FASTPITCH RECRUITING

WEB SOURCE

 

 


About this site…

Hello! I'm Cathi Aradi, softball recruiting consultant and owner of Collegiate Softball Connection. I'm an active member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, and I work with athletes and colleges all over the U.S. Over the past eighteen years, I've worked directly with over 2000 athletes, and I have helped thousands more through my book, Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level. I also conduct workshops on the college search process, and I'm considered one of the very best resources in the country on collegiate (softball) recruiting by players and their families, youth and college coaches alike. 


NEWS FLASH!  9/21/06…StudentSportsSoftball.com polled over 250 of the top youth coaches in the country to find out who they consider the most influential people in fastpitch.  Coaches were invited to nominate 3 people, and StudentSportsSoftball.com put together a list of the “Ten Most Influential People in Softball.”  Catharine Aradi was number eight on the list which included Olympians Jenny Finch and Lisa Fernandez, former UCLA head coach Sue Enquist and USA Olympic coach Mike Candrea. Coaches called Cathi’s book, Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level, the “Bible of Fastpitch Recruiting.”

And a special congratulations to former CSC alum Mallory Holtmann, a senior at Central Washington Univ.  A standout All-Conference player, Mallory made national news in late April as part of a story on ESPN Sports News.  Be sure to read this heartwarming tale.


This page is designed to help college-bound softball players gain a competitive edge during their college search. The information offered here will help athletes as well as their parents and coaches. The Fastpitch Recruiting Web Source includes:  

·       A featured article on the college search process!  The May-June article is entitled: Preparing—Physically and Mentally—for Summer Ball!

·       Information about my book, Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level and how to order the current edition online at www.nfca.org or http://www.nfca-services.org/store/Shelf.asp#139    

·       Collegiate Softball Connection and You! If you want an experienced guide to work with you through your college search, read more about CSC.  This page also includes signings/commitments by CSC clients as well as collegiate honors awarded CSC alumni. 

·       Clinics -- Information about upcoming clinics or about presenting a clinic. Upcoming 2008 clinic dates and locations will include:  Las Vegas, NV, June 13, 2008 (in conjunction with the NFCA Recruiting Camp and the JO Classic).  I will also be speaking at the Elite Skills Camp  hosted by the Runnin Rebels organization on June 6, 2008.  For info link to http://www.runninrebelsgold.org/

·       Recruiting FAQ with Cathi Aradi -- Various questions and answers on issues related to recruiting and the college search process for student-athletes. There's also a link to archived questions and recruiting-related articles.  

·       Archived Web Articles on the college search process.  (If you have a recruiting question, please email info@fastpitchrecruiting.com. Thanks!)

CSC Alumni 2008 All-Region/All American Achievements: Div I All Region:  Lauren Hass (So. Illinois); Caitlyn Jackson (Marshall); Kelsey Haupert (Purdue); Melissa Pura (Cal Poly SLO); Div. III All West Region: Stephanie Rice & Amanda Attleberger (Linfield); Miranda McNealy (Pacific);

2008 All-Conference Achievements:
:
Div. I: Conf. USA: Sam Rodriguez (Marshall);
CAA: Mindy Bean (Towson); Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team: Jennifer Holtz (Mercer); Missouri Valley: Lauren Haas (Southern IL) MVC Player of the Year; MAC: Michelle Sauter (Ohio); ACC: Tiffany McDonald (FL State); SEC: Jordan Praytor (Alabama) also SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year; OVC: Ashley Eliasson (Jacksonville State) also Freshman of the Year; MAAC: Rhiannon Thomas (Fairfield); Emily Helbig (Canisius); Juliette Bowers (Canisius), also MAAC Pitcher of the Year; Lauren Hope (Canisius), also MAAC Rookie of the Year!

2008 All-Tourney Honors: Congratulations: to Ashley Eliasson (
Jacksonville State) All OVC Tourney; Brittany Franklin (MS Valley State) All SWAC Tourney and Most Outstanding Player; Juliette Bowers and Lauren Hope (Canisius) All MAAC Tourney; Jenni Holtz (Mercer) All Atlantic Sun Tourney.

2008 Weekly Honors: Congratulations: to Ashley Eliasson (Jacksonville State) for being named Ohio Valley Pitcher of the Week; to Samantha Rodriguez (Marshall) for being named Conf-USA Co-Hitter of the Week; to Caitlyn Jackson (Marshall) for being named Conf-USA Pitcher of the Week; to Whitney Erickson (Toledo) for being named
MAC West Player of the Week; to Lauren Hope (Canisius) for being named MAAC Rookie of the Week; to Ashley Jackson (San Francisco State) for being named CCAA Pitcher of the Week; to Mandi Hill (Portland State) for being named PCSC Pitcher of the Week; to Maggie Johnson (Columbia) for being named Ivy League Pitcher of the Week; to Jenni Holtz (Mercer Univ.) for being named Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week; to Allison Ford (Bucknell) for being named Patriot League Player of the Week; and to Kendra Wood (San Francisco State) for being named CCAA Pitcher of the Week!

 

LINKS to terrific web sites that will provide helpful college search information!

 

 National Fastpitch Coaches Association  This site is a key resource for information about the NFCA and college softball in general. You can order my book on-line there! 

 

  NCAA Home Page  This is the link for general NCAA information. (For eligibility, see link below.)

 

  NCAA Eligibility Center Page  A direct link to the NCAA Eligibility Center and all current academic and recruiting guidelines.

 

  National Letter of Intent  This web site will provide information, including signing dates, on the National Letter of Intent.

 

  NAIA Home Page  For all NAIA guidelines and regulations and other relevant information.

 

  Student Sports Softball.com   Fun and informative web site for college-bound prep high school and travel ball families as well as youth and college coaches.

 

  NJCAA Home Page  For junior college guidelines and regulations and other relevant information (excluding Calif).

 

  NWAACC Home Page  For junior college guidelines and regulations and other relevant information for WA-OR junior colleges. 

 

  Calif. Community College Softball Home Page  For guidelines and regulations and other relevant information for Calif. Comm. Colleges. 

 

  College Board Online  A link to the organization that administers the SAT.


  ACT.org  On-line ACT registration and review, with tips on successfully preparing for this test. 

 

  FAFSA on the Web!  This site will take you through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (where it all begins) and allows you to complete the form on-line after January 1.

 

  CAL GRANT on the Web!   This web site will provide California students with information on that state's special aid program for good students from low and moderate income families.

 

  Radisson Colorado Fireworks  The web site of one of the nation's premier recruiting tournaments. This tournament is attended by coaches at all levels of college competition every year, and it is simply the best! Unfortunately, getting into the tournament is tough--impossible late in the season. It fills up by fall with a waiting list. In 2006, over 400 college coaches attended from all over the country. Eighty-five percent of the games are held at the new 12-field Aurora Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art facility. The NFCA runs a recruiting camp prior to the tournament, and with practice games, this becomes a week-long event.

 

  Embark.com  Apply to college online and find information about colleges, scholarships and more.

 

  College is Possible  Great resource site for information on choosing a college, financial aid and more.

 

  SAT Prep Plan  Excellent resource site for SAT preparation and review.

 

  TestPrep.com  Free on-line SAT review, with lots of lessons and hundreds of practice questions.

 

  Free Financial Aid Documents  Web listings of free information on financial aid resources.

 

  FinAid  An index of financial aid resources.

 

  Excite Scholarship Search Site  A site with information on searching for scholarships and aid.  

 

  EStudentloan.com Search Site  A site with information on searching for the best college loans and other aid.  

 

  College BOT (Search Engine)  A site with information on finding information on lots of different colleges.

 

  Fastpitch USA  Great on-line fastpitch magazine. Check it out. 

 

  Online Softball Resource Directory  A site with a variety of resources for fastpitch softball.

 

  Blood Donations Save Lives…Visit the Red Cross for information on how you can donate!   (In fond memory of Jenny Eller and John Gimbel.)


Check out FAQ and my book Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level, or just email me.

 

  Miscellaneous 2008

 

                                                                                                                          

©Collegiate Softball Connection 2008