*Below are the names of the athletes signed to schools in some of the conferences across the country. This list is a work in progress, so feel free to send additional signing information to garland@studentsports.com.

 

SEC

	Steve Johnson for ESPN RISE
	Ryan Iamurri, Univ. of Alabama signee, played in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game.

University of Alabama:
Kaila Hunt
Ryan Iamurri
Jackie Traina
Jordan Patterson

University of Arkansas:
Jayme Gee
Breanna Lynn Hutchinson
Macy Burr
Chloe Oprzedek
Amanda Geile
Jennifer Rambo
Clarissa Navarro

Auburn:
Hilary Mavromat
Alyssia Palomino

University of Florida:
Kasey Fagan
Cheyenne Cole

University of Georgia:
Morgan Montemayor
Julia Echols

University of Kentucky:
Lauren Cumbess
Ellen Weaver

LSU:
Kaley Coonce
Tammy Wray
Simone Heyward
Whitney Miller

Ole Miss:
Mallory McNeal
Natalie Nimmo
Rebecca Taylor Cantillo
Allison Brown

Tennessee:
Madison Shipman
Courtney Thomas
Ellen Renfroe
Melissa Davin
Tory Lewis
Chelsea O'Connor

Big 10

University of Illinois:
Jenna Mychko
Alex Booker
Jessica Perkins

University of Indiana:
Kristy Pasley
Shelby Gogreve

University of Iowa:
Kayla Massey
Katie Kroeger
Nikki Gentile
Brianna Luna

University of Michigan:
Lyndsay Doyle
Mandy Gardner
Caitlin Blanchard
Brandi Virgil
Nicole Sappingfield

Michigan State:
Cassee Layne
Sarah Bowling
Samantha Findling

Northwestern:
Samantha Albanese
Marisa Bast
Mari Majam

Ohio State:
Evelin Carillo
Leesa Gresham
Kasie Kelly
Melissa Rennie

Penn State:
Jordan Wheatley
Kasie Hatfield

Purdue:
Danielle Fletcher
Lindsey Raines
Laura Hurndon

University of Wisconsin:
Stephanie Peace
Mary Massei

Big 12

Baylor:
McKenzie Robinson
Chelsea Kovich
Shlebi Redfern
Claire Hosack

Iowa State:
Sara Rice
Breeana Holliday
Sara Davison
Evan Folks

University of Kansas:
Kendra Cullum
Ashley Newman
Elsa Moyer
Kristin Martinez
Laura Vickers
Collen Hohman

University of Nebraska:
Tatum Edwards
Taylor Edwards

University of Oklahoma:
Javen Henson
Destinee Martinez
Brittany Williams
Haley McGregor

Oklahoma State:
Tarrah Ettinger
Arianna Morrison
Morgan Hawkins

Texas:
Rachel Fox
Brejae Washington
Taylor Thom
Karina Scott
Mandy Ogle

Texas A&M:
Nicole Morgan
Amber Garza
Taran Tyler
Cassie Tysarczyk
Emily Albus

Texas Tech:
Kristin Martinez
Laura Ann Phillips
Brittany Talley
Kermitria Ward
Taylor Powell

 

*Stay tuned for updates on the list including signings from other conferences, information on the players and ESPN RISE Rankings of the best recruiting classes.

 

Who do you think has the best recruiting class? Email your answer to: garland@studentsports.com

 

 

ESPN RISE Softball | Promote Your Page Too

The following is from the head coach of the Tennessee Fury 18U Gold, Jeremy Higdon. He and his wife, Jill, coach one of the premier club teams in the country. Below is his perspective on the fall versus spring debate.

Jill and I live in Tennessee and coach Ga. and Tenn. kids, have been to the last five Tenn. State Championship Tournaments as spectators, and also coached high school ball in Ga. for five years, winning a State Championship in 2004.

This depends on the weather in your state. It's one thing to play early-season, relatively meaningless, games in March when the weather can be pretty chilly and "not softball weather". It's entirely another to play the most meaningful games of your season, the postseason, in October or November, where in a majority of US states there is the real possibility of playing a game in the 30s or 40s.

The Georgia High School State Championship is played the last or next to last weekend in October in Columbus, Ga. (in the southern part of Ga.). The climate in Columbus is very mild and is not yet cold in October.

The Tennessee High School State Championship is played the last weekend in May in Murfreesboro where, depending on the year, you might get pleasant or balmy weather.

If Tennessee played in the Fall, they would play the last weekend in October. There is an exposure tournament hosted the last weekend of October in Murfreesboro every year. The last time our team played in that tournament, it was 31 degrees for an 8:30 AM game.

Is that a big deal for an exposure tournament? Not really.

Is it a big deal to play a State Championship game in that type weather when your pitchers can't feel their fingers and bats need to be kept warm?

Attendance by College Coaches at high school games has nothing to do with the time of year.
It's a good thought, but I think the wrong direction for most states.

 

What do you think? Emai: Garland@studentsports.com with your opinion!

 Two athletes on the 16U Batbusters-Myers have committed to play at the next level.

Melissa Davin- 2010, First Base- University of Tennessee
Alyssia Palamino- 2010, Pitcher- Auburn University

The Tennessee Fury organization out of Chattanooga, Tenn. has had several athletes commit to Division I schools. Below are some short profiles on several athletes that have committed to top programs like Tennessee and Auburn.

 *****

	COURTESY OF COACH JEREMY HIGDON
	Jackie Baird, a future Lady Vol.

Jackie Baird – 2010 C/IF – Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga, TN – Committed to Tennessee

•    2-Time All State
•    2008 Hitting Stats (Soph. Yr.)  .475 Batting Avg; 10 HRs; 11 Doubles; 53 RBI
•    Hit 9 HR's in 9 days last season

Why did you choose Tennessee?
"Coach Weekly does a good job recruiting people all over the country,” Baird said. "He likes our GPS program. He wouldn't pick us if he didn't think we could make an impact on the program. I'm very grateful him wanting me.”

Fury Coach Pat Moyer on Jackie
"One thing about Jackie, we allow her to call her own pitches, because she's so in tune with what we're trying to do,” Moyer said. "Jackie's mature enough that we trust her back there, and no matter how big the situation is, we don't have any insecurities about it.”

Tory Lewis – IF/OF, Slapper – Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga, TN – Committed to Tennessee

•    2-Time All State
•    2008 Hitting Stats (Soph. Yr.)  .461 Batting Avg; 32 Runs Scored
•    2.59 Home to First time at Tennessee Speed/Slapping Camp

Why did you choose Tennessee?
"It's Tennessee,” Lewis said. "My family is a Tennessee family. We're Volunteers. I've always wanted to go to Tennessee somehow. It just so happens it worked out in softball. When I got the offer I was like, 'Yeah.'”

Fury Coach Pat Moyer on Tory
Recalling a trip to the Surf City Tournament in California:
"With her at leadoff we won four of five games,” Moyer said. "Her first game she was 3-for-3. Her second game she was 4-for-5. She was stealing bases and making plays. She's just a kid that has no weaknessess in her game defensively and offensively.”

Hilary Mavromat – 2010 P/1B – Scottsboro High School, Scottsboro, AL – Committed to Auburn

•    2-Time All State
•    Career Pitching Stats (Varsity as an 8th Grader)  66-34 Record; 0.67 ERA; 1,023 Strikeouts; 12 No-hitters
•    2008 Hitting Stats (Soph. Yr.) .528 Batting Avg; 10 HRs; 29 Doubles; 53 RBI

Why did you choose Auburn?
"I went down there for a visit and I just loved it," Mavromat said. "I know a lot of the girls that are (committed) there and I know they're bringing in a lot of talent. I just loved everything about it."

Additional Comments from Hilary:
"Recruiting can be crazy frustrating and I'm glad I don't have to worry about it anymore," Mavromat said.
"With the season starting I can just worry about playing and not about who is behind the fence. I feel like we've got a really strong team this year and I'm just looking forward to playing the season."

 *****

Mallory McNeal – IF/OF, Slapper – Sparkman High School, Huntsville, AL – Committed to Ole Miss

•    Led the 2008 Fury 16U team in stolen bases

By Garland Cooper

	COURTESY OF THE TARANGO FAMILY
	Cheyanne Tarango.

Cheyanne Tarango, a 2011 graduate out of Canyon High School and the Worth Firecrackers in Calif., has committed to play at the University of Tennessee.

Tarango has established herself as one of the most dominant pitchers in her age group. Last year, as a freshman, Tarango earned numerous post-season honors including First Team All County, County Player of the Year, First Team All State Underclassman, first Team All League and Second Team all CIF. She was also the MVP of her team and the Cypress Tournament and made the All Tournament Team at the NIKE Faster to First tournament and the Michelle Carew Classic.

Her freshman year she recorded a 1.57 ERA with an impressive 290 strikeouts in 187 innings pitched. She also was .357 at the plate.

This year she will play her sophomore year with Canyon High School and will be a force for the Worth Firecrackers. Keep an eye on this future Lady Vol!
 

By Garland Cooper

	COURTESY OF JEREMY HIGDON
	Jeremy Higdon seen here with coaching colleagues.

 Jeremy Higdon is the Associate Director of the Fury softball organization out of Chattanooga, Tenn. He coaches and also runs the Fury Fastpitch Academy, which includes clinics featuring some impressive instructors like Shannon Doepking and Stephanie VanBrakle.

This year Higdon is putting on a tournament unlike any other in the eastern/southern region. It will be a showcase of only 16U teams and a skills combine. The event is called The Chattanooga Scenic 16's and it will be June 4-7. The idea is to only have uncommitted players on the field in order to provide an environment more condusive to recruiting for the college coaches.

ESPN RISE was lucky enough to speak with Higdon regarding his background and this new tournament he will be running in June.

...

(Read full post)

By Garland Cooper

**Over the past week ESPN RISE has highlighted the top signing classes in the nation. These classes were outlined after intensive research including consultation with club coaches, college coaches and ESPN affiliates.

Below is a final outline of the top early signing classes.


1. Oklahoma
Oklahoma makes the top spot after signing two pitchers, a righty and a lefty, and a catcher, adding depth and diversity to their battery. All three can hit also adding a punch at a plate.
2. Arizona
Arizona brings in one of the best pitchers in the nation along with some power and speed at the plate. They cover almost all aspects of the game with their signing class.
3. Cal
Cal brings in a pitcher-catcher combo that has worked together successfully for years. They also bring in a bat to help in the lineup.
4. Florida
Florida has a big class with five athletes. Three of the five have won a championship in the last two years. It is a diverse and talented class that will give Florida depth at the plate, on the field and on the mound.
5. Tennessee
The Lady Vols bring in a couple of pitchers that will add some depth as well as some speed on the base paths. With the hard outs in the lineup and some depth on the mound, Tennessee looks like a tough competitor.
6. Texas
The addition of two pitchers will give Texas some strength and depth on the mound. They also bring in two hitters to help put at the plate. Two pitchers and two hitters will really add some power to the Texas roster.
7. ASU
ASU brings in three of the best from Ariz. With the help of the these three ASU will bring in what  it needs to get back to the WCWS within the next few years.
8. Michigan
The Wolverines bring in an ace pitcher as well as a hitter and some speed. They have really covered all their bases with the class and will be tough to beat.
9. UCLA
They only signed two, but they are important additions. The pitcher and hitter they signed will go a long way to improve the Bruin roster.
10. Northwestern
The Wildcats bring in speed, pitching, and power to round out their 2009-2010 roster. This will be an important class for NU and adds a little bit of everything to help them on the field.

Honorable Mention: LSU
LSU has signed an important all-star pitcher and a catcher that will a huge addition to the lineup. With these two athletes they have created a tough combo on the field and a tough out at the plate.

Up-and-coming: Mississippi State
Mississippi State brings in two lefty pitchers and some force at the plate. This entire signing class is stacked with top athletes that will take the Bulldogs far into playoffs.

 

By Garland Cooper

**Coming in at number five is Tennessee. They make it to the middle of the pack with pitching depth and some great offensive additions.

 

 5.TENNESSEE

Tennessee brings in two pitchers, Lauren Gibson (Md.) and Ivy Renfroe (Tenn.). Gibson and Renfroe can perform on the mound and at the plate adding not only two pitchers, but two hitters to the lineup. The Lady Vols will also have Raven Chavanne and Melissa Brown who are speedsters and will be hard outs for opponents. Both play for top Calif. club teams that play very competitive schedules and have proven that they can perform at the highest level. Tennessee is another team that brings depth to their battery and their lineup, putting them on the list for the best recruiting class.

 

**More rankings to come, keep checking in!

Questions or comments? Email Garland Cooper: garland@studentsports.com

By Garland Cooper

ALABAMA

Courtney Conley will be joining the Crimson Tide for the 2009-10 season. She is from St. Louis, Mo. and plays third and first for Eureka High School and the St. Louis Chaos.

She was named All-Conference, All-District, All-Region, All-Metro, and All-State last season. Conley also earned Under Armour All-American accolades and Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2007.

KENTUCKY

Kara Dill out of LaGrange, Ohio, and Alice O'Brien from Murfreesboro, Tenn. will join the Univ. of Kentucky.

Kara Dill plays shortstop and pitches for Keystone High School. Throughout her career, her high school team has won 81 games and lost only 14. She contributes to that impressive record on the mound with 11 wins and one loss. She has thrown 94 innings and recorded 139 Ks. At the plate, Dill has a career .550 batting average with 36 extra base hits.

Dill has earned All-Conference, All-Lorain County, All-Northeast District, and All-State honors since her freshman year at Keystone. She also holds school records with the highest career batting average, and single season hits.

Alice O'Brien plays infield and outfield for Riverdale High School and the Murfreesboro Firebirds.

Last season O'Brien batted .481 with 14 homeruns as leadoff for her high school team. She also recorded a .926 slugging percentage and a .600 on-base percentage. Her 14 dinkers were enough to solidify a school record in single season homeruns.

She has been an All-District player for her three years at Riverdale. This past season she was named the 7AAA Player of the Year and was an All-State selection. Her high school team elected her as the Most Valuable Player and the Position Player of the Year after her junior season.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Mississippi State brings in five athletes from all over the country to round out their 2009-2010 roster. Stephanie Becker out of Aurora, Ill., Jessica Cooley from Birmingham, Ala., Shelby Fisher from Scottsdale, Ariz., Erin Nesbit out of Acworth, Ga., and Kylie Vry out of Des Moines, Iowa have signed to be a Bulldog.

Stephanie Becker is a lefty pitcher who pitches for West Aurora High School and the Orland Park Sparks.

She has been All-Conference and All-Area the past two years. Throughout her career she accumulated 554 strikeouts and a 43-17 record. Last season she recorded 200 Ks with a 0.78 ERA and a 14-8 record. In summer ball she was 18-8 with a 1.51 ERA and 154 strikeouts this past season.

Jessica Cooley is an outfielder and infielder for Oak Mountain High School and the travel team Skyhawks Express.

Last season she was an All-State and has been an All-Area selection since her start at Oak Mountain. Cooley also has helped her high school squad to playoffs two out of three seasons.

Shelby Fisher first base and outfield for Horizon High School and the Desert Thunder travel team.

She has been All-Region for three seasons and was All-State twice. Her junior season she hit .411 with 28 RBIs. With the Desert Thunder she batted .414 at the plate with six homers and 33 RBIs leading her team to ASA Gold Nationals.

Erin Nesbit plays shortstop for Harrison High School and the Atlanta Vipers Gold.

In this past fall season, Nesbit batted .384 with 29 runs scored, 24 RBIs and two homers. She was given the Harrison High School's Wendy's Heisman Award as the top female athlete in the school. She has been All-Region the past two seasons. With the Vipers she batted .387 this summer and had six homeruns, 34 RBIs, and 44 runs scored.

Kylie Vry is a lefty pitcher for Des Moines East High School and the Gold Coast Hurricanes.

In her short high school career, Vry managed to set a high school record for most strikeouts in a game with 19 Ks in a seven-inning no-hitter. She also was named to the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Elite Team All-State team in 2007. That same season she accrued 378 Ks in 186 innings pitched and recorded a 0.27 ERA. This summer she helped the Gold Coast Hurricanes to an ASA National Championship.

FLORIDA

The Univ. of Florida has signed five for the 2009-2010 season. The athletes include: Ensley Gammel out of Bakersfield, Calif., Samantha Holle from Tampa, Fla., Kelsey Horton from Valrico, Fla., Brittany Schutte out of Fountain Valley, Calif., and Brittany Walker from Tomball, Texas.

Ensley Gammel pitches and plays first base for Centennial High School and the Worth Firecrackers.

She has earned several postseason honors including earning All-League honors the past three seasons, and All-County honors twice. She was also Kern County Player of the Year in 2008 and was named ESPN Cal Hi Sports First Team All-State.

For the 2008 season she allowed only one earned run and was 25-3. She also recorded a 0.44 ERA with 258 Ks. At the plate she batted .359 with 28 RBIs and five homers.

Samantha Holle is an infielder for Chamberlain High School and the Gold Coast Hurricanes.

She was All-State and Hillsborough County Softball Player of the Year for the 2008 season. She also was given the team Hitting Award for 2008 after receiving a Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Award in past seasons. She also has been named a four-time All-American Scholar-Athlete.

Kelsey Horton is a catcher for Durant High School and the Gold Coast Hurricanes.

She was All-State, All-County, and All-Conference for the 2008 season. She has been All-Academic Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2008 in softball and volleyball. For her high school squad she also has been named the Offensive Player of the Year two years running.

Brittany Schutte is a utility player for Mater Dei High School and the SoCal Athletics.
She was All-League and League MVP this past season. In 2007 she was named the Rookie of the Year and received All-League Honorable Mention honors.

Brittany Walker plays infield for Klein Oak High School and the Texas Eclipse Gold.

She has been All-District for two years and this past season was named First Team All-Greater Houston. This past season she batted a team-high .500.

TENNESSEE

Tennessee will bring in four girls to complete their 2009-2010 roster. The athletes include: Raven Chavanne out of Thousand Oaks, Calif., Lauren Gibson from Pasadena, Md., Melissa Brown from Valencia, Calif., and Ivy Renfroe out of Humboldt, Tenn.

Raven Chavanne plays outfield and third base for the OC Batbusters  Haning.

In 2007 she batted leadoff for the 16U OC Batbusters and was .583 at the plate, helping her team to a third place finish at ASA Nationals. She also is an outstanding track athlete for Newbury Park High School and holds records in several categories.

Lauren Gibson is a pitcher and utility player for Chesapeake High School and Team New Jersey.

Gibson was named ESPN RISE Magazine State Player of the Year, and she was an ESPN/Under Armour All-American in 2008. The past two years she has led her high school team to the 4A State Championship and threw no-hitters in both final games. For the past three seasons she has been All-Metro and All-County.

In 2008 she recorded 165 Ks in 120 innings pitched with a 17-2 record and a 1.23 ERA. She also contributed at the plate with a .500 average, 29 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and 34 runs scored.

Melissa Brown is a middle-infielder for Hart High School and the SoCal Choppers.

This past season Brown was an All-League selection after leading her team to their second Foothill League Title since joining the squad. She batted .458 with 16 RBIs and 28 runs scored in 2008. She was named the Best Defensive Player on the Varsity squad for the past two years and also was the MVP her freshman year.

Ivy Renfroe pitches for Trinity Christian Academy and the Illinois Southern Force.

Since her start on the team she has more than 90 wins under her belt with an impressive 1,000+ Ks. She was a finalist for the Gatorade/RISE Magazine Tennessee Player of the Year and was an All-State selection as well as the District Most Valuable Player. This past season she went 20-4 on the mound with a 0.51 ERA and 261 Ks. That included eight no-hitters, and one perfect game. Renfroe also performed at the plate with a .396 average and 33 RBIs.

SOUTH CAROLINA

The Gamecocks have added two for their 2009-2010 campaign. The athletes are Briana Hamilton and Hannah Milks, both from S.C.

Briana Hamilton plays shortstop at Byrnes High School and the Georgia Knockouts. She was named the to All-State team in 2006 as well as being selected to the All-Region team in 2005 and 2006. She also was the Region II-4A Player of the Year in 2006. In 2005 she helped her high school to a 4A State Championship.

Hannah Milks plays for Wade Hampton High School and the Carolina Elite. She was an All-State selection this past season. She batted .568 and had 16 stolen bases on the year.

AUBURN

Auburn brings in two for the 2009-2010 season. Caitlin Schultze of N.J., and Kelsey Cartwright out of Nashville, Tenn. will complete the roster.

Caitlin Schultze hit .346 last season with two homers and 13 RBIs. She catches and was Fourth Team All-State last season.

Kelsey Cartwright plays for was .519 at the plate with an impressive 48 RBIs, 54 runs scored, 20 doubles, and 14 homeruns. Her 14 dinkers was a single-season high school record. Cartwright also was First Team All-State and a Gatorade/RISE Magazine Player of the Year nominee after leading Goodpasture High School team to an AA State Championship. For her career, she has batted .466 with 56 stolen bases, 58 doubles, 16 triples and another career school record of 32 homeruns.

OLE MISS

Ole Miss softball has signed three players for the 2009-2010 season. They are: Brittany Broome from Suwannee, Ga., Erinn Jayjohn out of Justin, Texas, and Kelly Nolan from Glendora, Calif.

Brittany Broome plays in the outfield for North Gwinnett High School and the East Cobb Bullets.

Last season she hit .374 with 38 runs scored and 38 stolen bases (a county record). She was named All-County for her efforts.

Erinn Jayjohn pitches and plays first base for Northwest High School and the Texas Elite.

She led her high school squad to a 5-5A District Championship with an impressive .487 average and 27 RBIs at the plate.

Kelly Nolan catches for Glendora High School and the SoCal Explosion.

She helped her high school team to the Division II CIF Finals. She was .380 at the plate for her high school team, contributing to her career .395 batting average. For the past three seasons she has been an All-League selection and this year she led her team to a League Championship.

By Garland Cooper

Monday morning, at Hart High School in Newhall, Calif., four elite softball players signed their National Letters of Intent to play D-I ball.

The athletes included Jessica Shults (Okla.), Destiny Rodino (UCLA), Emily Henry (Chico State), and Melissa Brown (Tenn.). All four are starters for the Hart High School squad; Shults and Rodino make up the battery for the Indians while Henry and Brown round out the infield.

Signing their National Letters of Intent sealed the deal for the athletes and it seemed to put everything in perspective.

	ESPN RISE
	(L-R:) Emily Henry, Destiny Rodino, Jessica Shults, and Melissa Brown.

"It is unreal," stated Rodino at the signing ceremony, "Everything that we have worked for has finally paid off. All the hours spent practicing and the missed events finally have paid off. It is such a blessing!"

Rodino chose UCLA over a plethora of schools including LSU, Wisconsin, Florida, and Cal State Fullerton. She wasn't the only one with schools breaking down her door, all three of the girls had to turn away several prospects. Shults turned down UCLA, Washington, Texas and Oregon State, Brown turned down Cal State Fullerton and Washington and Henry said goodbye to Farleigh Dickinson.

With so many offers, it must have been a difficult decision for the girls, but each of them were able to give several reasons explaining why their school was the right fit for them.

"I liked the small-town atmosphere, the girls and the coaches; it just felt like a good fit," Henry stated, remembering her time at Chico State.

Shults decided on Oklahoma after visiting the campus. "I just felt really welcome there, and it felt like they really wanted me to play for them."

Brown, like Henry and Shults, also based her decision on feeling when visiting Tennessee. "I saw the way they treated athletes and students and I wanted to be a part of it. I knew the second I got there that Tennessee was the place for me."

Finally, Rodino, who lives not far from the UCLA campus, saw the appeal in being close to home. "Being in Southern Calif. my parents will be able to come to the games," she stated. However, the bigger reason laid in UCLA's history. "I want to be a part of the legacy that comes with being a softball player at UCLA."

They each have their reasons for choosing their collegiate programs, but they all agree that the focus is different now since the dream of playing in college has become a reality.

"My focus now is just preparing for college and working to be the best I can be," said Shults.

The other girls agreed that preparing was most important, but Rodino was quick to add that, while they would be starting a collegiate career next fall, this year is not over. "I want to win! I want a ring before I leave!" Rodino added enthusiastically.

With these four seniors, a ring at the end of the year is not completely unrealistic for the Hart High School Indians.

On the mound, Rodino held opponents to only 11 earned runs and had an ERA of 0.405 last season. Shults, Brown, and Henry led the offensive push for the Indians with Shults and Brown batting well over .400. Shults also hit ten homers and had 31 RBI while Brown led the team with 13 stolen bases. Henry scored 13 runs and played in every game for the Indians while leading defensively.

Look for these four Indians and the whole Hart squad tearing up the field come spring. As Rodino stated, these girls have some unfinished business to take care of before they leave their high school careers behind.

By Garland Cooper

Player to watch: Beverly Weaver

	COURTESY OF COACH BILL DRYDEN
	Beverly Weaver

Beverly Weaver, a sophomore left-hander at Pocomoke High School in Pocomoke, Md., became the freshman starter for the Warriors last spring and led the team to the Regional Finals. It was quite a feat since the girls at Pocomoke had never made it to that level of competition in previous years.

This fall she has taken her pitching talents to the Virginia Stars ASA Gold team. Weaver and her family sacrifice a lot for her exposure driving three hours one-way to practice with the Stars.

Weaver throws in the low 60's keeping batters off-balance with a killer rise, drop, drop/curve and change.

She is as good in the classroom as she is on the field, finishing her freshman year ranked number one in her class. With talent at such a young age, and the training she is beginning to undergo, She is beginning to strength train and will only get better and stronger.

Weaver also was a starter for the High School Field Hockey team and helped them to a 1A Maryland State Championship.

2009 Graduate Updates

Stephanie Speierman, who has verbally committed to Michigan, has been clocked at 69 mph and regularly throws at 66 mph.  The future Wolverine continues to work hard and shows her dedication flying from Md. to the West Coast to play for the San Diego Renegades in an effort to become a better pitcher and prepare for college ball.

Lauren Gibson, who pitches for Chesapeake High School in Md. and is two-time Baltimore Sun Metro Player of the Year, has verbally committed to Tennessee as an infielder. She continues to work hard, looking forward to the upcoming high school and club seasons that will prepare her to play at the next level.

High School News

Unfortunately, last week Oklahoma was hit by some bad weather and therefore most of their high school games were postponned or cancelled. More to come from the  Sooner State in the upcoming week!