“The pressure for a player is definitely heightened after they commit,” says Kyra Lockhart, a sophomore at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High in Scotch Plains, N.J. and one of the top 2017 prospects in the country, “and this is certainly true during the fall ball season.”

In her latest blog for FullcountSoftball.com, the Univ. of Alabama commit explains that even though the fall showcases and tournaments are primarily for those not yet committed, those who are fortunate to know where they’ll go to college still face the pressures of meeting college coach, parent and even fan expectations.

We first met Kyra, a power-hitting first baseman with the Jersey Intensity team coached by Kevin O’Donnell, last summer at a Surf City showcase and knew instantly when talking with her that she has the personality and energy to be a great blog writer!

Click here to read Kyra’s earlier blogs and those from our other standout players!

Also, check out our video interview of Kyra done last October.

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As the top fall showcase tournaments approach, the subject comes up about whether or not it is hard for committed players to continue to be motivated.

The main objective for showcase tournaments is for uncommitted players to be seen by numerous colleges across the country. However, in my opinion recruiting tournaments for committed girls are just as difficult as they are for uncommitted girls.

At the Diamond9 Sun Classic Fall Showcase held in Orlando, Florida during Halloween week, over a hundred coaches will come to scout players to fill out their future roster.

Most travel coaches take showcases as an opportunity to get their uncommitted girls playing time in order to be seen, evaluated and recruited which, depending on the size of a roster and the number of uncommitted girls, often leads to a reduction in playing time for committed girls.

Some coaches even travel with only their uncommitted girls to give them more playing time and exposure.

During fall ball, players are limited to the number of at-bats and innings they play on the field, because the objective of the coach is to get everyone a fair amount of playing time. This is totally opposite of when the coach is batting only nine in the summer as the team is trying to win at Nationals.

The pressure for a player is definitely heightened after they commit, in my opinion, and this is certainly true during the fall ball season.

At these fall showcases, college coaches are still coming to watch committed girls play to evaluate the progress they have made. Not only do these coaches track your progress in person, thanks to the popularity of softball and the growing presence of social media, the college coach now has extra eyes!

I have seen several forums of fans evaluating player performances and providing constant updates.

In addition, parents also add pressure to the on-field performance as they want to see the player succeed based on the commitment they have made and frequently worry about their child losing their scholarship and/or the opportunity to play on a collegiate level.

Consequently, every at-bat and inning I play in the fall I give it my all because I want to be the best I can be, live up to the expectations I have placed on myself and have fun playing the game I love.

My advice to committed girls playing showcases for the fall is to take advantage of team practices, continuously work on any weaknesses and make every inning and at-bat count.

Good luck to all girls (committed and uncommitted)  in the upcoming fall season!

— Kyra