Maiese Commits to Indiana

Now, if you think being recruited to any Big Ten team is an easy task, I challenge the best of you players to play in the Big Ten or South East Conference and I won't even include the Pacific Athletic Conference (PAC Ten). This is truly big time Fastpitch. If you are interested click here to go to the Big Ten's web site (http://bigten.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/big10-w-softbl-body.html) or go to I.U's site at (http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/ind-w-softbl-body.html). For the second consecutive year, a Big Ten team competed for the national title at the Women's D1 College World Series as Northwestern advanced to the championship series against Arizona. Maiese has been one of Elite's fastest pitchers for several years and is currently our fastest at 69 mph. She is driven to break 72 mph and I'd bet on her to do it. She impressed many top coaches at the Las Vegas NFCA Camp when she hit 66 mph with 5 straight fastballs and 2 screwballs at 66 mph. Alyssa got interest from several Big Ten schools and several SEC schools. Stacey Philips, Head Coach at I.U. was unwavering in the recruiting process and could only be described as nothing but class. On the other side of the recruiting process, Alyssa and her family, the quality was the same. Alyssa knew a year ago I.U. would be very interested. In the last six months Alyssa had several dozen "full" D1 offers but never wavered. For her straight up approach to her college search Alyssa has been rewarded with a Full Full and best of all she gets to start in the BIG TEN with team that is on the way up. The clincher was the I.U. school jet with Hoosiers on the tail section to fly them to games. The moral of this story is- Life is good, life is short, play hard, train hard, stay focused on your objective and let nothing get in your way.

Alyssa is another piece of the NJ landscape that reinforces what I've known for years. If you need a top quality pitcher, NJ is the place to look for pitching.

Thomas B Besser
Elite Fastpitch Inc

Nicole Ayres (Fordham)

Cole had a dozen or more top D1 options. She looked hard at some of the western programs like New Mexico. Talking to her it was easy to see why she liked them, brand-new stadium, dugouts with attached clubhouse. Their clubhouse, housed their indoor training facility, you get the picture. But when it came down to it, Nicole said she felt that Fordham has a real shot at breaking the "east coast" mold. Nicole doesn't say a lot but she is extremely focused. Don't be surprised if you see Fordham's name pop up in places it's never been before. This is a program on the move and they are moving up. Fordham (A-10 Conference Champions) finished with a 15-1 conference record last year. Coach Bridget Orchard has demonstrated she not only coaches on and off the field but also recruits very aggressively. Nicole is the second Elite student she has selected in two years. Alli Twarowski (Cherokee HS 2004) is currently enjoying great success with the Rams. That's not the only thing they have in common, they both played for Team NJ and they are both winners. At this rate I'm becoming one of Fordham's biggest fans. Nicole is currently playing for the Jersey Inferno (Gold), one of the NE USA's finest teams. So far this season the Inferno Gold has gone 7-0 at the Outlaws and 5-1-1 at the Orange County California Bat Busters. You are sure to see some of the best teams in the world there and they did well. If you get a chance to see Inferno Gold this year, don't miss em.

On the Recruiting Trail: Q&A with Amanda Winn

Recently, we had a chance to talk with Southern Regional H.S. senior Amanda Winn. Amanda has signed early with Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. In addition to her impressive softball resume (2-Year Team NJ selection), she also has a stellar academic record (96.33 GPA, 1260 SAT, and ranks 46 / 695 in her class). With stats like these, Amanda has a great future ahead of her, both on and off the softball field. Here's her take on the recruiting process.

Q- Prior to committing to Seton Hall, what were you looking for in a school from both an academic and athletic perspective?
A- The first thing I was looking for in a school was academics. I need to prepare for the next forty years of my life, not the next four. I wanted a place that would provide me with a great education in the field I chose to study. Athletically, I was looking for a respectable team that could win and I could just have fun.

Q- How did Seton Hall get to know you? Was it travel team exposure, personal contacts, coach intervention or a combination of these things?
A- Even though I had played on a team that took me all around the country during the fall, Coach Vander May saw me at the Delaware Orange Crush Tournament the summer of my sophomore year, playing with my ASA team, the West Jersey Witches. The Witches are a very well known team and one of my teammates was going to Seton Hall so all aspects helped me.

Q- I know you had a very good SAT score (1260). How important was that in the recruiting process?
A- SATs are a huge factor in the recruiting process. The better your GPA and SAT are, the more appealing you are to the coach.

Q- Did you take an SAT prep course or other service to better prepare for the SAT? If so, would you recommend them to others?
A- I took the SAT twice before I ended up taking a class. Without the class, my combined was an 1140. With the class I received a 1260. I would definitely recommend SAT prep courses. They provide you with certain skills to help you do your best on the test.

Q- Do you know what your Major will be at SHU? Why? How does Seton Hall fit in with your career goals?
A- I am going to major in Political Science then after I graduate, go on to Law School. Since I was little I have always wanted to be a lawyer because I like to debate on topics and am extremely interested in politics. Seton Hall has a great Political Science curriculum and also has a Law School, so it should be a great fit.

Q- You were a Team NJ selection for 2 years and that gave you national exposure, but you chose to stay in-state. What was Seton Hall's appeal?
A- Seton Hall is a very respected school and it has a great softball program. I am also only 2 hours away from home so I can come home if I need to. The coaching staff is phenomenal and the girls are great. It actually wasn't too hard of a decision to make.

Q- Did you make an official recruiting visit to SHU? What was that like?
A- I did take an official visit to Seton Hall. First, my parents and I met with the Assistant coach, Coach Nelson, and we just talked for a while. Then one of the players, Kate DePaul, took us around campus and answered any questions we had. After that, I left my parents and stayed with the girls. I went to their practice then out to dinner and just got to hang out with the team. The next morning they had practice again then we met with all the coached, Coach Vander May, Coach Nelson, and Coach G and we just talked more about the program and what I would bring to the team. After that I went home. It was so nice to meet all the girls and made me realize that I did make the right choice in Seton Hall.

Q- Coach Ray Vander May has turned around a program that had just one winning season in the 15 years prior to his arrival in 1997. This spring, they were Big East champs. What is it that makes him so successful in your opinion and did that factor in on your decision?
A- I think what makes him so successful is his love for the game and the girls. He knows the ins and outs of the game and loves his job. He will tell his girls how to get better and doesn't sugar coat anything. He tells it like it is. One thing that definitely stuck out was that they roster around 20 girls and every girl will get playing time during the fall and from there he chooses his team. Being Big East Champs definitely helped me in my decision. I know that I am apart of a very successful team and hopefully myself and the other recruits can help Seton Hall get to the World Series in the upcoming years.

Q- Any recruiting advice for the Class of 2006?
A- They see hundreds of girls during the summer-make yourself stand out from the crowd. Cheer, hustle on and off the field, don't throw your helmet, and stay positive. Just remember, they are always watching you. Just have fun, keep your grades up and just play your game.

THANKS AMANDA!

This is a selected article from the November issue. If you'd like to subscribe to the
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