CalFanatic said:
BearinOC said:
Apparently Ava Tapia is highly thought of. She is listed as #8 catcher coming out of high school per @z3nrecruiting (never heard of this service but it's really quiet so anything to lift our spirits)
Tapia joins Lam Sam and Granata in decommitting. I would note Tapia and Granata are both Catchers and we brought in Anya German with 3 years of eligibility left at the Catcher position...
The current 2026 class includes:
- Alanna Clincy (1st Team All-State)
- Emmalee Cargill (1st Team All-State)
- Ava Lee
- Nisha Mehta
- Zoey Thomas
- Malea Ricks
Looks like Coach Singleton will have an extra two or three scholarships to work with. Excited to see who he can bring in. He basically said on the podcast I listened to that recruiting won't be an issue. I love the confidence but hey, he's earned it!
It's surprising that she chose to decommit right after the announcement of our new coach. Her travel coach played a role in guiding her to this decision. I believe it's a mistake on her part, but as they say, "C'est la vie." (Her loss!) Players may come and go, but a degree from Cal is forever!
There are a lot of Division II athletes out there who are just as talented, if not more so, than some Division I. I've seen some incredibly impressive athletes. Many D2 athletes choose this path for academic reasons and their preferred majors, rather than getting caught up in the D1 "hype." Our academic reputation is strong, after all. While the Division I transfer portal is currently closed, there will be plenty of opportunities in Division II during December 1-15, 2025. I am sure we will put out a quality and competitive product for upcoming season.
I also wouldn't be surprised if Coach Steve Singleton make room from our panicked pickup from the portal. I'm sure he's busy reaching out to potential recruits.
I'm very very optimistic we will make this work going forward!
