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June 8, 2003 - This weekend at the 18U
ASA Gold Sector 3 Qualifier in Killeen, College Sports Exposure saw some new
pitchers in Texas and discovered that some of the 2004 pitchers had improved.
The best 2004 pitcher is Amanda Scarborough. At the Gold Sector 3
Qualifier, College Sports Exposure radar Amanda throwing between 65 and 68
mph. College Sports Exposure radar Amanda throwing 68 mph about 3 times in
one inning when Texas Storm was playing against Pheonix Storm on Sunday (June
8). Megan is also know for hitting homeruns and helped Texas Storm to a 3-0 lead
with a homerun before Sunday's rain storm. Amanda has verbally committed
to play softball for Coach Evans at Texas A&M. She plays her high
school ball with Magnolia High School.
The next two best pitchers in Texas maybe Megan
Denny and Stacy Braddock of the 18U Gold Texas Elite. Both
pitchers throw between 63 and 66 mph. Megan and Stacy have a change-up,
drop ball, curve ball, screw ball and drop ball. Megan gives the Elite an
awesome
one-two punch in their pitching department. Megan is from Crowley,
Texas. Stacey is from Garland, Texas.
Megan Gibson has also verbally committed to the Texas A&M Aggies
softball team. I radared Megan Gibson throwing 61 mph at the 2001 Houston
Metro. I haven't radar Megan since 2001 and I am sure she is throwing
harder. Megan not only pitches but hit home runs At 16U
Colorado in 2001, Megan and Amanda Scarbourough
combined to hit 8 homeruns out and win the 16U Tournament. Megan pitches for Spring High
School and Impact Gold.
Hillary Dawson pitches for Klein High
School and the Texas Eclipse Gold. Hillary throws her fastball between 61
and 64 mph. She has a curve, screw ball, drop and is working hard on improving
her change-up and rise ball.
Amy Varner is another junior pitcher to keep tabs on. Amy is 5'10" and College Sports
Exposure radared her fastball at 61 mph routinely during her filming session. Most
players tighten up when radar during their filming session and throw 1 or 2 mph
harder in a game. She has a tight spin on her rise ball. Amy has a good
change-up, screwball and curve ball. She is working on her drop.
Amy's 3 best pitches are the rise, screw ball and fastball. She pitches
for Cy-Fair High School Bob Cats and the Texas Peppers. She also is a talented
power hitter.
Regan Blake transferred from Episcopal to Elkins High School this past
year. Regan lives
in Missouri City and was getting tired of the long drive into Houston. Regan is
primarily a riseball pitcher. She throws her rise ball between 57 and 59
mph. She also has a very good
off-speed pitch.
Natalie Jones pitches for Texas Connections and Clear Brook High
School. She has a rise, rise-curve, drop-curve, hard curve, drop ball,
change-up and fastball. Natalie throws her fast ball and rises between 58
and 60 mph.
Ashley Campbell
is a 6' 1" pitcher at Crosby High School and for the Texas Panthers.
College Sports Exposure radar Ashley throwing her fastball at 59 mph with
a lot of 58 mph pitches. Ashley also had a very good curve ball.
Ashley hit 3 homeruns over the fence when we filmed her video.
Amanda Scarborough is not the only great 2004 pitching prospect on the Texas
Storm. Barbie Love from Alvin High School is the another great
prospect. Barbie is about 6' tall and also throws in the 60's.
Spring-Klein Sliders have two 6' pitchers that throw in the 60's. They are
Kimberly Hair and Shayla Andreas. Kimberly pitches for Cy-Creek High
School. Kimberly also has a change-up, screwball and drop ball in addition
to her fastball. She also plays volleyball but her dad has indicated that she
prefers to pitch in college. Montana Patin is scheduled to moved from the outfield and catch
Kimberly during the upcoming high school season. Shayla attends El Campo High
School. Corrie Bram is another El Campo pitcher to keep your eye on.
The well in West Texas is not dry! It is still producing pitchers! The University of Texas at Austin signed Christina Gwyn this fall as a pitcher
from the Fort Worth-Dallas area. She originally moved there from Big
Springs, Texas. Danielle Jennette
and
Nicole Dickson have quickly filled any void that may have been left by Gywn's
move. Danielle and Nicole both pitch for the 18U Odessa Sting. Danielle
pitches for Odessa High School. When College Sports Exposure filmed Danielle in
early Fall, her fastball was radared at 62 mph. It is reported that she
routinely throws 65 mph. Nicole Dickson pitches for Monahans High School. Nicole
throws between 58 and 61 mph. She also has command of a great change and drop.
One of the best drop ball pitchers in Texas is
5'9" Jessica Sander of Georgetown, Texas. Jessica pitches for Austin Storm.
She has an excellent peel drop, drop-curve and screw ball. Jessica also
throws a riseball and change-up. Her drop has been radared at 60 mph.
Natalie Jones pitches for Texas Connections and Clear Brook High
School. She has a rise, rise-curve, drop-curve, hard curve, drop ball,
change-up and fastball. Natalie throws her fast ball and rises between 58
and 60 mph.
Amye McElroy pitches for St. Paul High School in Shiner and the Texas
Comets 18U Gold out of Liberty Hill, Texas. Amye has a very good curve
ball. Her other pitches include a 56-60 mph fastball, change-up, drop and rise.
Amye was selected to the 2A Tapps All-State team in 2001 and 2002. Amye is
also an excellent power hitter. When I filmed her video, Amye hit about 7
homeruns out of the new Shiner softball field.
Other pitchers to watch are Macie
Astolfo, Kaye Wibbenmeyer
and Lauren Perk. Macie and Kaye seldom throw a fastball. They both primarily rely on their
curve ball, screw ball, drop ball, rise ball and change-up to keep batters off
balance. Both have excellent control
of all of their pitches. Kaye's instructor is Bobby Smith. As a
sophomore, Kaye was 1st team
28-5A All-District pitcher at Victoria Memorial High School. She will
pitch for the TAPPS 5-A Saint Joseph's in Victoria this spring. Her travel
team is the Victoria's Secret.
 A 2006
(sophomore) pitcher to watch this year and
remember is Jessie Patrick. Jessie pitched her freshman year
at Clements high school and is pitching this summer with Sudden Impact. The
Patrick
family plans to move to Dallas this summer. Jessie has one of the best rise balls I have seen
since the Class of 2000 graduated. She throws it at 59 to 61 mph. She also
throws it low enough in the strike zone where the batter has to swing to protect
the plate. Jessie also a peel drop, screw ball and change-up. She
mixes her pitches and hits her spots like a veteran pitcher.
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