Rounding Third Softball

Houston has announced that former three-time All-American Florida State Pitcher and USA Softball National Player of the Year Lacey Waldrop has joined their coaching staff. Waldrop has also served on staffs at Duke and Oklahoma before coming to the Cougars.

Sources out of Southern California have informed RTS that Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) could be looking to negotiate a deal to sell to or work some sort of a merger/partnership with Perfect Game USA. Perfect Game is a national baseball group based in Iowa that runs large scale events and an athlete scouting service.

Bucknell has announced that head coach Joey Lye has resigned. She went 63-61-1 in three seasons leading the Bison. Lye plans to pursue her opportunity with the Canadian Olympic Team full-time.

Southwest Baptist University will name Oklahoma Panhandle State’s Chad Kerr their new head coach RTS has learned. Kerr spent one pandemic shortened season at OPSU posting a 10-16 record. The veteran coach has also had stops at Lincoln, Alderson Broaddus, and Central Christian.

USA Softball has announced the appointment of Christina Drumm as Comissioner for Southern California. Drumm an established umpire that has called at the WCWS, was also selected to the staff of officials for the 2020 (now set for 2021) Olympic Games in Tokyo. Sources also speculate this appointment could be a catalyst and bridge in bringing some of the top Club Teams in SoCal back into the USA Softball fold after previously competing under the Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) banner.

Auburn has announced that former Tiger All-American and U.S. National Team member Emily Carosone has been hired to join Mickey Dean’s coaching staff. Carosone served the 2017-19 seasons as a graduate/volunteer assistant. Carosone replaces former assistant Ruby Rojas.

The NCAA Administrative Committee has announced that the Quiet Period for Division II has been extended to August 31. During a quiet period coaches may not recruit off campus. Coaches may host prospects and camps on campus and work camps off campus.

Reports broke today that the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota will be moving to Division I. It’s the first time the NCAA has given permission to an institute to reclassify directly from Division III to Division I. St. Thomas has been a national power under Hall of Fame Coach John Tschida. Tschida has guided St. Thomas for 21 seasons and led the Tommies to back-to-back DIII National Championships in 2004 and 2005.

Doane in Nebraska will name Davis & Elkins Coach Jordan Olson to their top spot RTS has learned. Olson has spent the last four seasons leading the Senators. D&E was 9-5 in the pandemic shortened 2020 season. Olson, a former Doane assistant, replaces Aurelia Gamch.

Baylor University has launched an inquiry into comments made on Social Media by Baylor Coaching Staff members that complainants considered of a “racial” nature. Baylor’s Equity Office is conducting the review. Waco attorney David Deaconson, who represents Baylor head softball Coach Glenn Moore and assistant Mark Lumley in the inquiry, said it his understanding that the probe began after complaints about Lumley’s “personal, conservative, Christian Facebook posts.”“The complaint arose from an assistant coach expressing his First Amendment rights on his personal social media page. The entire coaching staff is now being attacked. I have no doubt that when the facts come to light, this coaching staff will remain intact,” Deaconson said.The initial accusation and complaint was filed by former Oklahoma student-athlete and self-professed softball expert and instructor Iver McDonald. McDonald publicly shared an email response from Baylor Associate Vice-President for Equity Dr. Laura Johnson on the matter. McDonald’s Facebook posting denouncing assistant coach Mark Lumley seemed to encourage others to contact Baylor Administration to voice displeasure on the matter. Attempts to reach Ms. McDonald for further comment on the matter have proven unsuccessful.