Today we’re checking in on a player first profiled back in February… her summer went great and she already has a couple offers with more schools coming in seemingly every day!
High school: James Madison
City: Vienna
State:
Va.
Grad year: 2016
Club: Vienna Stars 18U Gold
Position(s): outfield
Height: 5-5
Club:
— summer 2014: played with Vienna Stars 16U Premier and guested sevral times on 18U Gold team which she is officially on now. . Blake’s batting average for the summer was a solid .575 and on base percentage of .638.
—2013 fall: batting average of .575, on-base percentage of .638; starting center fielder, slapper and power hitter; home to first: 2.65 and 11.0 home to home.
High School:
— 2014: Madison High was ranked as the No. #3 high school team in the Virginia/Maryland/D.C. area according to Allmet Sports; Blake was the starting center fielder and lead off hitter… she hit .465 with on-base percentage of .510; honors included 1st Team All Conference and 2nd Team All Region.
— 2013 (freshman year): state semi-finalist, regional runner-up; 3rd place in the district
College: uncommitted
Recruiting: Blake has already been on some unofficial visits during August and September and she has several more coming up in the next few weeks. At this point, Blake is narrowing things down and she plans to make her decision by the end of the Fall season. She has two major offers (family requests I not mention names yet) and this weekend will be taking an unofficial visit to a Northeast school and will be going to classes with a player on Monday. Indications are she could get an offer from this school as well.
She also had a Southern school interested this summer but the coaches needed a decision by the end of the summer and, as things were just starting to heat up recruiting-wise for Blake, she needed more time and passed on the opportunity.
The family is also hearing from several other schools including one in the ACC.
Says her mother, Barbie: “I think (a lot of the interest) is due to Blake’s strong performance at the Team NJ Showcase this June where she batted close to .750 for the week… many of the colleges that were at the Team NJ Showcase (are recruiting her). However, Blake is keeping an open mind and would like a good mix of academics and softball.”
Scouting Report:
— Converted lefty: She is a natural righty who just switched to the left side in January, 2013 and has quickly adapted to slapping and power hitting. A hard worker who’s passionate about softball, Blake has a high motor and is a dangerous slapper who can beat out a bunt or power slap to the fence. One on base, she’s a threat to go at any time.
Events:
— Scout Softball: In May 2014, Blake attended a Scout Softball Regional event where had a computer verified 2.63 home-to-first time and a 63 mph overhand throw. Scout ranked her as the No. 1 2016 unsigned outfielder and No. 13 2016 unsigned player overall (all positions).
From that Scout Regional Event, Blake was then selected to play in the Scout National Games held in Atlanta in June, and from there, she was then selected as one of 48 players from around the country to be a 2014 Scout All-American. She played in the All-American games in New Mexico in August and is currently rated in the Scout Top 20 for the 2016 class.
— OnDeck: Blake was invited to the OnDeck Softball’s East Coast National Elite Futures Camp in Georgia last fall, she was then selected this summer to attend the OnDeck Softball Colorado Jamboree (June 30, 2014) and the OnDeck Softball Chicago Jamboree (July 9, 2014).
Quotable:
“Extremely fast OF prospect with an ability to hit for a high average at the D1 level. A threat to swing or slap from the LH side of the plate, great hand path above the ball on the swing or slap, smooth tempo, calm approach will hit for average all day long.”
— Mark Mulvany, Scout Softball, May 4, 2014