The last Thursday of March means we’re just days away from April and that means we’ll be having pretty much everyone playing high school ball.  Did you see our latest FAB 50 softball rankings?  A lot of changes so far!  Back to the job at hand, we profile an outstanding middle infielder who will make Irish eyes smile and spotlight a SoCal freshman whose name should sound familiar as we did a spotlight on her older sister just a few weeks ago!

 

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PLAYER PROFILE: CHELSEA PURCELL

Grad Year: 2016
Pos: SS/2B
High School: Sonora (Calif.)
GPA: 4.2
Club: So Cal Athletics-Myers/McNee
Stats: Hit .319 with four home runs as a freshman; went 9-for-15 at Sun Classic, 8-for-14 with three homers at Surf City tournament last fall
Honors: Played on 2011 ASA National Champs
College: Notre Dame

 

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StudentSportsSoftball.com: You’ve played with some great coaches in softball… tell us about some of those who’ve influenced your career…
Chelsea Purcell: I played for Sean Brashear for about four or five years, and he is such a great coach. He is a big part of the player that I am today as he helped me develop and become a better player and teammate every practice, game, and tournament that I played in. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.

Other coaches that I am so over-the-top, to the moon and back millions of times grateful for are my parents and my sister. Growing up watching my sister play was amazing. I got to see first hand how an elite athlete trains and practices, which I believe is what planted the seeds of playing in my mind. My parents were the ones that tended to those seeds and helped teach me every single bit of knowledge that I know about the game.

For years now, my dad has taken me out to the fields weekly and worked on both my offense and defense. When we weren’t on the field, we were at home hitting off the tee or working out my legs and arms. My mother has been there to walk me through more of the mental part of the game. She’s been there to comfort me when I’ve played my worst, to get me going when I am not playing hard enough, or if I’m just being lazy. She’s always made sure that I have just the right amount of confidence, humility, and drive to be better on the field and especially better in the classroom.

Without all three of them I can’t say what kind of a player or person that I would be. They have impacted my career so much throughout the years, and I know they will continue to as I reach the college level.

SSS.com: What’s it like playing in the Athletics organization now… a lot of winning there, obviously…  
CP: Being in the Athletics organization is great. Coming here after four years of being with Firecrackers, I had some doubts, but they really welcomed me into their family and now there isn’t a doubt in my mind that this is where I should be. Coach Doug and Coach Steve have been more than great, they are amazing coaches that have really helped with the transition from organizations. I’m so thankful to have them as my coaches because they know so much about the game, and are so willing to help out their players anyway they can. I am very proud to be apart of this organization.  And yes, there is definitely winning involved.

 

SSS.com: Walk us through the recruiting process… you had offers from Ohio State, Boston College, and UNC last fall, when did Notre Dame enter the picture?
CP: I had been interested in Notre Dame for a couple of years now, but at the time they didn’t have the financial support that I needed. I had taken a trip to UNC earlier this year and was able to meet all the wonderful players and coaches there—it was great. Once I got back, my coach called letting me know that Notre Dame was able to acquire a scholarship for me. I was very excited and agreed to talk to the coaches. Before I knew it, I had scheduled a visit, and once I was out there, I knew that Notre Dame was where I wanted to go.

 

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
CP: I didn’t decide until that morning when my mother and I finally sat down to talk to the coaches. I called my dad before we met with them, to talk to him about what he thought I should do. He told me that he would support me with whatever decision I chose and to pray about it. Once I prayed, my decision became fairly clear to me that Notre Dame was the right school for me.

SSS.com: Do you know what you’ll study in college?
CP: Nothing set in stone, but I’m planning to study civil engineering.

 

SSS.com: Did you and your family do anything fun to celebrate committing?
CP: Right after I made my decision, my mom and I quickly went to the student store to buy Notre Dame gear for the whole family. We were all stoked!

SSS.com: Was distance a factor in your decision at all? How about weather?
CP: Coming into the visit, distance was actually a huge factor because my family is such a tight-knit group. Once I was able to sit down and talk to the girls on the team, they made it very clear that I would have many opportunities to go back home. Ever since the beginning I’ve said that I wanted to experience the cold, so, no, weather was not a huge factor for me.

 

SSS.com:  What, in your humble opinion, about your game makes you a major college level player? 
CP: I would say that my leadership on field is what makes me the player that I am. When the girls need someone to lead them, I have no problem stepping up because I know my ability and I know that I have what it takes to help get us to where we need to be as a team.

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career?
CP: An unforgettable memory for me is actually one that wasn’t in a game, but in a practice while I was still on Firecrackers with Coach Brashear. Practice was about to end as we were hitting off the machine and Coach Sean pulled me aside and told me to pick one of the girls to get one pitch to hit off the machine. Once she made contact, no matter what kind of contact it was, we were all going to rush after her as if we had just won the National Championship.

As I was talking to Coach, I already had an idea of whom I wanted to pick. I wasn’t going to go with one of our power hitters because everyone knew that they could do it already, so I decided to go with one of our smaller hitters. Everyone was surprised, and, not going to lie, both she and I had some doubt in our minds, but I knew that she could do it.

Once the pitch came, she smashed a line drive through the infield and we all chased her around the bases and cheered as if we had won a national title. That memory is so important to me because on that day I learned that everyone on a team is equally important, and equally capable, and no matter how much playing time, or how big, small, fast or slow anyone is, we all play are own roles and we all contribute. That’s what makes playing a team sport so great.

 

 

Quick Hitters

 

 

Fill in the blank… when I walk onto the field ________________________
… I come ready to play my best.

Do you have any fun or weird superstitions or rituals when it comes to softball?
Nope, I just play the game.

When it comes to food… What’s something you like most? And don’t like?
I like food that tastes good but is healthier for you. I definitely do not like greasy food.

Are you most likely to prank someone or to be pranked?
I am mostly likely to be pranked because I am very gullible and oblivious.

If you could spend the weekend anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Germany, because that is where my grandmother is from and I would love to take her there one day.

What type of bat do you use (and why do you like it)?
During high school season I swing DeMarini; during travel ball I swing Easton. I like them both, but at times I do like one more than the other.

What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen in person on the field?
I was playing in a high school game and a runner decided to go home on a base hit. I threw her out, and she completely lost it. She started yelling “No! That’s BS!” at the umpire and actually grabbed dirt off of home plate and threw it.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
My sister didn’t start to like me until I was eleven years old, but now we’re best friends so it all worked out fine.

How would describe yourself in one word?
Passionate.

What is something in life that makes you serious or you’re serious about?
My family.

Who’s your hero or someone you look up to most?
I look up to so many different people for so many different reasons that I can’t just pick one.

 

 

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RECRUITING SPOTLIGHT OF THE DAY: AMANDA VITALICH

*** Brentt note: Amanda is the younger sister of Marina Vitalich, who is a 2015 pitcher committed to George Mason.  Here’s a profile we did on Marina in our 03.19.14 Daily Update.

High school: Mary Star of the Sea
City: San Pedro
State: 
Calif.
Grad year: 2017
Club: Firecrackers-Clarke
Position(s): OF/2B
Height: 5-6
Stats & Honors:  through Monday’s games was hitting .368 with three home runs as a lead-off hitter.  Selected All-Tournament Team in the Ontario Christian Tournament.

College: undecided
Interested in: ACC, Pac-12 and SEC schools

What is your favorite bat: Louisville Slugger XENO… “it has lots of power.”
What bat does your team use? Louisville Slugger XENO
What is your favorite brand of cleats? 
Mizuno
What is the uniform brand you prefer? Gluv

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** We reported this week that Janae Jefferson, a 2017 outfielder with the Aces Express Futures team, had committed to the Univ. of Texas.

I asked David McCorkle, the head of the Aces Express organization, to tell us a little about the Big 12-bound freshman… here’s what he said:

“Janae is one of our many young players (2017’s and 2018’s) on our Futures team who will commit early to a Division 1 school.  Our futures team is loaded with big-time Division 1 talent, and we expect to have several of them committed to big schools within the next year.

Janae is an elite athlete and can play several positions well.  She can patrol the outfield from centerfield or come in and play middle infield as well.  She is a great leadoff hitter and can beat you in several different ways.

Her potential is unlimited and she has the chance to be one of the best kids in the 2017 class in the nation, now and especially once she gets to the University of Texas.

Janae was heavily recruited by Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.  Texas has been following her for over a year and made a great choice in offering her an early commitment.

She is driven to get better and be the best that she can be. Janae works hard and always has an awesome ATTITUDE and EFFORT!

We are honored and lucky to have her in our organization, I look forward to what she does with us for the next four summers!”

 

*** More verbals:

— 1B Jerri Ann Orfano (2015, Niagra)… plays for New Era Diamond Girls
— 3B/UT Briana Clark (2014, Niagra)… plays for Amherst Lightning

 

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EVENT NEWS: WASHINGTON INVITATIONAL

Washington Union High School in Easton, Calif., is hosting a unique softball tournament this weekend as the Washington Union Invitational will bring in schools from four states to the small community seven miles south of Fresno.

Teams participating in the March 27-29 event include:

• Bishop Kelly (Boise, Idaho)
• Rancho (Las Vegas, Nev.)
• Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.)
• Pleasant Valley (Chico, Calif.)
• Garces (Bakersfield, Calif.)
• Monache (Porterville, Calif.)
• Riverdale (Riverdale, California
• Sunnyside (Fresno, Calif.)
• Washington Union (Easton, Calif.)

Seeding games are all day Thursday, March 27 and much of Friday, March 28.

Friday highlights include a chicken and rib lunch with all the fixings for all teams and a finish time that allows all teams the opportunity to see to the Fresno State-Utah State game at Bulldog Diamond at 6 p.m.

To adhere to Oregon School Activities Association rules governing total games in a season, Sheldon will bow out of the tournament after seeding games. The remaining teams advance to single-elimination games Saturday beginning with quarterfinals at 8 a.m. The championship game is set for 3:15 p.m.

The teams competing in the first Washington Union Invitational help establish what the school’s softball program expects to become an annual tradition. The Washington Unified School District approved a $22 million bond in 2012 that has already produced a modern football/soccer/track and field stadium and soon will pay for classroom technology upgrades and a new softball/baseball complex.

For at least its first year the invitational will be played mostly on the current campus varsity field and a new field at nearby American Union School, also in the Washington district.

Click here to go to the Washington Union Invitational website to see the complete schedule.

“We are happy to showcase everything that Washington Union and the Easton community have to offer,” Washington Union softball coach Denise Rich said. “We are looking forward to hosting this unique field of teams at our inaugural event.”

 

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: EA SPORTS ALL-AMERICAN JACLYN TRAINA

In 2008, Student Sports worked with EA Sports to produce the EA Sports All-American Softball Team.

On that team were 30 top players including one underclassman who has turned out to be pretty dominant these days: Alabama pitcher Jaclyn Traina who was named the USA Softball Player of the Week two days ago.

Here’s the bio of her as part of the EA Team (we’ll run the complete list soon!)…

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Pitcher – Jaclyn Traina (Naples, Fla.) Soph.
Traina was an express line to victory for Naples this season, especially in the Class 4A state final when she led her team past Pembroke Pines Charter and denied Pembroke the mythical national title. Traina, the Gatorade state player of the year, led Naples to a 28-3 record. She went 21-3 in the circle with a 0.35 ERA. She also had 253 strikeouts in 138 1/3 innings.

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Players, parents and coaches:  want to know the best way to get us info on your favorite player?  Fill out our Recruit Form link and complete.  It comes directly to me (Brentt) and you very likely could see the info used somewhere on our site!

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If you’d like to submit information, forward to brentt@studentsports.com.  Also, follow us on twitter at @SS_Softball.