by Mike Buchanan
Christmas came a little
early to the
wrapped in red.
Terrapin red, that is.
Jessica Butler verbally committed to the
parents told DigitalSports.
NCAA rules prohibit Maryland
Head Coach Laura Watten or her staff from making any comment at this time, but
scholarship on Saturday after the all-day
offer before she’s even thrown a pitch in her sophomore season?
dominant position in the sport, more and more college programs are trying to
lock-in key pitching recruits with early commitments.
not too far away. I’m considering Kinesiology and they have a good program
there. And I felt comfortable with the coaches and players,” said
talent and ultimately get to the college world series.”
signees normally make commitments or signings during their junior year, doing
so in the sophomore year is not unheard of. Two other metro stand-outs also
made verbal commitments in their sophomore year – both pitchers.
to the 4A state championship in her sophomore year, and committed to the
season, while those two had played their sophomore year.
title, going 13-1 with a 0.23 ERA, allowing only 13 hits in 93.3 innings, along
with posting 216 strikeouts, enough to earn
Conference, who knows what awards she might have won. The A-Conference was
loaded with star pitchers last spring: Angela DiBenneditto (John Carroll),
Carly Martin (Seton Keough), Colleen Matthes (
were impact players for their teams, and all graduated.
high school players,
“off-season.” It may be “off-season”
from high school, but it is “in-season” on the club circuit, where players are
seen by more college coaches, much like basketball players are seen on the AAU
circuit.
was a powerhouse, winning two major titles – 14U ASA State Champions and 16U
USSSA State Champions, the first team to win the 16-Under Maryland state title
as a 14-Under age group team. The Hornets went 40-10 before going to Nationals,
and six of the 10 losses were to 16U and 18U teams.
hitters at the club level with terminator-like execution as she did at the high
school level,
more impressive than her high school record considering the level of
competition she faced game in and game out.
4.29 GPA last year that put her at the top of her class. She also found time to
serve as president of her class, and was a member of the swim team her freshman
year and played goalie for the soccer team this past fall. That’s in and around
time in the batting cage to improve her hitting, and time on the mound with a
private pitching instructor to continually improve her pitching skills.
has been doing so year-round. One of her goals was a college scholarship. She
was gracious and humble in thanking those who helped her achieve that goal,
albeit still a verbal commitment at this time.
Butler, were obviously first on the list. “My parents have been so supportive.
The time and money and attention, and even the tips on pitching that at the
time I may not want to hear; things can get testy at times, but I always know
they care,”
great: Dan Novak with the Harford Cyclones, Mark Poffenberger with the Damascus
Hurricanes, E.J. Martinez with the Riviera Beach Spirit and especially Coach Melissa Miller of the Green Hornets.”
her pitching mentors. “I’ve actually had four private pitching instructors. First
was Jack Crandell when I was
12 to 13, and now Rich Crowell. They’ve all helped and all added something
different to help me become the kind of pitcher I am.”
all-important job of catching
heat and repertoire of pitches is negated if no one can catch her pitches. TC’s
lone loss occurred last spring in a game where Smith was injured and unable to
catch until mid-game.
for the IAAM C teams is that she has added about three miles per hour to her
fastball, now in the 64-65 mph range. Ouch.
DigitalSports spring softball preview, I’ve already committed to doing a catching
session with
two, is extra padding allowed in my catcher’s mitt?)
done and out of the way – early? Parents know their children, and father Hass
said, “I could tell right away that she was glad it was over. It looked life a
weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Without it hanging over her head, I
think it will make her even better this spring, able to just go out and relax
and pitch.”
lost to graduation, and with TC still in the C-Conference for one more season,
the best player in the IAAM this coming spring will be plying her trade in the
lowest conference level.
teammates allowed just 13 runs all season, most of them unearned. As a
measuring stick, the next closest competitors in the C allowed 55 runs (
quality pitchers. The bottom teams in the C allowed from 207 to 217 runs. Even
with the numerous above-average arms in the A and B and C,
Ever coach wants it. Those who have it, win. Those who don’t have it, lose.
Under the tree and wrapped in red.
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