SEATTLE - Washington softball head coach Heather Tarr announced the signing of four high school seniors to National Letters of Intent this week, all of whom will join the Huskies next fall as the class of 2014.
"This recruiting class has the potential to rival some of our best here at Washington," Tarr, who enters her sixth season as the Huskies head coach in 2010, said. "There is a great mixture of speed and power, with two left-handed short-game offensive threats, and two power-hitting righties. We expect all four of these young ladies to come in next year and immediately compete for playing time right away."
Hayward, who carries a 4.4 grade-point average, is a three-year captain of the Mountain View softball team, earning All-State honors in her junior year. She is a two-time De Anza league MVP and three-time All-League selection and has been named to the All-Mercury News team in each of the last two seasons. She batted .644 her junior year.
Born in Toronto, Canada, Hayward joined current Huskies Danielle Lawrie and Jenn Salling on the Canadian National Team this past summer, becoming the youngest player ever named to the National Team. She played for Team Canada in this summer's Canada Cup, KFC World Cup and Pan-Am Championships.
"We were lucky to find Victoria Hayward a bit late in the recruiting process this summer when she played with Danielle Lawrie and Jenn Salling for the Canadian National Team," Tarr said. "She's a tremendous student who will be able to achieve greatness in some of the toughest academic programs here at UW. Victoria's speed and versatility at the plate will be game-changing at this level."
Hayward plays for the Sorcerer club team, which won the 2009 ASA 18-and-under Gold National Championship. In addition to playing softball Mountain View, she is also a three-year varsity soccer player, being named an all-league defender in each of the last two seasons.
"I chose Washington for its long-standing tradition of academic excellence and commitment to providing academic support to athletes," Hayward said. "I also chose it for the spectacular campus, the quality of the softball program and the opportunity to play for Coach Tarr and her coaching staff at the highest level of college softball."
The 2009 Nation Champion Huskies begin their 2010 title defense, Feb. 11-14, at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. To view the complete schedule, go to www.GoHuskies.com.
Karley Hopkins, a second baseman/outfielder from Spanish Springs High School in Sparks, Nev
Coach Meuchel on Karley Hopkins: “Karley is a great player who steadily goes about making plays every time she is on the field, both at the plate and in the field,” Meuchel said. “Karley brings a ton of versatility to our lineup, both in her ability to play multiple defensive positions and in her ability to slap, bunt, and hit from the left side. She has grown up loving Nevada softball and attending every home game. To see her live out her dream of playing at Nevada is a special opportunity.”
Keller, an infielder from Livermore, Calif., is a three-year starter at shortstop for Livermore High School which is ranked fifth in California and tenth nationally by ESPN/Rise.com. Keller was a two-time team MVP after leading her team and league offensively. The two-time East Bay Athletic League first team member was named All-State Infield California by ESPNRise.com.
In addition to her high school team, Keller also played for the Sorcerer Gold travel team, which won the Louisville Slugger Boulder Championship and advanced to the 2009 Gold Nationals in Oklahoma City.
She is also a three-year letterwinner and starter for the Livermore High School soccer team.
Keller also considered Washington and Fresno State before signing with Louisville.
Coach Sandy Pearsall on Katie Keller "Katie Keller comes to us from Northern California and has a wealth of experience from playing on one of the top teams in the country. She is a very talented middle infielder with a great glove. Katie is also an accomplished hitter and will bring power to our lineup which is something we are looking for in this class."
Katie Keller on Louisville "I chose Louisville because everything about my visit was more than perfect! I felt that Louisville was the best fit for me. The facilities were great and the coaches and players were amazing. I love the whole atmosphere of the school and town. I cannot wait to be a part of the Cardinal family."
18 Gold Tryouts
Both 18 Gold teams willbe holding tryouts for their summer teams on the following dates:
The newcomers with Canada this week include precocious outfielder Victoria Hayward, who will be on the squad that goes to the World Cup in Oklahoma City in late July and the world championships qualifier in Venezuela in August.
Just 17, the speedster hit .667 as a Grade 11 in Mountainview, Calif., last season. The aspiring pediatrician is being recruited by Boston College, Northwestern and Stanford.
"I call myself a California girl, but truth is I'm from Toronto," says a grinning Hayward, whose family moved when she was eight.
Her dad was online in January when he discovered Victoria could play for Canada.
"My first thought was it was funny, a funny joke," she said. "'Really dad, the Olympic team? C'mon?"
She was invited to a tryout for the 17-and-under junior team and played so well she was invited to the senior team tryout, where she dazzled with her speed. In an exhibition game on Wednesday, she twice beat out infield choppers, reaching first base before the pitcher even had a chance to get the ball out of her glove.
Starters:Sorcerer Keilani Ricketts vs GCH Hannah Rogers
The defending national champions won the losers bracket and must now defeat Sorcerer twice.
Sorcerer narrowly missed scoring in the 2nd.Ricketts singled, Kayla White in to run.Courtney Moore reached on an error at 3rd.Shenise Cox flied out.Janel Salanos flied out to right; a rifle throw by Wykemia Davis turned the double play.With one out in the Sorcerer 3rd, Jessica Vest singled and stole 2nd.Two out, Tylyn Wells doubled down the right field line, rbi.Ricketts led the Sorcerer 4th with a double.Pinch runner White advanced on Courtney Moore’s sac bunt and, after Kylie Vry relieved Rogers, scored on Cox’s single 2-0.The GCH got their first hit in the bottom half.Marissa Menendez singled.Bailey Castro struck out.Kelsey Horton moved the runner with a sac bunt; Holle was hbp, two on.Brienna Rojas popped up.Top 5th: Allard singled and stole 2nd with one out,but Wells and Breanna Kostreba ground out.Bottom 5th: Davis struck out.Kasie Hatfield singled.Chelsea Howell struck out. Michelle Moultrie singled, Hatfield scored, 2-1. The GCH now had 3 hits to 6 for the Sorcerer.
Top 6th: Rachele Fico to pitch for Hurricanes.Leading off, Ricketts singled to center, her second hit. White in to run. Moore popped.Cox walked.Salanoa flied out.Shelby Asbury flied out.Bottom 7th:Castro led, out 5-3.Horton ground out to 2nd.Samantha Holle struck out.
Top 7th: Vest singled to left, the eighth hit.Allard laid down a sac bunt.Wells singled to right, Vest scoring from 2nd.3-1.Kostreba flied out.Ricketts popped up.
Bottom 7th: Pinch-hitting Rachel Gillen ground out to short.Davis looked at a third strike, Ricketts’ eighth K.Hatfield ground out to short, ending the 2009 Gold National Championship.
WINNERS BRACKET
Sorcerer Gold Phil 2, Worth Firecrackers 0
WP Keilani Ricketts 3H, 6KLP Rebecca Patton
The Firecracker fuse fizzled.After three harum-scarum, wildly exciting, last minute victories, the Firecrackers ran into the proverbial unmoveable object in the person of Keilani Ricketts.The Sorcerer can rest, waiting for the Firecrackers and Gold Coast Hurricanes, who eliminated So Cal Athletics 4-2, to settle out the losers bracket.More, under Gold double-elimination rules adopted last year, the challenger will have to defeat Sorcerer twice, which gives the Sorcerer a tremendous advantage, in that either of the two challengers will have already played two games this morning.
Sorcerer’s first run, top 3rd, was scored by Janel Salanoa, who singled to left, was advanced by Shenise Cox’s sac bunt.Emily Allard drove in the run. Ensley Gammel relieved Patton to pitch the 4th. The Firecrackers recorded the first of their three hits in bottom 5th; Hallie Wilson singled to right field.Lauren Chamberlain laid down a sac bunt. Jessica Shults reached on an error at 1st; Leah White in to run.Baillie Kirker walked to load the bases and raise the potential for a patented Firecracker rally.But Ricketts notched another K against Mariel Massei and Kylee Lahners ground out to short.Dana Perez singled to open the Firecracker 5th; stranded.Sorcerer 6th: Jessica Vest walked; Allard reached on an error at 3rd.Consecutive fielder’s choice plays forced both runners.Sorcerer 7th: Kayla White popped to short; Shelby Asbury looked at a 3rd strike; Salanoa singled to left, and Cox slugged an rbi double, 2-0.Massei led the Firecracker 7th with a single, but Lahners and Perez ground out and Kathlyn Medina went down swinging.
Sorcerer wins in Stockton - Qualifies for 2009 Gold Nationals
State Division I Athlete of the Year: Emily Allard (Deer Valley, Antioch) Sr.
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Not only did she play softball and basketball for the Wolverines, she excelled at both, earning BVL MVP honors in both sports. On her way to being an all-state softball selection, Allard dominated in the circle, hitting .459 and stealing 25 bases without being caught. At the Livermore Stampede, Allard showed why she's Northwestern-bound as she didn't allow a run and struck out 30 in five games while getting three hits off Sheldon's Jolene Henderson in Deer Valley' only loss at the tournament. On the basketball court, she led the team in scoring at a 15.5 ppg clip and averaged nine rebounds per game on her way to setting the Wolverines' career record for rebounding. The last athlete chosen in this division from a CIF North Coast Section school was Kate Dwelley from Liberty of Brentwood during the 2006-07 school year.
State Division II Athlete of the Year: Keilani Ricketts (Mitty, San Jose) Sr.
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Similar to Jordan Hasay in Div. V, Ricketts is a slam dunk choice is this division. The Oklahoma-bound fireballer led Mitty to the No. 1 spot in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 national ratings while snagging both ESPN RISE National Player of the Year and CalHiSports.com Ms. Softball State Player of Year honors. Her numbers in softball were off the charts playing against top-notch competition. Ricketts finished 22-0, with an ERA of 0.10 and 347 strikeouts. From the batters box, she hit .456, with nine home runs (tied for the CCS lead), four triples, six doubles, 36 RBI, an on-base percentage of .537 and a slugging percentage of .975. Ricketts softball numbers might have been more impressive had she not played basketball on a Mitty team that perennially goes deep into the playoffs. On a Monarchs team that lost the NorCal D2 semifinal in three overtimes to Concord Carondelet, Ricketts was the team's leading rebounder and shot-blocker with 9.3 and 1.8 per game averages, respectively. She was also third on the team in scoring with an 8.9 PPG average. Just last year, Palo Alto soccer standout Teresa Noyola represented the CCS as the choice in this division.
Sunday, July 20
Sorcerer Gold Mumma wins Independence Day "Boulder" Tournament
With a sequence of 3 consecutive come-from-behind victories, Sorcerer won the prestigious 80-team Louisville Slugger Independence Day Tournament in Boulder, CO in their first attempt. Sorcerer scored 68 runs including 7 homeruns in 12 games. See more.
Sorcerer began the tournament with 4 wins and 2 losses in pool play, earning Sorcerer the second seed in their pool. Sorcererrecorded victories over the Michigan Finesse (6-2) with a homerun by Kayla White, the Pennsylvania Blazing Angels(17-0) with a 2nd inning homerun by Kayla White, the New Jersey Inferno (7-1), and the So Cal Explosion (7-4) with a 5th inning homerun by Mississippi State-bound Courtney Moore (extending her streak to 6 consecutive events). Sorcerer sufferedlosses to the Oklahoma Jitterbugs (0-1) and the Illinois Sharks (5-6).
On Saturday morning, Sorcerer began single-elimination tournament play,with a 6-0 victory over the Missouri Renegades led by pitcher Amanda Summerford.
On Saturday evening, Sorcerer faced North Carolina-bound pitcher Constance Orr and the North Carolina Lady Blues who were riding high from just defeating the OC Batbusters. Unbeknownst to Sorcerer, Orr had led her Butler High School (Charlotte, NC) team this year to a #2 national ranking by StudentSportsSoftball, with 22 wins and no losses. Sorcerer rose to the challenge, and defeated the Lady Blues by a score of 2-0.
On Saturday night, Sorcerer faced Arizona-State bound pitcher Dallas Escobedo of the Arizona Hotshots [Qualified]. While her 70+ MPH pitches were impressive, Sorcerer managed to score 5 runs to defeat the Hotshots 5-4.
On Sunday morning, Sorcerer faced Team Florida [Qualified] in the quarterfinal round. Sorcerer quickly leapt ahead and scored 3 runs, punctuated by a 4th inning homerun by Breana Kostreba. But in a disastrous 5th inning, Sorcerer gave up 3 runs to allow Team Florida to tie the score. As time ran out, neither team had scored again, sending the game to an international tie-breaking (ITB) inning. In the bottom of the 8th, with an ITB runner on 2nd base, Stanford-bound Maya Burns blasted a shot into center-field, bringing in the winning run, and advancing Sorcerer to the semi-final round.
Late Sunday morning, Sorcerer faced Notre-Dame bound pitcher Jackie Bowe and the Illinois Beverly Bandits [Qualified] in the semi-final round. The Bandits demonstrated their power at the plate by scoring 3 runs early in the game. But Sorcerer showed true grit, and fought back to tie the game 3-3 on homeruns by Cal-bound Jordan Wallace in both the 2nd and the 4th innings. Sorcerer added another run in the 3rd inning, and 1 more in the 4th, to advance to the championship game.
For the tournament championship, nearly exhausted from 11 games in 5 days, Sorcerer faced Texas A&M-bound pitcher Rebecca Arbino and long time rival and nemesis the Corona Angels coached by Marty Tyson. The Angels scored a run in the first inning.
Sorcerer bats came alive in the 4th inning; adouble by Breana Kostreba brought in Maya Burns. With little production from the starters, but sensing an opportunity, Sorcerer coaches entered Harvard-bound Whitney Shaw to pinch hit. Shaw had beensidelined after an ugly collision two games earlier that injured hersurgically repaired knee. Despite the pain and with a noticeable limp,Shaw was ready, and responded to the call with a 3-run blast over theleft-center field fence. [Sadly, Whitney tore her ACL again in the collision, and will undergo immediate surgery.The Sorcerer family wishes Whitney a speedy recovery.]
"Honestly, I was just trying to hit it really hard," Shaw said. "When I got up there I was just like, if there's one thing I can still do it's hit the crap out of the ball. That's all I was really thinking about."
The Angels answered in the bottom of the inning with a 2-run homer of their own. In the next inning, the Angels loaded the bases. With one out, Arbino smashed a line drive down the middle, but with a fantastic catch, Cal-bound Jordan Wallace snared the ball, threw it to second base for the out, and seized the momentum from the Angels.
Sorcerer held the Angels scoreless in the 6th and 7th innings for the 4-3 win and the tournament championship.
Samantha Albanese pitched 11 innings with 4 strikeouts over 4 games. Oregon-bound Jessica Moore pitched 28.5 innings with 31 strikeouts over 9 games. And, Fresno State-bound Hannah Williams pitched 29.5 innings with 19 strikeouts over 8 games.
Congratulations Sorcerer on an exceptional Boulder tournament debut!
Keilani Ricketts, the softball standout from Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), was chosen in a close call for Ms. Softball USA honors over two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year Kenzie Fowler from Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.). The difference was slight, but Ricketts got the nod for going undefeated in the circle for her senior year and for leading her team to an undefeated record. Fowler led her team to a third straight state title, but also suffered a pair of losses.
TONY AVELAR
Keilani Ricketts dominated tough competition while compiling a perfect record.
Ricketts pitched a three-hit shutout in her final game, a 3-0 win over Presentation of San Jose in the CIF Central Coast Section Division II final. The victory put Mitty's final season record at 32-0 and cemented the Monarchs' status as the No. 1 team in the final ESPN RISE FAB 50 national rankings. But her most impressive outing of the season came in April at the Livermore Stampede when Mitty took down then-FAB 50 national No. 1 Sheldon of Sacramento 5-2 in the title game. Ricketts smashed a three-run homer in the first inning off fellow EA Sports All-American Jolene Henderson and also ended with 20 strikeouts.
For the season, Ricketts compiled a 22-0 pitching mark with an ERA of 0.10 and 347 strikeouts. In the batter's box, she racked up a .456 average with nine homers, four triples, six doubles, 36 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .975.
The EA SPORTS All-America softball team was selected by the ESPNRISE.com staff.
ALLARD FAMILY
Emily Allard struck out more than 600 batters in her high school career.
Emily Allard (Deer Valley/Antioch, Calif.), Senior She put the finishing touches on a busy high school career with seven triples while hitting for a .513 average. In the circle, her career strikeout total eclipsed 600 as she struck out 604 batters and allowed batters to bat a combined .167 with a career ERA of 0.94. She also excelled on the basketball court, where she led the team in scoring, rebounding and steals, but will concentrate on softball at Northwestern next season.
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ESPN All State Team
Molly Medeiros (Presentation, San Jose) Sr. The Loyola Marymount-bound Medeiros was also a force at the plate as well as being one of the CCS's top pitchers. She went 23-5-1 with 16 shutouts, a perfect game, three no-hitters and eight one-hitters. She struck out 259 batters in 192 innings with an ERA of 0.65. At the plate, Medeiros batted .407 with 44 hits, 12 doubles, three triples and two home runs. She had 27 RBIs and 22 runs scored. Of her five losses pitching, three were to Mitty and the other two were to state-ranked San Benito and Notre Dame of Belmont.
Emily Allard (Deer Valley, Antioch) Sr. Although she was an excellent pitcher throughout her high school career, Allard makes this team as an outfielder, and in fact centerfield is where the ESPNU Softball No. 9 ranked young woman will play at Northwestern. Tremendous athleticism and blazing speed are Allard's trademarks. The long-legged 6-footer can cover the outfield like a cat, and she reportedly was clocked at 2.7 seconds from home to first. This past season she hit .459 and was 25-of-25 in stolen base attempts. She also played center and just about every other position on the Wolverines' basketball team and was the team and Bay Valley League MVP.
Keilani Ricketts (Archbishop Mitty, San Jose) Sr. This year's just named ESPN RISE/EA SPORTS Ms. Softball USA and the CalHiSports.com Ms. Softball State Player of the Year was just as dangerous from the batter's box as she was from the circle where she only gave up two earned runs all season. Both came against Sheldon in a 5-2 victory where she struck out 20 and also hit a three-run home run. After that performance by the 6-2 Oklahoma-bound fireballer, the term "Ricketted” was coined. The Monarchs finished 32-0 and Keilani "Ricketted” 22 of the opponents. She finished with an ERA of 0.10 and 347 strikeouts. From the batters box, Keilani hit .456, with nine home runs, four triples, six doubles, 36 RBI, an on-base percentage of .537 and a slugging percentage of .975, all in only 79 at-bats and against as tough a league and non-league schedule as anyone in California.
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Ricketts & Allard make All Metro Team (SF Chronicle)
(06-10) 20:08 PDT -- In a near-perfect season in the circle, Mitty pitcher Keilani Ricketts' only loss came in her finest performance.
The junior struck out 21, walked none and gave up only one hit, a home run in the 10th inning that allowed Notre Dame-Belmont to beat the Monarchs 1-0 in the West Catholic Athletic League playoff final.
The shutdown performance against one of the best lineups in the region was noteworthy, but Mitty coach Sarah Thomas was more impressed by the way her pitcher handled the defeat.
"The way she reacted, it was all about her team," Thomas said.
Ricketts, The Chronicle's Metro Player of the Year, arrived on the softball field late after her basketball team was busy winning the Division II state title. She didn't show any signs of rust.
Sharing starts with two other pitchers, including her sister Stephanie, Ricketts finished 11-1 and allowed only two earned runs in 87 innings pitched (0.30 ERA). She had 172 strikeouts and gave up 14 walks.
Ricketts, who already has committed to Oklahoma, brings a Randy Johnson-type intimidation to the mound. A left-hander who is 6-foot-2, Ricketts has had her fastball clocked at 67 miles per hour - but it is not merely speed that makes her difficult to hit.
Thomas says the movement Ricketts has on her pitches is as important as the speed.
"She doesn't get enough credit for how hard she is to catch," Thomas said
A fast, athletic player for her size, Ricketts was dominant with the bat and on the basepaths. She hit .525 for the season and had an RBI triple in the first inning of Mitty's 3-0 win over Presentation in the Central Coast Section Division II title game.
"She was a huge element for us in our lineup," Thomas said. "We lost four big bats last year and she totally stepped up. She hit third in our lineup. She hit for power and she turned singles into doubles with her speed."
FiveSorcerer Gold - Phil players - Emily Allard, Molly Medeiros, Janel Salanoa, Jordan Wallace, and Kayla White - have signed National Letters of Intent to accept softball scholarships and play at the collegiate level.
Emily Allard, a product of the Sorcerer organization, has played with Phil's Gold team since the fall of 2006, and signed with Northwestern University. An Under Armour High School All American, Emily is a first team All-State selection, a three-time first-team All-Bay Valley Athletic League choice, and her league's Most Valuable Player last year, in both softball and basketball. An outfielder for Sorcerer, Allard pitches for Deer Valley High School in Antioch, racking up 444 strikeouts in three years. She hit .513, with a .679 slugging percentage last season and was 25 for 25 in stolen base attempts. "Emily is an amazing athlete and she continues to get better," Northwestern coach Kate Drohan said. "She is a game changer with speed, power and versatility and will have an impact on our program from day one." "She personifies what our program is all about," Sorcerer coach Phil Mumma said. "Emily is a great player, outstanding student, and active member of her community. She has been excellent in every way."
Molly Medeiros, who signed with Loyala Marymount University, joined Sorcerer for the 2008 fall season. Molly previously played at the Gold level for the San Jose Sting and San Jose Strikkers. A senior at Presentation H.S. in San Jose, Medeiros last year pitched her team to a Central Coast Section runner-up finish, earning first team All-League, first team All-County, and second team All-State honors. Molly will join a strong LMU squad, coached by Gary Ferrin, that has become a perennial championship contender in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. "Molly had a great fall for us," Mumma said, "both as a pitcher and a hitter." "We expect big things from her this coming summer. Coach Ferrin and LMU made a very good choice."
Jordan Wallace, another player who moved up through the ranks of the Sorcerer organization, signed with the University of California. She has been a middle infield mainstay for Sorcerer Gold - Phil since the fall 2006 season, when she verballed as a sophomore. "Jordan is a big-time power hitter with great range as an infielder," Cal coach Diane Ninemire said. "She is a tremendous athlete who brings a great deal to our program." A product of Fairfield H.S. Wallace is a perennial All-League peformer and was selected as Monticello League MVP in both 2007 and 2008. Last year she hit a league high .461 with six homers, 23 rbi and 36 runs scored on her way to a second All-State first team selection. She has also been an all-league choice in volleyball. "Jordan is a gamer," Mumma said, "a fierce competitor that lays it on the line every day. Her mental toughness matches her excellent physical ability." "I chose Cal," Jordan said, "because I am a California girl and I look great in blue and gold."
Kayla White, an outfielder with Sorcerer Gold - Phil since the 2007 fall season, signed with U.C. Riverside. Kayla has been a two-time all-league selection and team MVP in softball and an all-league choice in basketball at Mount Pleasant H.S. in San Jose, before sitting out her junior year following her transfer to Piedmont Hills High. A college prep student at Piedmont Hills, White serves as an umpire and mentor in the East Valley Softball League, a recreational program for girls. Before joining Sorcerer, Kayla played for the San Jose Strikkers gold team, coached by Tom Sorci and Bill Sparrey. "I knew before I left campus on my official visit that I would sign with U.C. Riverside," White said. "The team made me feel at home, as did coach (Connie) Miner. I know that I can make a difference as an outfielder at UCR and that's what I intend to do," she said. "Kayla is a gifted athlete with great speed," Mumma said, "who has the potential to make a significant impact on UCR softball and on the Big West Conference."
Janel Salanoa signed with University of Louisiana at Monroe as a member of Sorcerer Gold - Pete, before joining Sorcerer Gold - Phil for the upcoming season. Janel attends Evergreen H.S. in San Jose where she has played both softball and basketball. She was named first team All-League shortstop last year, leading the league in home runs. As a sophomore she was named her high school's soph Athlete of the Year. "Janel plays the game as it should be played and does not take a pitch off," ULM coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill said. "She can play middle infield, the corners and in the outfield and can definitely help us get to the next level," Holloway-Hill said. "The first thing that you notice about Janel is how hard she plays," Mumma said. "I love that about her. And, she can play well anywhere - she can even catch. You don't see many kids with that kind of versatility," he said.
Three other Sorcerers from last summer's team also signed NLIs. They are outfielder/catcher Whitney Massey with Wisconsin; first baseman/outfielder Kasey Tydingco with Tennessee Chatanooga; and infielder Shea Williams with Cal Poly. The trio will play this summer with Sorcerer Gold - Pete.
Congratulations to Sorcerer signees in the class of 2009!
Thursday, January 15
Samantha Albanese commits to Northwestern
Sorcerer pitcher Samantha Albanese has verbally committed to accept a softball scholarship to Northwestern University. Sammy, who visited the Evanston, Ill. campus late last year, recently gave her verbal to Wildcats head coach Kate Drohan.
"Northwestern has always been my number one choice," Sammy said, "so this has been like a dream coming true."
The school, she said, is a perfect combination of academics and softball. Sammy plans on attending Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management to study business, finance or economics.
"Everything about my unofficial visit was outstanding - the school, the coaches, the players, the campus, and Evanston itself," she said.
Albanese is currently a junior at Castilleja, a college prep school for girls located in Palo Alto, Calif. During her softball career there, she was named league MVP following her frosh and soph campaigns and was named to the Cal High Sports All-State team and various All-American teams both years. Students Sports Softball lists her as one of the nation's top 100 recruits in the class of 2010.
"We are all incredibly proud of Sammy," Sorcerer coach Phil Mumma said. "First, she is what we always want our players to become - student-athletes. Second, her tremendous work ethic and love of the game have helped her improve dramatically. And, she competes as hard as possible every time she is in the circle. You really can't ask a player for more than that."
She will join Sorcerer teammate Emily Allard as a future Wildcat, Emily having signed with Northwestern in November. In recent years Northwestern has become a national softball power under Drohan. Last year the Wildcats won both the Big 10 regular season and conference tournament titles on their way to an 18-2 league record and overall 40-16 mark. They were eliminated in the super regionals by eventual national champion Arizona State. Northwestern reached the WCWS semifinals in both 2006 and 2007.
Congratulations and Purple Power, Sammy!
Wednesday, October 22
2008 Sorcerer Fall Team
Check here for the latest news, game schedules, and results. Subscribe to the Sorcerer
to keep up with game times, dates, and locations. More details on recent events can be found on the Event Results Section. Check out individual roster pages, which include SAT scores, athletic, and academic honors. Questions? Contact Coach Phil Mumma directly at 925-825-6274.
Wednesday, September 10
Chelsea Suitos verbals to the University of Arizona.
Sorcerer shortstop Chelsea Suitos (2010) has verbally committed to accept a softball scholarship to the University of Arizona. Suitos gave her verbal to Wildcats head coach Mike Candrea during an unofficial visit to the Tucson campus Sept. 9-10.
"I loved my visit," Chelsea said. "Arizona softball is run like a big family, and I really liked that about the program. And, of course, there's the tradition - all of those national championships. I think the coaches and other players offer me the best chance to become the best that I can be."
Suitos, who is a junior at Elk Grove H.S. in Elk Grove, Calif., narrowed a host of collegiate choices down to Florida and Northwestern, in addition to Arizona. A 4.0 student in high school, Suitos plans to major in psychology, most likely clinical psychology. "I think its a career that helps people," she said.
A slapper with 2.7 speed, Suitos joined Sorcerer Gold - Phil for the 2008 summer season, having played for Sorcerer Gold - Pete last fall. Her range, quickness, strong arm, competitive attitude and leadership qualities were among those attributes that generated widespread collegiate interest in her.
"We are incredibly proud of Chelsea," Sorcerer coach Phil Mumma said. "She was developed within our organization, and without previous experience at the Gold level jumped right in and helped anchor us up the middle this summer. She was a key to our success. Chelsea works very hard and will only get better before she becomes a Wildcat," he said.
Major props to Chelsea and "Bear Down."
Sunday, August 24
Breana Kostreba commits to CAL
Sorcerer third baseman Breana Kostreba has made a verbal commitment to accept a softball scholarship to the University of California. Kostreba, who is beginning her sophomore year at Aptos (CA) H.S., recently gave her commitment to Bears Head Coach Diane Ninemire. Kostreba had made an earlier visit to the Berkeley campus. "I had a great visit," Kostreba said. "I loved the campus. I'm focusing my studies in engineering and Cal offers many engineering options. I am also impressed with Coach Ninemire and her staff and I know I will be playing in a great softball program. I knew Cal was the right choice for me," she said.
Kostreba carries a 4.0 GPA at Aptos High. An all-league performer, she also was selected last fall to attend the prestigious National Futures Elite Camp, one of only four 2011 players nation-wide to be selected.
Breana is one of a number of present and former Sorcerer players who are playing or will compete for the Bears. Junior Marissa Drewrey and soph Val Arioto are current Cal mainstays, and they will be joined by current Sorcerers 2009 infielder Jordan Wallace and 2010 second baseman Ashley Decker and 2010 first baseman Alex Robben.
Last season nearly three dozen former Sorcerers played in Division I college programs across the nation.
Sorcerer began the double elimination bracket on Tuesday morning, August 5th, by defeating the Georgia Fire with a score of 7-2. Allard, Decker, Burns, and Suitos each had 2 hits. C. Moore, Kostreba, Wallace, and White each had 1 hit. Burns had 3 RBIs. Moore, Kostreba, White, and Wallace each had 1 RBI.
On Tuesday afternoon, Sorcerer defeated the Maryland Wagner's Gold 9-2. Decker, Robben, C. Moore, Burns, and Suitos each had 2 hits. Allard, Kostreba, Wallace, and White had 1 hit. C. Moore had 3 RBIs. Robben, Burns, Kostreba, and White each had 1 RBI. Notably, Sorcerer pitcher Jessica Moore gave up only 2 hits in this pitcher's duel.
On Thursday, August, Sorcerer lost to the the Arizona Hot Shots 2-1 in a game viewed by most as a rematch following the Sorcerer defeat of the Hot Shots in the Independence Day tournament in Boulder. Wallace led the team with 2 hits. Robben and Kostreba had 1 hit. Wallace had an RBI.
The loss to the Hot Shots dropped Sorcerer into the losers' bracket against the 2007 National Champion Worth Firecrackers on Friday morning. Sorcerer bats would need to be hot to defeat the Firecrackers, and Sorcerer did not disappoint.
In a game riddled by errors, 2 for Sorcerer and 3 for the Firecrackers, Sorcerer defeated the Firecrackers 9-7. Decker and White had 2 hits. Allard, Burns, C. Moore, and Suitos each had 1 hit. Decker and Burns has 2 RBIs. Moore, White, and Suitos each had 1 RBI. Check out the write-up from spysoftball.com.
On Friday afternoon, Sorcerer faced the So Cal Athletics in a fight for a place in the top 12. After a gutsy performance that morning, Sorcerer came back flat, and committed 4 errors to lose to the Athletics 5-2. C. Moore had 2 hits. Allard, Robben, Burns, and Wallace each had 1 hit. Wallace had an RBI.
Sorcerer completed the tournament with a 13th place finish, having won a total of 5 games (2 in pool play) and lost to the 3rd place AZ Hot Shots and the T5th place So Cal Athletics. This placement marks the best achievement of a Sorcerer team at Gold Nationals, and the best of any Northern California team this year. Game by game offensive stats are available here.
Sunday, August 10
Sorcerer Celebrates Our Recent Graduates
Three Sorcerer players graduated this year from high school and enter college in the fall. Each led Sorcerer in a very special way.
Whitney Shaw (right), a 5-season Sorcerer veteran, graduated from Redwood High School in Larkspur and will matriculate to Harvard University this fall. Following a season-ending knee injury in Boulder, Whitney carried Sorcerer to the Boulder Championship with a 3-run homer that helped Sorcerer to defeat the (2008 ASA Nationals Runner-Up) Corona Angels-Tyson.
Maya Burns (middle), a 4-season Sorcerer veteran, graduated from St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco and will matriculate to Stanford University this fall. During 2008 Nationals, perhaps in deference to her outstanding defense as starting catcher, the 2007 National Champion Worth Firecrackers never attempted to steal on Maya as Sorcerer eliminated the Firecrackers from 2008 Nationals competition.
Courtney Moore (left), a 2-season Sorcerer veteran, graduated from St. Mary's High School in Berkeley and will matriculate to Mississippi State University this fall. Courtney led Sorcerer in home runs throughout the summer, with a home run in every event preceding Nationals. Courtney led the team in hitting at Nationals with a 0.462 batting average and a 0.533 on-base percentage.
Congratulations Whitney, Maya, and Courtney, and thanks for being members and leaders of the Sorcerer family!
Sorcerer Softball Academy offers private hitting, pitching and position play lessons in our modern, well-equipped indoor facility. They are open Monday through Thursday 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call 925-671-7529 for weekend hours or for all lesson appointments. Many of their instructors have played and coached the game at the highest tiers of competition. Scores of their students have enjoyed success at the club, high school and collegiate levels, with students even having played on national teams. Lessons are private and individual and are priced at $40 for the half-hour.
Clinics for coaches and players at their site are also offered. They can help you reach the top of your game, just as they have done for so many others. Do you believe in magic?
Sunday, August 10
Monday, May 26
Sorcerer Photos Available
You may see photos of the Sorcerer summer escapades on the Flickr group Sorcerer Summer 2008.
Photos contained on this site are protected under copyright by Derrick R. Burns. All rights reserved.
Saturday, April 5
Sorcerer Summer 2008 Players Span Great Distances
Players from the Sorcerer Summer 2008 team live across Northern California and Nevada and are headed to top Division I universities across the United States. Click directly on the pins of the map to see who goes where!
