​This week's recruiting roundup includes some of the latest news from recent commits and Hot 100 high school stats. See all of our Hot 100 & FAB 50 Rankings.

How Emily Tinkham Committed to Ohio State

A few years ago, Ohio State head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly received a recruit tip from an unlikely source: her father. He advised his daughter that she needed to watch Emily Tinkham play. Kelly took her father's advice, and started recruiting Emily at age 13. Her Choppers coach, Gary Fausett, encouraged Emily to communicate with Coach Kelly and stay active in the recruiting process. Emily's most memorable phone call was when Coach Kelly invited Emily to visit the school last fall.

As a family, the Tinkhams started researching Ohio State as a possible option for Emily.  

We needed to know if this would be a good fit for Emily taking into consideration the location, the weather, the softball team, the coaches, the academics, etc. Emily definitely wanted to visit the school so we accepted the invitation and took Emily on the unofficial visit to Ohio State. — Nancy Tinkham, Emily's mother

Shortly after Emily's visit, Coach Kelly made an offer to Emily to play softball for Ohio State. Emily was beside herself with excitement.  

“I love the weather, the school and Columbus," Emily said. "I want to attend a big school with a lot of tradition. The team and the coaches were so nice and inviting. I loved everything about Ohio State! So that was it!"   

Shortly after visiting Ohio State, Emily called Coach Kelly on December 24 at 10:30AM. She accepted their offer, and committed to playing softball at Ohio State.

Hot 100 Bolts Deliver 

Throughout her time at Curry High School, Ashlee Swindle lit up the circle, and went 45-2 with a 0.59 ERA and 385 strikeouts. Not only did she dominate the circle; she also tore it up on offense, and batted .557 with 86 RBIs 14 doubles, and 13 home runs.

Ashlee only allowed one earned run in the 2016 state tournament and zero in the regional tournament.

Ashlee is 99-7 the last two years, and got her 150th career win at Curry while reaching the 1000-strikeout milestone. She finished her high school season with 1014 career strikeouts and 154 wins.

Curry High ended the season with a 47-2 record thanks to Hot 100 Bolts Kaylee Horton, Justus Perry, and Ashley Swindle.

• No. 76 Kaylee Horton .574 avg, 73 runs scored, 85 hits, 20 RBI, 13 doubles, 6 triples, 1 HR
• No. 37 Justus Perry .560 avg, 59 RBI, 22 doubles, 1 triple, 14 HR
• No. 59 Ashlee Swindle .557 avg, 86 RBI, 14 doubles, 13 HR

LSU Commit Shelby Wickersham 

It's been another stellar year for All-American candidate Shelby Wickersham, a LSU commit. Shelby was recently named first team, All-Metro, and first team, All-District. She ended her season 14-2 with two saves and nine shutouts. She struck out 114 batters in 106 innings with 0.97 ERA.

Future Sun Belt Star Abby Kryzwiecki

South Alabama-bound Abby Kryzwiecki enjoyed a record-setting year. She ended her senior year with 10 MHSAA state records and two NFHS National High School Softball records:

MHSAA State of Michigan Record books
No. 2 MHSAA 3 HR in 1 game
No. 3 MHSAA 2 HR back to back-completed 2x
No. 4 MHSAA 41 HR in Career
No. 4 MHSAA 8 RBI in 1 game
No. 5 MHSAA 201 RBI in Career
No. 5 MHSAA 7 RBI in 1 game
No. 6 MHSAA 6 RBI in 1 game-completed 4x
No. 7 MHSAA 13 HR in season-current year more to come
No. 8 MHSAA 12 HR in a season
No. 30 MHSAA 36 Doubles in a career

National Records-NFHS
No. 9 Career RBI (201)
No. 13 Career Home Runs (41)

Abby was also a finalist for the 2016 DAC High School Female Athlete of the Year award, and was nominated for 2016 Catholic League Female High School Athlete of the Year; 2016 State Champs Player of the Year; 2016 Michigan Miss Softball; and 2016 Gatorade Player of the Year.

South Carolina-Bound Cayla Drotar

Cayla Drotar was 3A State Player of the Year and nominated for Gatorade Player of The Year with a 20-2 record, 204 strikeouts, 0.42 ERA, and three no-hitters. The South Carolina commit also batted .500 with 20 doubles, 10 home runs, and 49 RBIs

Ole Miss Commit Ally Mena 

Florida Region 4-4A Final: Westminster Christian 12, Calvary Christian 3

Westminster Christian (Miami, FL), which won the state championship two years ago and made it to the title game before falling to Lakeland Christian a season ago, improved to 21-5 with the win and played in the 4A state semifinals on Wednesday, May 4.

The Warriors were led by Ally Mena—a junior and Ole Miss commit—who got on base three times, and scored twice with an RBI double.

Mena is now 6 for 11 (.545) this postseason with three home runs, two doubles, and a triple. She's scored nine runs and drove in 10. The 2015 Class 3A Player of the Year and 2015 Miami-Dade Player of the Year led all of Miami-Dade County in 2016 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs.

Hot 100 Tennessee Commit Brooke Langston

Brooke Langston concluded her high school career at American Heritage (Florida) with a state title. The 2017 Hot 100 player who committed to Tennessee wrote us on May 9:

"Well, we did it ! It's been a long season and another FHSAA state title is the benefit of all the hard work. I had two great games this weekend, via the semis and the finals. In the semis, I batted 2 for 4 with a triple off the fence. Just my luck, the fences were at 220ft and not 200ft. LOL. I also had two stolen bases and scored a couple times. In the finals I batted 3 for 4, with a stolen base and scored a few times too. The win was bittersweet as we lost 1-0 here last year. Now it’s on to travel club softball. With really no break, just right into it. My team Intensity 18U KOD Premier will be at the D9 - June 10 and in California at the Elite 12.

Sincerely,
Brooke Langston C/O 2017
GO LADY VOLS !!!"

***

Finally, we profiled three of the top five teams in the 12U FAB 50, but one we didn’t spotlight was the No. 3-ranked OC Batbusters-Garcia.

Here’s a closer look at the players on the team, including one, Lacie Ham, who we will profile next week as a Rising Star:

Current Record: 53-10-3

From day one, Coach Garcia stressed attention to detail and defense. The team prides itself on paying attention to the little things and never settling.    

#7 Arissa Lugo (C/1B):  One of two catchers. She has grown leaps and bounds since the 10U national championship. Learning from the best helped, too (Mark Campbell). She's batting .390 with a .473 OBP.

#28 Desirae Martinez (SS): "Rae Rae" opened some eyes in the Batbuster Organization as one of the top shortstops. She's batting .345 with a .420 OBP.

#3 Emilie Lapena (OF): Emilie is an original Team Mizuno when this team started in first-year 10s. She tracks some pretty impressive fly balls when given the chance.

#11 Genesis Johnson (3B): Gen is an original Team Mizuno member. Originally shortstop, she made the move to third base and is one of the tops of the organization.

#23 Hannah Coor (OF/SS): Invited to the Select 30 All-American Camp. She, as well as Emilie, tracked down some impressive fly balls. She's currently batting .338.

#8 Isabella Garcia (2B): Bella is an original Team Mizuno member. She has grown to be a very good defensive second baseman and her bat has heated up.  She's batting .368 and is fourth on the team in RBIs with 21.

#5 Kalyn Hill (C/3B): "KK" is an original Team Mizuno member. She's been the backbone of our defense. Learning from the best (Mark Campbell), she's certainly on her way to great things.

#22 Alexis Guevara (P/3B/1B): Invited to the Select 30 All American Camp.  She can hit for power and do it on the rubber.  She's hitting .431 with a .697 SLG %.  Leads the team in RBI's (45). Pitching: 78 IP, 11 - 3 Record, 45H, 29 R, 14 ER, 14 BB, 74 K's, 1.64 ERA

#10 Korbe Otis (P/SS):  Korbe joined us from Denver. She flies in twice a month to join us for games or even just practice. She has one of the best rise balls around and tops out at 61-62.  She also has a stick, hitting .406

#31 Layla Martinez (P/1B): Does it all. Can pitch and hit. Not only does she do it on the rubber 9-2 Record, she's hitting .400 and is second on the team with RBI's (29)

#88 Marisa Rubio (OF/2B/Slapper): Creates havoc with our other slapper (Tatiana Roman) at the top of the order. She's also thrown out many runners from right field.

#12 Lacie Ham (P/1B): Lace is an original Team Mizuno member. Invited to the Select 30 All American Camp. She's been a stable presence on the rubber since 1st year 10's. This year: 120 IP, 21 - 1 Record, 58 H, 20R, 11 ER, 37 BB, 151 K's, and a .823 ERA.

#21 Mia Mendoza (OF):  New to the team but has made a huge impact with some crucial hits. Hitting .345.

#33 Tatiana Roman (OF/Slapper):  Invited to the Select 30 All American Camp. Maybe considered the best slapper in the country. Batting .543 with a .600 OBP. She is also fifth on the team in RBI's (20).