Ashlee Snyder is a 2016 third baseman/shortstop with the OC Batbusters – Stith 18U team who is committed to Tennessee.

I caught up with her recently at an event where she was there not to play, but to support and cheer on a cousin.

About a year ago at this time, Ashlee was playing with the Team Mizuno 14U squad coached by Mark Campbell and led by pitcher Mariah Lopez, the Oklahoma commit.

Team Mizuno made it to the PGF 14U National Championship where they won a thrilling 3-2 win over the OC Batbusters-McNee team and Ashlee came up huge, walking in the game-winning run when she had a 3-and-2 count on her.

Read about last year’s championship here

Look at the photo gallery of the title game here

Here are her answers to a few quick questions I asked about her recruiting experience and what advice she’d give to younger players coming up…

 

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: When did you actually commit to Tennessee?

Ashlee Snyder: It was April of last year. I called them and committed.

 

SSS.com: How did the Vols staff first discover you?

AS: They first saw me when I was playing in a showcase in Florida. I was playing shortstop and hitting really well at the time, I had two home runs in one game and they liked how I approached hitting at the plate.

 

SSS.com: Did you visit other schools?

AS: No, Tennessee was actually my only visit. They were always one of my top schools and when they offered I committed.

 

SSS.com: What was it that made you so high on the Tennessee?

AS: It was the coaching staff and how they treat the players, it really felt like a family and I saw how they (the coaches) have a great chemistry with each other and the players.

 

SSS.com: Have you gotten to know the recruits that you’ll be playing with some day?

AS: I do know a lot of them, like Shianne Ybarra, Laruen Irwin, Taylor Rowland, Jenna Holcomb, and Jessica Adell, we’ve played with or against each other and know each other through club ball. Also, Shianne has introduced some of us since she’s older and has known them longer. There are others like Kelsey Morrison and Brooke Vines that I don’t know well but am looking to getting to know better!

 

SSS.com: You missed some time over the last year with an injury, how are you know?

AS: I’m 100 percent now, I had surgery on my knee, the right meniscus, but I’m back playing now and am fine.

 

SSS.com: What would you say are your strengths as a player?

AS: My hitting, especially hitting with power.

 

SSS.com: What recruiting advice would you give to younger players coming up?

AS: The first thing I’d say is to focus on the classroom, number one. If you don’t have the academics it doesn’t matter what you do on the field, but once you do play, treat each game like it’s the last you’ll ever play. You never know who’s watching you.