Sorcerer outfielder Emily Allard has verbally committed to accept a softball scholarship to Northwestern University. Allard gave her commitment to Wildcats head coach Kate Drohan on March 25.

A nationally-recruited prospect, Allard recently concluded a series of unofficial visits to schools in the Midwest, including a close look at Northwestern's Evanston, IL campus. She was impressed by the university's combination of a top-rank educational reputation, coupled with its elite softball status, she said. "I really liked the school and its setting - Evanston - and I loved the coaches and players. Twelve players on this year's team will still be there when I get to school, which is terrific."

"Northwestern is getting a great recruit in Emily," Sorcerer head coach Phil Mumma said. First, they will have a true student-athlete, which fits neatly into Coach Drohan's recruiting philosophy. And despite the fact that Emily is already very good, she is a hard worker and has great potential for further improvement."

A junior at Deer Valley High School in Antioch, CA, Emily is both a hard-throwing pitcher for the Wolverines, as well as league co-MVP in basketball. But it is as a speedy softball bunter-slapper that she excels. "We decided to make her into a full-time left-handed hitter last March, and she just took off as an offensive threat," Mumma said. "With 2.7 sec. speed home-to-first she can disrupt defenses. But now that she is learning to drive the ball, as well, she is incredibly difficult to defend."

Northwestern has returned as a national softball power under the guidance of Drohan and her sister Caryl. Once prominent in the sport during the 1980s, the Wildcats experienced a number of subsequent lean years in the sport. When the Drohan's took over the program in 2002, they set their goals high - an NCAA national championship. The Wildcats reached the WCWS finals in 2006, losing to Arizona, as the staff was named NFCA coaching staff of the year. Northwestern reached the semi-finals again last year.

Allard becomes the tenth player on this summer's Sorcerer squad to sign or commit to a major Division I program.

Way to go, Em. Everyone with Sorcerer is very proud of you!

Sorcerer outfielder-catcher Whitney Massey has verbally committed to accept a softball scholarship to the University of Wisconsin.

Massey took an unoffial visit to the school earlier this month and was impressed with a number of things. "I really liked the fact that the school is highly-regarded academically, she said. "I loved thecampus; Madison, where the university is located; the energy of the coaching staff and how well I feel I would fit in with the players there."

The Badgers are coached by Chandelle Shulte with Julie Wright serving as recruiting coordinator. Wisconsin is a member of the Big 10 Conference.

"Whitney is highly deserving of this honor," Sorcerer coach Phil Mumma said. "She shows up to every practice with a smile on her face ready to learn and put forth maximum effort. She has improved tremendously since joining us last fall - both as a catcher, working with Kim Fabian, and as an outfielder, working with John Rebstock and Reny Sunga.

The Badgers will be getting an outstanding player, who always plays hard and has a beautiful swing."

Massey attends Everett Alvarez High School in Salinas, CA where she maintains a 3.7 GPA and has earnedall-league honors.

Last summer she played for the Sorcerer 16s, who qualified for ASA Nationals. Wisconsin finished last season with an overall 27-20 record, narrowly missing post-season play.

Congratulations Whit!

Sorcerer junior pitcher Hannah Williams has verbally committed to accept a scholarship to attend Fresno State University.

Williams, who attends Freedom High School in Oakley, CA,gave her commitment to Bulldog head coach Margie Wright during a recent unofficial visit.

Hannah joined Sorcerer Gold-Phil following two fall seasons and a two-summer stint with the Orange County Batbusters, last year's 18 Gold Nationals runner-up.

Williams was impressed with a number of things thatshe saw at Fresno during her visit. "I loved the stadium and can't wait to play there," she said. "Ilike the fact that they will let me hit, as that is something that I really love to do. The Bulldogs area very good team, with a great coach and it is close to home, so my family can see me play, which is a real plus. And the school has a strong kinesiology major,which I plan to study to become a physical education teacher," Williams said. Hannah also likes the fact that Canadian Olympic team pitcher Robin Mackin will be a junior at Fresno St.when she arrives as a freshman. "She is anestablished player that I can learn from and competewith, and I like that," Hannah said.

Sorcerer Gold coach Phil Mumma is happy to have Williams as a member of the Sorcerer pitching staff."Hannah returns to NorCal following two years of experience with perhaps the most legendary ASA program, the Batbusters," he said. "She verballed on the strength of her performance there, and we look forward to continued great things from her. We are already proud of her for committing to a very powerful collegiate program."

At Freedom H.S., Williams compiled an 18-4 record,including 13 shutouts, and was named Bay Valley Athletic League MVP.

Last season Fresno State compiled a 47-18 season, 15-3in the Western Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs qualified for the NCAA regionals. Fresno State was the 1998 Women's College World Series champion.

Sorcerer first baseman/outfielder Alex Robben hasverbally committed to accept a softball scholarship tothe University of California-Berkeley.

Robben, a sophomore at Napa High School in Napa, Calif., gaveher commitment to Bears head coach Diane Ninemireduring a Dec. 10 unofficial visit to the Berkeleycampus.For Alex, who is serious about softball andacademics, Cal was a perfect choice. "I love theacademic options I will have at Cal," she said. "Andthe coaches, who I really like, are interested inhelping me grow both as a student and as a softballplayer. Plus, it is close to home and I will beplaying on a great team."

Alex, daughter of Sorcerer 10&U coach Rick Robben andsister of Wisconsin Badger standout Ricci Robben, is aleft-handed hitter with a rare combination ofshort-game skills and power. A polishedbunter/slapper with sub-2.7 speed to first, Alex alsopossesses the power to drive the ball out of the park,which she demonstrated as a member of the Sorcerer 14sand 16s, and as a two-time selectee to the NationalFutures Camp. That camp brings together the 64 mostpromising underclassmen in America.

Derek Allister,who organizes the camp with his wife Joanne, said thatRobben's performance at this fall's event solidifiedher stature as one of the players at the top of the2010 class.

"Alex has worked hard to achieve her goal, which is toplay in a top-tier program at an academicallyexcellent university," Sorcerer Gold coach Phil Mummasaid. "We are all proud of and excited for her."

Robben joins Sorcerer teammates Ashley Decker, a 2010second baseman/outfielder who verballed several weeksago, and Jordan Wallace, an '09 infielder whocommitted last fall, as future Bears. They will joinformer Sorcerers and current Cal players ValerieArioto and Marissa Drewrey.

Cal, a member of the powerful Pacific 10 Conference,was the 2002 Women's College World Series Champion.

Sorcerer sophomore second baseman Ashley Decker hasverbally committed to accept a full scholarship to U.C. Berkeley. She gave her commitment to Cal headcoach Diane Ninemire following a November 19 unofficial visit.

Decker, who attends Spanish Springs H.S. in Sparks, NV, is a speedy slapper selected to the all-stateteam as a freshman. She joined Sorcerer Gold-Philthis fall, after an outstanding season with Sorcerer 16&U.

Decker was also chosen for this fall's NationalFutures Elite Camp, comprised of 64 of the nation'smost highly-regarded underclassmen.

"I had an outstanding visit," Ashley said. "I wasimpressed by the coaches, by the campus, and by theacademics. "It's pretty hard to beat a Cal education," she said.

Decker also is happy that she can fulfill a dream of playing in the Pac 10, and still be less than a four-hour drive from home.

"Ashley Decker had an exceptional fall for us,"Sorcerer coach Phil Mumma said, "catching the eyes of coaches of a number of top programs. "She is a terrific young player, strong student and fun to haveas a Sorcerer."

Ashley becomes the fourth player over the last three years to commit to Cal while playing for Sorcerer.Long recognized as one of the nation's top collegiate programs, Cal won the 2002 Women"s College WorldSeries.

Decker couldn't be happier with her choice."After my visit, I just wanted to be a Bear."

Sorcerer outfielder Courtney Moore has a lot to smile about. She just signed a National Letter of Intent to accept a full scholarship to attend Mississippi State University and play for the Bulldogs, coached by Jay Miller.

Mississippi State is located in Starkville in the northern portion of the state and is a member of the Southeastern Conference. Last year the Bulldogs posted a 35-27 record, 14-14 in the powerful SEC. They qualified for the NCAA regionals.

Coach Miller, a former fastpitch player, has served as a member of the U.S. National Team selection committe, helping pick our inaugural Olympic team. He coached the American squad that won the 2001 U.S. Cup and the national Elite Team that captured the 2003 Canada Cup. Miller also led this year's junior national team to the world championship.

In a festive celebration at her home today, Maya Burns signs a NLI to attend Stanford University. Maya, who attends St. Ignatius College Prep. in San Francisco, chose the Cardinal, coached by John Rittman, from a host of schools across the nation who were interested in bringing her into their programs.

Stanford is the right combination of academic excellence and top-echelon softball, she said, and it is actually located closer to her San Mateo home than her high school. Burns loves the opportunity to attend school in the Bay Area, and also cites the coaching staff, softball facility, and chance to play in the Pac 10 as athletic reasons for her selection. And, "It is really hard to beat a Stanford education," Maya said.

Sorcerer outfielder Courtney Moore has committed to Mississippi State University.

Moore, who lives in El Sobrante, Calif. and is a senior at St. Mary's High School in Berkeley, gave her commitment to Bulldogs coach Jay Miller during an official visit Nov. 10 and 11.

Mississippi State is located in Starkville in the northern portion of the state and is a member of the Southeastern Conference. Last year the Bulldogs posted a 35-27 record, 14-14 in the powerful SEC. They qualified for the NCAA regionals.

"I loved the school, the players and the coaches," Moore said, "really loved them." She also was impressed by the student body and community's support for intercollegiate athletics.

Coach Miller, a former fastpitch player, has served as a member of the U.S. National Team selection committe, helping pick our inaugural Olympic team. He coached the American squad that won the 2001 U.S. Cup and the national Elite Team that captured the 2003 Canada Cup. Miller also led this year's junior national team to the world championship.

"And above all," Sorcerer coach Phil Mumma said, "he is one of the real gentlemen in the game." In Moore, Mumma said, MSU gets a powerful hitter and outstanding outfielder. "We are all very proud of Courtney," he said. "In just one fall with us she has worked hard and achieved so much. She is an outstanding, accomplished and intelligent young lady and richly deserves the full scholarship that she has been awarded."

It is anticipated that other Sorcerer commitments will be announced over the next several weeks.

Sorcerer catcher Maya Burns has verbally committed to accept a softball scholarship to Stanford University. Maya, who attends St. Ignatius College Prep. in San Francisco, chose the Cardinal, coached by John Rittman, from a host of schools across the nation who were interested in bringing her into their programs.

Stanford is the right combination of academic excellence and top-echelon softball, she said, and it is actually located closer to her San Mateo home than her high school. Burns loves the opportunity to attend school in the Bay Area, and also cites the coaching staff, softball facility, and chance to play in the Pac 10 as athletic reasons for her selection. And, "It is really hard to beat a Stanford education," Maya said.

Burns' offer from Stanford is the result of marked improvements on her part, both in the classroom and on the field. She earned a 4.0 GPA throughout her junior year at one of the region's strongest academic high schools, achieved a dramatic increase in SAT scores, and became a much more accomplished hitter and receiver.

"We are incredibly proud of Maya for elevating her academics, for vast improvements in her hitting and catching, and for becoming a team leader," Sorcerer coach Phil Mumma said.

She will join former Sorcerer pitcher Becky McCullough at Stanford.

Maya is the fifth summer player to verbal in recent weeks.

Congratulations, Maya!

Whitney Shaw, who has played first and third base for Sorcerer over the past two seasons, has selected Harvard University as the institution where she will continue her academic and softball pursuits.

Shaw had narrowed her choices to Harvard and Princeton, based on their academic excellence and successful Ivy League softball programs. Harvard is coached by Jenny Allard and was last year's Ivy champion, having compiled a 14-6 league record and 31-15 overall mark.

Shaw, who attends Redwood High School in Larkspur, Calif., has for some time been focused on a career in architecture and feels that Harvard offers her the best chance to achieve her professional goals. Whitney maintains a 4.0 GPA.

For the past two seasons she has been selected to the San Francisco Chronicle's All-Metro team and has been all-league at Redwood, conference champions during that same period.

"Harvard has been my school of choice for some time now, and I couldn't be happier than I am now with how things have worked out," she said.

"Of the scores and scores of kids who have graduated from our program to play at the Division I level," Sorcerer coach Phil Mumma said, "it is difficult to recall any player as focused on a profession as firmly as is Whit. As coaches, it gives us the best feeling to see softball help enable a young person to fulfill her dreams."

Says Coach Phil Mumma: "Jordan is an outstanding prospect. She is a young player with an enormous amount of talent - she can hit, hit with power, run and catch at an elite level for her age,and, while an infielder, can play virtually any position. She works hard to get better and has three seasons to hone her skills before moving on to the next level. I think she will have a major impact in the Pac 10." Jordan hit four home runs in the San Diego exposure last month and hit back-to-back homers in front of about 30 coaches in the Batbusters' Pre-Thanksgiving Tournament, including a grand slam. She is a Bay Area player, has attended the Cal summer camp and has always wanted to play for the Bears. It is a perfect match." Jordan went to the Bears' summer camp in 2005 where she was honored as "Best Offensive Player" and this summer went to the prestigious Elite Futures Camp run by Derek and Joann Allister. And she's experienced at playing in pressure games: four of the teams she's played on from 10-U to 14-U have finished in the top 10 nationally at tournaments. With the Sorcerers, who are loaded with young and seasoned talent such as senior signees Valerie Arioto (pitcher to Cal), Samantha Camuso (infielder to UCLA) and Katie Fleury (infielder to Notre Dame), there's a good chance Wallace could make another top 10 finish, this time at the 18-U Gold level. "Jordan plays with incredible intensity. She is never intimidated," the coach continues. "She sees teammates going to Cal, UCLA, and Notre Dame and asks 'What do I need to do to get to that level?' She is always looking for ways to improve." Jordan is the second Sorcerer sophomore (pitcher Michelle Gascoigne chose Oklahoma) and fourth player to verbally commit this fall. A total of 7 of the 16 players on the Sorcerer fall team have now made college commitments.