NOR CAL RENEGADES

USSSA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Hayward, CA...The 14U Nor Cal Renegades team took 2nd place in the 2018 USSSA State Championships event in Hayward this past weekend. The team was first place after pool play on Saturday winning all three games. Sunday monrning they defeated their first opponent, however down by only one run our pitcher, Peyton Hamner and MVP of the event, could not make it through the final game after getting a blister on her pitching hand from batting. She gave it a valient try and her coaches and teammates all applauded her effort. 

   NCAA Changes 2017-18 Recruiting Rules & Calendar

The NCAA is implementing big changes to the softball recruiting landscape starting August 1, 2017. Early recruiting has run rampant over the last few years, and now the NCAA is looking to take preventative measures by altering the non-scholastic recruiting calendar and non-institutional camp policies.

Non-Institutional Camp Restrictions

Softball coaches and non-coaching staff members with responsibilities specific to softball may only be employed at non-institutional camps and clinics that occur during recruiting calendar periods when evaluation at non-scholastic practice or competition activities is permissible (See Bylaws 13.12.2.3.6 and 13.12.2.3.8).

Contact Period

• August 1 through August 13, 2017

• June 7 through July 31, 2018

Evaluation Period (For scholastic and nonscholastic practice or competition activities.)

• January 2 through May 28, 2018 [Except for Quiet Period, Dead Period dates]

• During high school regional and state championship competition that does not occur during a dead period

Dead Period

• April 9-12, 2018

• May 29 through June 6, 2018

• June 7 through July 31, 2018

Dates are based on the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Softball Championship. Dead period remains in effect until the day following the conclusion of the Women's College World Series. If the championship series ends after two games, the dead period ends on June 5 and the contact period would start on June 6.

**Dates are based on the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Softball Championship. Contact period starts the day following the conclusion of the Women's College World Series. If the championship series ends after three games, the contact period starts on June 7.

What is a contact?

A contact occurs any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face contact with a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents off the college's campus.

What is a contact period?

During a contact period, a college coach may have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents, watch student-athletes compete and visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents.

What is an evaluation period?

During an evaluation period, a college coach may watch college-bound student-athletes compete, visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents. However, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents off the college's campus during an evaluation period.

What is a quiet period?

During a quiet period, a college coach may only have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents on the college's campus. A coach may not watch student-athletes compete (unless a competition occurs on the college's campus) or visit their high schools. Coaches may write or telephone college-bound student-athletes or their parents during this time.

What is a dead period?

During a dead period, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents, and may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches may write and telephone student-athletes or their parents during a dead period.

What is the difference between an official visit and an unofficial visit?

Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents paid for by the college is an official visit. Visits paid for by college-bound student-athletes or their parents are unofficial visits. During an official visit, the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for the prospect, lodging and three meals per day for both the prospect and the parent or guardian, and reasonable entertainment expenses, including three tickets to a home sports event. The only expenses a college-bound student-athlete may receive from a college during an unofficial visit are three tickets to a home sports event.

What is an Unofficial visit?

Student athletes can visit a coach on that coaches campus at anytime, as long as they pay their own way. These types of visits are called unofficial visits and have become a big part of the recruiting process.

What is an Official visit?

During your senior year the NCAA allows any academic institution to pay for you to attend campus on a 48-hour official visit. Included in the visit is transportation (airfare or mileage reimbursement) to and from campus, lodging (either on campus or in a hotel), meals, and tickets to sporting events on campus.

What is a National Letter of Intent?

A National Letter of Intent is signed by a college-bound student-athlete when the student-athlete agrees to attend a Division I or II college or university for one academic year. Participating institutions agree to provide financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete as long as the student-athlete is admitted to the school and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules. Other forms of financial aid do not guarantee the student-athlete financial aid.

The National Letter of Intent is voluntary and not required for a student-athlete to receive financial aid or participate in sports. Signing a National Letter of Intent ends the recruiting process since participating schools are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have already signed letters with other participating schools.

A student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent may request a release from his or her contract with the school. If a student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent with one school but attends a different school, he or she will lose one full year of eligibility and must complete a full academic year at their new school before being eligible to compete.

What are recruiting calendars?

Recruiting calendars help promote the well-being of prospective student-athletes and coaches and ensure competitive equity by defining certain time periods in which recruiting may or may not occur in a particular sport. 

Aug 21, 2017...ABERDEEN, SD – Presentation College Athletic Director, Greg Heier, announced on Monday the hiring of Mari Cerenio-Jordan as the next head coach of the PC softball team. "I am very honored, humbled, and thrilled to be the new head softball coach for Presentation College," said Jordan. "I would like to thank Presentation College, the administration, and Athletic Director Greg Heier for giving me this incredible opportunity to lead the Presentation College Softball program. The second I stepped on campus, I was surrounded by a culture that is something very special and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Presentation College provides the opportunity for me to not only help these student-athletes on the softball field develop a driven commitment to success, but also offers the opportunity for me to help them grow as individuals and become successful in their chosen careers." Prior to PC, Coach Cerenio-Jordan was a student assistant before transitioning into her role as assistant softball coach for the Swedes. During her role as an assistant coach for the Swedes, ten players received all-conference academic honors, four players earned NAIA scholar-athlete awards and four players locked up all-conference honors. Coach Cerenio-Jordan worked mainly with outfielders and catchers and shared responsibility with staff members working with pitchers and offense. Coach Cerenio-Jordan was also the Assistant Sports Information Director and Golf Administrative Assistant during her time at Bethany. "We are excited to have Coach Cerenio-Jordan join our staff as Head Softball Coach," explained Heier. "Her passion for softball, her commitment to developing student athletes in all aspects of their lives, her recruiting skills and her experience as a player and coach in NAIA softball make her an ideal candidate for this position." Mari Cerenio-Jordan, a California native, played softball at Brown-Mackie College-Salina (BMC) in Kansas before transferring to Bethany College for two seasons. During her time at Bethany College, she was a 2nd Team All-KCAC selection, while hitting .381 with 74 hits, six doubles, and four home runs during her junior campaign. She also had 54 runs, 36 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases to add to her impressive junior year. Her senior year, Jordan earned Honorable Mention All-KCAC honors, while batting .339 with 37 hits, six doubles, 23 runs, 16 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. Prior to her time at Bethany, Jordan played at Brown Mackie College-Salina for two years. As a sophomore, Cerenio-Jordan recorded a .355 batting average with 75 hits, 12 doubles, 10 home runs, and tallied in 60 runs, 40 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. Her freshman year, Cerenio-Jordan hit .446 and tied for a team-high 41 RBIs. She also had 22 steals in 26 attempts, and was named 1st Team All-KJCCC. Coach Cerenio-Jordan double majored in Sports Management and Criminal Justice, with honors, and minored in Business from Bethany College. Go Saints!