tournament at Liberty High School
First Round
Truman vs. Winnetonka
Fort Osage vs. William Chrisman

Class 3 District 14 Tournament at Webb Park, Oak Grove
First Round
Harrisonville vs. Ruskin
Oak Grove vs. O'Hara
Semifinals
Pleasant Hill vs. Harrisonville-Ruskin winner
Grain Valley vs. Oak Grove-O'Hara winner

Class 2 District 16 Tournament at Mid-Buchanan High School, Faucett
First Round
St. Mary's vs. North Platte

For more tournament news see Examiner.net.


GEORGIA

NOTEWORTHY:

Rockmart secured its state sectional berth by rallying in the seventh inning of a game against Coosa, which they won 5-2.  They started off regionals with three straight wins.

Calhoun, the region tournament's defending champion, defeated Adiarsville with the help of ace, Maddie Monroe. She threw a three-hit shutout with 11Ks.

Haley Love and Melanie Trevathan provide depth for an already solid Northside squad. The team's batting average is about .300, but it is the depth in the circle that wins most of their games. Northside finished the regular season 6-0. This past week Trevathan pitched in a 4-2 win over Harris County and Love recorded 10Ks on the mound in a shutout against Hardaway. Trevathan also dominated on the mound in a 1-0 win over LaGrange that put them in the championship game at their regional tournament.

Holly Burnes, a sophomore for Coosa, pitched a shutout and allowed only two hits in a 8-0 win over Pepperell. This was an elimination game and the semifinal game of the Region 7-AA regional tournament. This win secured their spot in the state championships which will be the school's first tournament appearance since the program was started nine years ago.

State tournament begins October 17.

For more tournament news see the Ledger-Enquierer.com and PrepGameFace.com.


COLORADO

NOTEWORTHY:

In 5A, Rocky Mountain will be a tough team to beat in Colorado. They are on a 17- game winning streak, and don't seem to be coming out of it anytime soon. They will, however, face some tough teams along the way including Lincoln, Rampart and Grandview who are in the regional tournament hosted by Rocky Mountain. If they can survive those teams they will get a chance to vie for a state title.

For more, refer to Rocky Mountain News Online.

By Garland Cooper

MISSOURI

Sept. 30
Kenzie Myers went six for six at the plate for William Chrisman in a doubleheader against Park Hill. They only won the first game, 5-2, and lost the second, 7-6.

Zanny Baker had a good day at the plate for Raytown South in their 9-8 defeat over Fort Osage. She was two for three with two runs scored and three RBIs.

Sept. 27
Fort Osage beat Staley in a conference game, 5-4. Kim Jordan lead the team on defense and offense. She threw out a runner to end the game, preventing the tying run to score and hit a double to bring in an important run for the team.

Sept. 25
Taylor Lipps suffered a frustrating loss for Harrisonville after losing 1-0 to Grain Valley. She gave up no earned ones and struck out 11 in the loss.

For more Missouri high school softball news, see the Examiner.net.

COLORADO

Amy Christopher for Holy Family High School has led the Tigers to a 12-0 record this season. She herself has a 11-0 record with one no-hitter and four one-hitters. She has a .59 ERA and only has allowed five earned runs cross the plate. She also has led the team offensively with 14 RBIs and a .606 batting average.

Rocky Mountain High School has some players that are having a great season. Aubree Maul is leading the team with a .560 batting average and 26 RBI. She also has gone 11-0 in the circle with 87 Ks and a 1.00 ERA.

Rocky Mountain News Online has the whole story.

GEORGIA

Sept. 30
Adairsville beat Rockmart in a close 1-0 game. Danielle Abernathy pitched a one-hitter in the shutout.

For more check with PrepGameFace.com.
 

	COURTESY OF COACH JEFF FILALI
	Tara Underhill

OKLAHOMA

Bailee Cartwright, a junior out of Moss High School, led her team to Regionals by putting up an amazing .822 batting average at Districts. She went five for six with three doubles, two triples, five RBIs and five stolen bases.

Amy Graham, a senior out of Hominy High School, helped lead her team to the Regional Tournament after batting 12 for 19 (.632) at the plate, and stole eight bases in nine attempts. For the season she is 50 for 88 (.568) with  54 stolen bases.

Tara Underhill is a junior out of Henryetta High School, she  went seven for 12 this week with a triple, two doubles and six RBIs to help the Lady Knights.


Next week will begin Regional Tournaments good luck to all the teams.

By Garland Cooper

MISSOURI

Sept. 17

In the Missouri River Valley Conference West, Grain Valley defeated Oak Grove on Tuesday. Ashley Danner brought in the game-winning RBI to put Grain Valley up 4-3. MaKenzie Green was four for four at the plate with two doubles and she knocked in the tying run.

Sept. 18

Makayla Oliphant had a good day behind the plate and up to bat, contributing two hits in her four at-bats and driving in one run in a Fort Osage win over Truman.

Lee's Summit North defeated Blue Springs South in a close 1-0 game. Mariah Glasscock took the loss but only allowed one hit in the game. A wild pitch and passed ball scored the only run in the game.

Sept. 19

William Chrisman beat Oak Park for the first time since the year 2000. Both are members of the Suburban Big Seven and the Bears won 2-1 on Thursday.  Linley Tate pitched a great game, striking out seven and giving up only three hits.

Taylor Keal led Blue Springs South to a 3-0 win over Lee's Summit. She allowed only one hit from the mound.

In the Missouri River Valley Conference, Grain Valley beat Pleasant Hill 3-0 in a ten-inning nail-biter. The Eagles finally broke it open in the tenth with three runs to back up their pitcher, Sydney Fairfield, who had only allowed two hits and retired 11 batters throughout the game.

Sept. 20

Blue Springs South made it to the finals of the Blue Springs South Invitational by winning some close games with strengths on offense and defense. They beat Kearney 1-0 and Park Hill South 2-1. Taylor Keal pitched the first game against Kearney and had ten Ks allowing only two hits from the mound. Mariah Glasscock also pitched a two-hitter in the second game, retiring 11 batters.

For the whole story, go to Examiner.com, Missouri news online.

COLORADO

Sept. 16

Holy Family was on fire this week, beating Erie 8-1. On offense, All-Colorado second baseman, Lara Mathewson led off a rally with a double, followed by RBI singles from Mary Petersen, Amy Christopher, and Caitlin Connelly. Christopher took the win on the mound with seven Ks and improved her record to 8-0. Connelly led the offensive attack ending two for four on the day with three RBIs.

Paul Willis of the Rocky Mountain News Online has the whole story.

GEORGIA

Sept. 16

Maddie Monroe continues to dominate on the mound with another impressive showing against Sonoraville. She led Calhoun to a 3-1 victory on Tuesday in an astounding effort from the mound. She recorded 19 Ks in seven innings of work, including an amazing 18Ks in a row. She allowed only two hits in the game, both coming in the seventh inning.

Lacey Herring went two for four and had three RBIs in a Rockmart win over Pepperell this Tuesday.

Sept. 17

Freshman Jacey Boyd of Pepperell drove in the winning run with a nice piece of clutch hitting against Rome. It was an extremely tight game taken into extra-innings, and in the bottom of the ninth, with runners in scoring position, Boyd lasered one over the centerfielder's head, putting Pepperell ahead 8-7 and ending the game. She was two for five with three RBIs in the game.

Sept. 18

On Thursday, Pepperell beat Model 5-0 with ten hits from the offense. Cassadee Ainsworth allowed only two hits in the shutout and only one runner made it to third base in the game. The Pepperell offense was on fire with all nine batters contributing a hit or a run.

Sept. 20

Rome defeated Armuchee behind their pitcher, sophomore Summer Bush, who allowed only three hits and one unearned run in the contest.

Sept. 21

Gordon Lee took the SCORE International Softball Tournament Title at Chattanooga's Warner Park. They went 5-0 for the tournament and 20-5 overall.

Molly Rogers had a great outing for Gordon Lee at the Score International Tournament. She helped lead her team to a 5-0 record in the tournament, taking the Championship. The first game she drove in the only run of the game with a sacrifice fly in a 1-0 win over Alatoona. In the second game, she had two hits in a 7-1 win over Carrollton.  In the third game she added two more hits including a triple as Gordon Lee defeated Kell 10-0. Rodgers drove in one run and was two for three in their fourth win over Blessed Trinity 5-0.

Anna Quinn had a great tournament for Gordon Lee as well. She scored the winning run in the first game after hitting a double, had two hits and drove in two runs in the second game, and she had two more hits and a triple in the third game.

For more Georgia softball news, check PrepGameFace.com.

By Garland Cooper

NEBRASKA TOP PERFORMANCES

Thursday, Sept. 4
Becca Goodwin hit two triples and put three RBIs in the book while teammate, Alexis Menard, singled twice and knocked in one in an Arlington win over Cass County (10-7).

Sarah Rome backed up pitcher Carly Nielsen with a two-RBI double to lead Blair to a 4-2 victory over Norris.

Kate Erickson lead Central City to a 9-2 win over St. Paul dominating on the mound and at the plate. She was the winning pitcher with eight Ks and recorded two doubles and three RBIs.

Jenna Alswager produced at the plate for Columbus Lakeview in their 9-0 five inning win over David City. She went three for four with two doubles, knocking in five runs.

Briana Weichel was a force in the circle and threw a perfect game for Fairbury in their 10-0, four-inning win over Schuyler.

Kim Wees reached on all four of her at bats with three singles and a double, hitting in the winning run for Omaha Gross in a close game with Beatrice (4-3).

Amanda Neumann produced for Papillion-La Vista on the mound allowing only one-hit in a shut out against Omaha Central. She also hit two doubles in the 10-0 Monarch win.

Friday, Sept. 5
Dani Sandel of was a one-woman show for Omaha Westside in their defeat of Ralston in a close ten-inning game. She hit a solo homerun to take the game into extra innings and followed that up with a triple in the tenth, clearing the loaded bases, and giving Westside the runs they needed for the 10-7 win.

Brittany Telecky recorded 13 Ks in only five innings to lead Seward to a 9-0 win over David City.

Kelli Fisher pitched a shut out for Yutan-Mead in a close 3-0 game against Wahoo. She allowed one hit and struck out twelve in the victory.

For more top performances, the Omaha World Herald has the full story.

MISSOURI TOP PERFORMANCES

Haley Pypes of Platte County was named the athlete of the week by KasasCity.com. The junior pitcher led the Pirates to a 4-0 record on the week including an undefeated appearance at the Greater Kansas City Suburban Invitational. She pitched 23 innings and recoded 29 Ks. She pitched the final championship game  against Kearney leading her team to a 4-1 win. She also helped herself at the plate batting an impressive .615 at the tournament.

Jennifer Harrington of Belton had a homerun and a double in their win over Joe Central (6-4). She recorded two RBI in the game.

Kelsey Schifferdecker helped Belton to a 4-1 extra-inning win over Staley in her first career start. She also pitched a shut-out in her second appearance against LS North, once again leading her team to victory in a close game(1-0).

For more, go to KansasCity.com.

COLORADO TOP PERFORMANCES

Kendall Kautz for Northridge has already thrown two perfect games! The first was in a 7-0 win against Longmont that included 12 Ks. The second came later in the week against Roosevelt. Kautz struck out nine in the 12-0 win.

Jenna D'Ottavio is hitting .643 for Mullen with 21 RBIs and two homeruns.

Rocky Mountain Online has the full story.

By Garland Cooper

	COURTESY OF THE HOLMES FAMILY
	Katie Holmes

One player that is off to a great start this fall high school season is Katie Holmes. Keep an eye on this 2009 catcher out of Omaha, Neb. who continues to excel on and off the field.

This summer Holmes played for the St. Louis Chaos Gold. The team consisted of many players from college programs such as Bradley, Yale, So. Illinois, University of Houston, Nebraska, Iowa, and Purdue. Playing with athletes of this experience and caliber was a great opportunity for a softball player striving to make it to the next level. Holmes admits that it was quite a challenge for her to make the journey to St. Louis from Neb., but it was a small price to pay for all she gained throughout the summer.

"Even though I live over six hours from St. Louis, that didn't stop me from taking on such a huge challenge." Holmes continues, "It was a great opportunity and I learned a lot and made some terrific friends."

The Chaos made it to ASA Nationals in Oklahoma City, and she looks forward to making it again this year with her new team, the Ralston Renegades.

She began her high school season last week playing for the Millard West Wildcats. Holmes has been the starting catcher for three years now and continues to shine on the field. This past week in their first game of the season the Wildcats played the Ralston Rams, who finished second in Class B, and the Wildcats prevailed in the close 1-0 game. It was the first time in four years that the Wildcats were able to defeat the Rams; a great start to the season.

With the Wildcats, Holmes also played in the Marion Invite Tournament this past weekend. The team went 2-1 and Holmes put up some impressive numbers her first weekend out. She batted .600 with two doubles, a single, and an RBI. She also dominated behind the plate, sending three runners attempting to steal back to the bench.

Holmes is optimistic about her catching this season stating, "I feel really good about my pickoffs and throw downs this season." This confidence and authority behind the plate is probably due to her pop time, which is currently 1.72.

The Neb. native does not only work hard on the field but in the classroom and the community as well. She is busy with her new classes in school and also volunteers at an assisted living center on a regular basis.

She is currently being recruited by several colleges, but has yet to make her final decision. She is excited about her opportunity to play at the next level.

"I am really excited to take official visits to my top choices and also to have them get a chance to see me play in the fall exposure tournament in St. Louis. I am having fun my senior year and look forward to the college journey that lies ahead of me."