RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
As we wrote earlier today when posting our extensive Extra Inning Softball Signing/Verbal Database intro, today begins a new day in college softball recruiting as programs are under the new NCAA no-recruiting contact rule.
But that didn’t stop a flurry of players and colleges agreeing to commit to each other ahead of the start of the legislation passed last week.
We had players, parents and coaches from all over the nation sending us new commits and updates and below you’ll find 71 additions to our Signing Verbal Database including new pickups to schools in the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC.
Here’s a little bit of info on just a few of them followed by this week’s list of new additions and/or players who’ve changed teams …
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Lauryn Borzilleri, a MIF/UT standout who plays for the Athletics-Mercado/Greg team coached by her father, Greg Borzilleri and was one of our Elite 100 honorees for the 2022 class, has committed to Kentucky.
She verballed to Coach Rachel Lawson two days ago on a phone call and, according to her dad, “Lauryn was so excited to tell Coach Lawson that she wanted to be a Wildcat!”
In our Elite 100 bio write-up, part of it read: “She is a smooth fielder–.984 fielding percentage last year who one Pac-12 coach described as “one of the savviest ball players around.” Lauryn has great instincts and seems to always be at the right place at the right time on the field. Said one coach, “She can take over a game with her mind as well as her physical skills up the middle or at the plate.”
A good scouting report on the 8th grader who also goes by “Lo” is that, along with her talent on both sides of the ball, she has a high softball IQ, a strong work ethic and is team-focused.
As to why she choose the Wildcats, Lauryn said, “ “I visited Kentucky a couple of times, along with Oregon, Oregon State, Louisville and Arkansas. I really like all of the schools I visited, but I fell in love with all that UK has to offer; the academics, the amazing coaching staff, and the ability to compete at the highest level. I’m excited to be a part of Big Blue Nation.”
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Coach Heather Tarr struck gold once in going to Ohio to pick up a pitching ace in Taran Avalo, who’s gone 21-3 with a 0.86 ERA this year in leading the Washington Huskies to the top of the national rankings for most of the season.
The Pac-12 head coach has gone back to the Buckeye State, this time to Carroll, Ohio to get a commitment from right-handed pitcher Lexi Paulsen, who plays on the Ohio Outlaws Premier 14U team coached by Tom Schmeiser.
Warren Wolff, the Founder and President of the Outlaws organization, told us more about this Pac-12-bound 2022 today:
“Lexi is an amazing young lady who comes from a religious family,” he began. “She joined us in August and it was kind of a whirl windfall since joining us. She came here with no exposure or interest and a had a crazy winter with visits to Oregon, Washington, and Louisiana Lafayette, but she just loved Washington and their coaches.”
“She’s a hard thrower with a good change, rise and curve and has been clocked in the 63-64 mph range with a lot more upside, according to her pitching coach who also worked with Alvelo. She thinks Lexi could follow in Taran’s footsteps and those are some big shoes to fill!”
“As a player, she always wants the ball and continues to come hard at batters until the final pitch. Lexi has a calm demeanor, is difficult to rile, and always plays with a smile.”
