2020 Softball Recruiting Thread

[doverstutts 1,643]

On 11/13/2019 at 11:32 AM, auburnphan said:

 

 

 

 

This is my Vets daughter

[slot canyon 1,333]

I know it is early but really look forward for Ms Lowe and the rest of this class to arrive and begin to mesh with the group we signed last year.

[ellitor 33,087]

On 11/14/2019 at 9:14 AM, AU64 said:

Did not expect this level of recruiting from CMD.... I think link is same list as above but gives encouragement to the future.... 

 https://247sports.com/college/auburn/Article/Auburns-softball-recruiting-class-rated-among-nations-best-138533829/

 

Quote

 

Auburn's softball recruiting class rated among nation's best

ByPhillip Marshall Nov 13, 2019

Auburn signee Madison Penta is rated the nation's No. 2 softball prospect. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

AUBURN, Alabama – Mickey Dean, heading into his third season as Auburn’s head softball coach, struck gold on the recruiting trail Wednesday. The eight-player class that signed with the Tigers is ranked No. 4 nationally by Flo Softball and No. 2 in the SEC.

Right-handed pitcher Madison Penta from Chesapeake, Md., is among the most highly decorated recruits in Auburn. She is rated the nation. No. 2 recruit by FloSoftball and the No. 3 recruit by Extra Innings Softball. Outfielder Paige Geraghty of Frankfort, Ill., is the nation’s No. 21 recruit.

Florida State’s class was ranked No. 1, followed by LSU, Arizona, Auburn and Oklahoma in the top 5. Alabama was No. 6, followed by Texas A&M, South Carolina,  Oregon and Washington.

The class includes some of the nation’s top hitting and pitching prospects.

"We are excited about our 2020 class," Dean said. "It is loaded with speed, power, versatility and strong pitching. They have each played at a high level of softball and won several championships. We look forward to their arrival and bright future at Auburn."

The class features infielder Denver Bryant, infield/outfielders Makayla Packer and Sydney Cox, outfielders Reena Falisi, Paige Geraghty and Kelsey Schmidt and pitcher Shelby Lowe and Madison Penta.

Dean and assistants Eugene Linti and Ruby Rojas held off efforts from major softball powers to lock up a class among the best in program history.

“I couldn’t ask for a better class than this one,” Dean said. “They were solid all the way through. I think it was the vision of what this class can do. “

Last year’s recruiting class was ranked No. 8 nationally.

 Here is a look at each player:

DENVER BRYANT, INFIELDER

Hometown: Albany, Ga.

High School: Dougherty

Club: MOJO-Lewis

Height: 5-7

Noteworthy: Recently switched to softball after playing baseball for the majority of her high school career … One of the youngest members on the United States Women's National Baseball Team, joining the development program in the summer of 2017… Competing in her first full season of softball, led the state of Georgia's Class 4A with a .759 average at the plate … Hit 11 home runs … Speedy on the base paths with 35 stolen bases … Rounded out senior campaign with a .824 on-base percentage … Tabbed to the All-Region First Team.

Dean on Bryant: "She's one of the most explosive players that I have seen in a while. She has a strong arm, great hands and a powerful bat."

SYDNEY COX, INFIELD/OUTFIELD

Hometown: Asheboro, N.C.

High School: Asheboro

Club: Carolina Cardinals

Noteworthy: Team captain for Asheboro High School since her freshman season … Three-time All-Conference, All-County and All-District honoree … All-State in 2018 and 2019 … Listed as one of the top 100 recruits of the 2020 signing class by Extra Inning Softball and Flo Softball … Had a .665 batting averages and .730 on-base percentage as a junior … Led the Carolina Cardinals to the 2017 and 2018 USA Fast Pitch Girls A18-U National Championship … Finished her latest club season with a .434 batting average … Had 18 doubles, six triples, 11 home runs, 39 RBIs and 73 runs scored.

 Dean on Cox: "She's a versatile athlete that plays middle infield. It has been exciting to watch her add power to her bat, swinging from the left side."

REENA FALISI, OUTFIELD

Hometown: Williston, Fla.

High School: Oak Hall

Club: Alabama Sparks Elite Stewart 

Height: 5-0

Noteworthy: Competed exclusively with Alabama Sparks Elite … Led the program to the USA Softball 18U national championship … Led her club team to a top-five finish at PGF 18U Nationals … Turned in top-16 finishes at ASA 14U Nationals, ASA 16U Nationals and JO 16U Cup … In her first season competing with the Sparks, recorded a .417 batting average and a .547 on-base percentage … Followed that performance with a .396 average at the plate with a .518 on-base clip … Last season, had a .407 average coupled with a .532 on-base percentage … In the midst of an impressive fall campaign with the Sparks, holding a .482 average and a .592 on-base mark.

Dean on Falisi: "Reena is an athletic outfielder with very good speed. She is a triple threat from the left side."

PAIGE GERAGHTY, OUTFIELDER

Hometown: Frankfort, Ill. 

High School: Lincolnway East

Club: Beverly Bandits

Height: 5-7

Noteworthy:: One of the top recruits of the 2020 class with a No. 21 ranking by Extra Inning Softball … Turned in a batting average of over .450 in all four seasons of varsity competition at Lincolnway East, including a.596 batting average as a senior … Helped Lincolnway East to a second-place finish at state competition … Two-time All-Conference honoree … Turned in an All-Area and All-State performance during her junior season … Earned All-Tournament Team accolades at PGF Nationals, helping her club program win the 16U National Qualifier.

Dean on Geraghty: "Paige has excellent speed in the outfield. She is also a tremendous offensive threat with her bat combined with her speed."

SHELBY LOWE, LHP

Hometown: Carrollton, Ala.

High School: Pickens Academy

Club: Birmingham Thunderbolts

Noteworthy: One of the top pitchers from the state of Alabama … Super All-State … Led the state with a 15.7 strikeouts per seven innings … Ended junior season with an 0.14 earned run average and a 19-4 record … Totaled 336 strikeouts, 16 shutouts and six no-hitters … Allowed only three earned runs over 150 innings pitched …  2018 AISA Pitcher of the Year … Firs-team All-State honoree … 2019 Tuscaloosa News Super 9 Softball Team … Led Pickens Academy to a Class AA runner-up finish … Went 20-4-1 in the circle behind a 0.63 ERA … Tallied 13 shutouts, including six no-hitters and two perfect games … Struck out 347 batters over 166.2 innings pitched … Competed for the Birmingham Thunderbolts, helping the club to a No. 1 ranking … Tossed a two-hit complete game with seven strikeouts to lead the Thunderbolts to a 4-1 victory in the PGF 16u Premier National title game … It was the first PGF National Championship for the Thunderbolts organization … Named to the PGF 18U Premier All-Tournament Team.

Dean on Lowe: “Shelby is one of the top pitchers in the country. She has a championship pedigree. I'm especially excited that she is from the state of Alabama.”

MAKAYLA PACKER, UTILITY

Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.

High School: Baylor School

Club: Tennessee Impact

Height: 5-8

Noteworthy: Versatile athlete that has won multiple state championships in both softball and track … Led the Baylor School to three straight TSAA Division II AA state championships … Held a .461 average at the plate as a freshman behind 35 hits … Hit eight home runs to help close the season with a .961 slugging clip … Had 39 RBI and scored 37 runs over her debut season … Drew 13 walks and held a .567 on-base percentage as a freshman … Closed the season with 13 stolen bases … Totaled 23 hits, including six homers, as a sophomore … Drove in 25 runs while also scoring 25 runs of her own … Coming off an impressive junior campaign with a career-high .444 batting average … Totaled 32 hits, 40 runs scored, and 20 RBI … Drew a career-high 15 walks to close the 2019 season with a .598 on-base percentage.

Dean on Packer: "Makayla has great speed and is very versatile with the ability to play both the middle infield and the outfield."

MADISON PENTA, RHP

Hometown: Chesapeake City, Md.

High School: Bohemia Manor

Club: PA Chaos

Height: 6-2

Noteworthy: One of the top pitchers in the country … Ranked the No. 2 recruit of the 2020 class by FloSoftball and the No. 3 recruit by Extra Innings Softball … Led Bohemia Manor to three straight 1A state championships  … Three-time All-County and All-State honoree … 2019 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year … 2019 USA Today First Team High School All-American … Tossed 100.2 innings in the circle as a freshman and did not allow a single earned run … Closed her debut season with a 13-1 record and a .417 WHIP … Posted an undefeated 15-0 record as sophomore behind a .07 earned run average … Tossed a total of 97.1 innings and posted a .318 WHIP … At the plate, recorded a .441 batting average and a .662 slugging mark … Tossed 123.0 innings over her junior campaign, posting a 21-0 record … Turned in a .11 ERA and a .439 WHIP … Totaled 299 strikeouts, recorded three no-hitters during Bohemia Manor's postseason run and allowed just 16 hits … Coupled her pitching performance with a .586 batting average and a 1.143 slugging clip … Totaled nine home runs, 34 RBI and 25 runs scored … Competes with PA Chaos, one of the elite club teams in the country … Chaos was ranked ninth in the country last season … Led the Chaos to the SoCal Invitational Championship and the Triple Crown Championship … Earned PGF All-Tournament Team honors earlier this year after helping the Chaos to a 12th-place finish … Last season in club competition, finished with a 25-1 record, 0.52 ERA and a .755 WHIP behind 147.0 innings pitched.

Dean on Penta: "Madison is one of the top power pitchers in the country. She has a championship pedigree. Madison has competed and won championships at the highest levels of the game."

KELSEY SCHMIDT, OUTFIELDER

Hometown: Maineville, Ohio

High School: Little Miami

Club: Beverly Bandits

Height: 5-6

Noteworthy: A slugger at the plate that has recorded double-digit home runs over all three of her varsity seasons …  Totaled 33 career homers, knocking 13 alone over her junior season … Led Little Miami to the 2019 Sectional Championship … Two-time ECC First Team All-Conference selection … Back-to-back Player of the Year honoree … 2018 Most Valuable Player winner … Twice named to the All-State Second Team … 2019 SWOC First Team All-Conference honoree … Also brought home First Team All-Region and Southwest All-District Team honors.

Dean on Schmidt: "She's an athletic player with great range in the outfield, strong arm and hits with power."

 

 

[Hspoprn 199]

Impressive !  When will they arrive on campus ?

[Zeek 16,649]

SIAP

 

[saminbama 740]

5 hours ago, Zeek said:

SIAP

 

This is a big time pick up.  War Eagle!

[slot canyon 1,333]

5 hours ago, Zeek said:

SIAP

Thanks for the heads up Zeek...here is a article from the Oxford Eagle.  Apparently she decided not to finish her final season at Ole Miss in February.

https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2020/04/23/kaylee-horton-formerly-of-ole-miss-softball-transfers-to-auburn/

We had some outfield errors (mainly left field) during the early games and maybe she can be an asset there.  Good to get what appears to be a quality seasoned player.

another article  : https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/Article/Sources-Veteran-outfielder-leaves-Ole-Miss-softball-program-143300684/

 

[slot canyon 1,333]

Looking at the Ole Miss softball page she apparently started 49 games as a freshman and split time between 2nd and outfield.  Another article from home town paper: http://mountaineagle.com/stories/currys-horton-heads-to-auburn,24999.

[steeleagle 2,945]

4 hours ago, slot canyon said:

Looking at the Ole Miss softball page she apparently started 49 games as a freshman and split time between 2nd and outfield.  Another article from home town paper: http://mountaineagle.com/stories/currys-horton-heads-to-auburn,24999.

Saw an article on her coach at OM and he had her in right and was very good defensively and planned to move her to center her senior year. Her stats look like she can steal bases, but she doesn't seem to have any power or hit for a high average. But her defense will help as she is way above average.

[gulftiger66 166]

From the pictures I've seen she appears to be a left handed slapper who relies on speed to get on base.  As I recall, Victoria Draper was our last true lefty slapper and I thought she was outstanding.  

[slot canyon 1,333]

9 hours ago, gulftiger66 said:

From the pictures I've seen she appears to be a left handed slapper who relies on speed to get on base.  As I recall, Victoria Draper was our last true lefty slapper and I thought she was outstanding.  

You are correct.  I went back and looked at some 2019 game film to confirm.  Don't mind seeing an effective slapper in the line up.

[OlderWhiskey 953]

Excellent news.  Same high school as Swindle.

 

[slot canyon 1,333]

22 hours ago, OlderWhiskey said:

Excellent news.  Same high school as Swindle.

 

As well as Justus Perry.  Don't know if you saw the link from above on Friday @7:23 am.

[4WDE 89]

On 4/23/2020 at 5:38 PM, saminbama said:

This is a big time pick up.  War Eagle!

That is some great news we needed, especially given the circumstances with the asst coaches.  She is a solid player.

[OlderWhiskey 953]

Don't know what you mean by "circumstances with the asst. coaches".  ??

[auburnfan247 27]

1 minute ago, OlderWhiskey said:

Don't know what you mean by "circumstances with the asst. coaches".  ??

The situation with Coach Lenti and what he did at DePaul

[steeleagle 2,945]

1 hour ago, auburnfan247 said:

The situation with Coach Lenti and what he did at DePaul

'allegedly did'. Let's be accurate here.

 

[auburnphan 6,050]

On 4/26/2020 at 8:17 AM, slot canyon said:

As well as Justus Perry.  Don't know if you saw the link from above on Friday @7:23 am.

Justus is from Minnesota.

[OlderWhiskey 953]

But she moved South and played her senior year, at least, at Curry.

[auburnphan 6,050]

1 hour ago, OlderWhiskey said:

But she moved South and played her senior year, at least, at Curry.

Just that one semester, more importantly she started playing summer ball in Birmingham after she committed to the Meyers.  She lived with the Hortons for two years during summer ball I believe as well.

[Jad0003 405]

Shelby Lowe was named Gatorade’s Softball Player of the Year for Alabama.

Maddie Penta also received the same honor for the state of Maryland.

[slot canyon 1,333]

On 5/28/2020 at 12:12 PM, Jad0003 said:

Shelby Lowe was named Gatorade’s Softball Player of the Year for Alabama.

Maddie Penta also received the same honor for the state of Maryland.

link to AL.com article about Shelby Lowe from 5/28/2020:  https://www.al.com/highschoolsports/2020/05/auburn-signee-shelby-lowe-named-alabama-gatorade-softball-player-of-the-year.html

[auburnfan247 27]

What was our class ranked in the 2020 rankings?

[slot canyon 1,333]

6 hours ago, auburnfan247 said:

What was our class ranked in the 2020 rankings?

Refer to ellitor post of Feb 9 above on this page.  Includes the article by Phillip Marshall from Nov 13,2019 with the breakdown.  Also, the transfer in of Horton this April I believe adds some strength to the class that is scheduled to arrive.

[slot canyon 1,333]

Paige Geraghty and Madison Penta both selected to Premier Girls Fast Pitch 2020 High School All American Team.  From what I have read about outfielder Geraghty, in addition to her speed, she has a lot of versatility at the plate in terms of bunting, slapping and hitting for power.