Gia Rodoni, the outstanding 2015 pitcher/infielder who plays for the California Grapettes and attends Pacheco High School in Los Banos, Calif., is one of the top prospects in the senior class and rated in the top 30 of the Hot 100.

She was a 2^nd Team CalHi Sports All-State pick last year after she had 157 K’s in 71 innings and compiled a 0.59 ERA while batting .444.

A week ago today we ran a fun article on her official visit to Baylor where she detailed her experiences in word and in photos.

At PGF Nationals this summer, the Nor Cal standout helped the Grapettes rebound after losing its first game to win three games in one day (she pitched 25 innings in a 24-hour period!) and in the third game helped win it with this three-run homer:

Last Saturday, I ran into Gia at the Surf City Fall Showcase and we got to talking about her recruiting experience. The idea came to me that she would have great insights and council for younger players and she agreed to talk about her thoughts on recruiting.

Here are her comments…

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I’m guessing my recruiting story or process may have started out like most players with the exception that I was an eighth grader.  I’d say four years ago that wasn’t the norm while nowadays I hear about eighth graders actually committing.

The spring of my eighth grade year, fresh off of a fall of 14U play, I was asked to join an 18U team.  My parents and I talked and prayed about the pros and cons of making that jump.

While my parents had many questions, I think the biggest was whether I felt I was ready for that level of competition.  Of course I wanted to take that leap and challenge myself against girls three to five years older than me.  I will say, it isn’t right for everyone, but for me it made sense.

Looking back, I think this was really around the time that true “early recruiting” was getting started. 

While pitching against a very well known So Cal organization, a college coach was questioning our recruiting liaison asking whether my “Class of 2015” listing was a typo.  Of course, this really was a typically polite question, but our liaison stated it was no typo and that if the coach stuck around she’d get to see “the toddler.” (Yes, that’s how I was described).

This particular college coach did stick around to watch, but not before asking if they (my club coaches) had taken the pacifier out of my mouth before I went to the circle!  It turned into a running joke.

The first couple of games I had pitched, I would get nervous every time a college coach came around.  My parents would tell me they weren’t there to see me, but rather to watch my teammates and it was my job to help them.

That little bit of advice really helped me focus on pitching and not worrying about the coaches in the stands.  I learned soon thereafter that they were there to see me and the push to make weekly calls to college coaches began.

That spring I probably averaged two to three calls a week.  It was very intimidating to call coaches and have an intelligent conversation with them.  It was always, “What do I say?” “What do I talk about?,” etc.

As time went on, the calls did become easier.  Usually they asked how lessons or school was going and even the occasional “What are your thoughts on college?” and “What schools have you visited?”

Having two parents that were collegiate athletes themselves was very helpful as they knew the importance of getting an education that would serve me well the one day my sport’s career would end.

So when coaches would discuss recruiting and my time frame for committing, it was easy to say I wouldn’t make any decision until after my sophomore year when I’d have grades and test scores to validate my ability to succeed in college.

My parents started having my brothers and me start taking the SAT/ACT one to two times a year starting our freshman year, basically to familiarize us with the test and get comfortable taking it.

To many parents, players and coaches, it probably sounds crazy or excessive; but the reality is you need to have a baseline to know what type of school you can realistically get into based upon academics.

If a player is serious about playing at a top 25 college, I’d tell her she needs to be playing the best competition and possibly (dependent upon skill level) playing at the Gold level starting as early as her freshman year.

Again, it isn’t for everyone, but it can give you four years of development against players three-to-five years older than you in preparation for college.

Looking back, I wish I had given more consideration to certain schools. The only schools I was originally looking at were those on TV.  It wasn’t until I was receiving serious interest and offers that I did further research.

And even with all the offers I had, I know God’s guidance led me to visit Baylor.  I went in faith without an offer and left with one.  Don’t settle, for God has a plan for you.

Some points I’d stress to every student-athlete going through the recruiting process and what to focus on:

1. ACADEMICS: One day your sport will end and that education will be extremely important.
2. Research colleges and your possible major.  Visit these potential schools.
3. Don’t commit if you’re not 100% sure.  It’s not worth the stress committing to a school/coaching staff, only to decommit later. It’s not fair to you or the staff.
4. DO NOT COMMIT if you’re not 100% sure you can academically get into the school.
5. Pick a school for their academics and some place you’d see yourself if you weren’t playing a sport.
6. Student-athletes: pick the school YOU want to go to and that is the right fit for YOU.  Consult your family, but ultimately you’ll be the one going there.  If it’s your choice, you won’t resent your family members if it doesn’t work out.