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Signing Day Observations

Posted by Bob from Oak Park on November 13, 2025, 2:45 pm

Just a few thoughts

Marist only had 1 kid sign, I know they have loaded junior class but it has to be years since Marist only had 1 kid sign.

Quite a few kids that are committed didn't see any announcements/pictures of them signing. Roster limits becoming an issue?

2 St. Charles East kids part of one of the top recruiting classes in D1

Antioch with 6 kids signing, 5 on scholarships, 3 D1 and 1 D2, what the hell is in the water up there.

LWE with 3 kids signing between D1 and D2.

I know I probably missed some high schools

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Diff time on November 17, 2025, 11:42 am, in reply to "Signing Day Observations"

Given the process is very different now, I know some schools don’t like to have one off signing events and do a big one in Dec and Spring after football signings are done.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Spring on November 16, 2025, 2:33 pm, in reply to "Signing Day Observations"

Was the national signing day last week, the actual main National signing day for softball? If 2026's are committed already, is there a reason why they wouldn't participate in this one, and do the spring signing day instead?

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by LWE correction. on November 15, 2025, 8:37 pm, in reply to "Signing Day Observations"

Lincoln Way East should have 3 D1 commits. Notre Dame, Penn St., and Louisville. + D2 signed player.

Lincoln Way West has two D1 players that are signed (NC State, and Valpo), 1 D1 commit (Loyola), three NAIA players, and two D2/D3 players.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by LWE Correction, correction on November 16, 2025, 9:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

LWE has 4 D1 commits and 2 D2 commits

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Lincoln Way East Question on November 17, 2025, 2:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

I'm not familiar with that school or conference (other than how strong it is), so can someone educate me on how they have such sustained success as a public school?

Is it because of a relatively strong club scene in the area? Is it because they have a strong feeder program (e.g., connection to the youth/park district leagues)? Is it having an exceptional coach?

It's interesting to me to see public schools have sustained success, and to try to understand why. Other examples would seem to be Barrington and St Charles North.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Bill on November 19, 2025, 12:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

You could throw Antioch in there as well. Softball is popular at the younger ages in all of those places and there are good youth programs surrounding them. In general public high school coaches do not drive softball programs unless they are involved in helping build the youth programs/middle school programs around them like Barrington and SCN. In addition the schools you mentioned are large and have numbers with the exception of Antioch.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @Bill on November 19, 2025, 3:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

I've seen Rocco the Antioch coach over the last few years at several of his players tournaments usually Betcher events, Demarini, and WI Lightning events. Thjis and Rocco do things similarly and its probably why both have successful programs and kids that enjoy the high school season. I am not saying they are the only ones.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@Bill on November 19, 2025, 4:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Thijs is awesome, along with Poulin they are arguably the best HS staff in the state, however they are just one of the many factors on why that program and even SCE have had sustained success over the last 5-10 years. Bill kind of touched on it above, The best athletes in that St Charles area , for whatever reason chose softball when they were discovering athletics, could be the neighborhood they were in and that's what all their friends were playing or looking up to older girls in the neighborhood that played, there was an excellent rec program in that area for many years, then most of them funneled into solid travel programs with great coaches like Wasco and Silver Hawks. All of these play factors into the success of the sport at those HSs and maybe the same goes for other areas, such as Barrington and SWS. Bottom line, I don't think its one coach, Its not necessarily wealth (that helps), its just one big snowball effect that starts when these kids are 4 & 5 years old.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Yep! on November 20, 2025, 10:21 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

100% agree!

If you are 4 miles south or east of St. Charles very few young athletes are playing softball.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @LWE Question on November 17, 2025, 8:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

As far as all the Lincoln Way Schools go I would say the number one reason that that Lincoln Way East, West and Central have sustained success is due to the economic situation that the families are in.

There are a lot of families in Mokena, New Lenox, Frankfort, and Manhattan that have more disposable income than most other towns. Lets be honest, playing high level travel softball is very expensive. Paying for private hitting lesson or pitching lesson is expensive.

The number two reason for consistently putting girls at D1 programs has to do with the parents being more dedicated to the kids development.

You could add schools/areas like Crown Point, or Lake Central, Lockport/Homer Glen to that list.

The one thing all those towns have in common is the families have disposable income.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@LWE Question on November 18, 2025, 8:12 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

I have to agree, to an extent, that money buys repetitions/lessons/games, and repetition is the key to consistent success. I also see less affluent families where the parents are athletic and help train their kids, but money helps.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@@LWE Question on November 18, 2025, 4:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

The financial resources component makes sense, but I don't see a lot of high-level players coming out of the north shore or Burr Ridge...

May also be a cultural thing - the sport seems to be just more popular in those areas too.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by It's More on November 18, 2025, 11:22 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

It's more than just lessons/training. It's the ability to play on elite programs, afford the travel, and gets the advantage of the recruiting help.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by LWE on November 17, 2025, 7:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

They're not that successful. Not sure why people are even talking about them. They always have lots of talent, but always underachieve in softball. They do have 2 strong junior high programs that feed into the school. Hickory Creek wins state practically every year, but it never translates to anything other than an early exit in the playoffs. The coach is clueless.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@ correction on November 17, 2025, 8:29 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Who you know definitely helped

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@@Correction on November 17, 2025, 9:04 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Know what else helps? Talent helps, playing on a team that is consistently challenged by DI level players help, not having bat shit crazy parents who college coaches see whining to the AD every week helps, consistently reaching out to coaches and showing well when they watch helps, going to camps and rising to the top helps.

Getting recruited is a process and the process starts and ends with being really good. All the actions in the middle counts, but in the end the better players typically get recruited.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@@@Correction on November 17, 2025, 10:03 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

If a player is not a standout in high school ball, how do they make D1? Connections.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Chill out on November 17, 2025, 2:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

You get a D1 offer by getting on the Chill. Even if hundreds of girls are better than your D and offer from a P4 is certain.
It’s all about the name on the front of your jersey.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Bill on November 19, 2025, 1:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Not true. That is the biggest B/S statement ever. There are several players over the years who have not been recruited and not everyone gets a P4 offer. Don't insult the girls who worked hard to earn those scholarships because your daughter didn't make the cut. FYI There are also many girls who were cut or didn't make the team that received P4 offers and played P4. You still need to perform.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Bill is WRONG on November 19, 2025, 4:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Respectfully disagree!

Along with a Strawman argument alert. Nobody wrote anything about girls not putting in the effort.

The name on the front of your shirt absolutely matters to the lazy college coach.

Signed
My Daughter Plays D1

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Softball. Dad on November 18, 2025, 7:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Not accurate!! Chill has a number of 2026 players uncommitted.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Real facts on November 19, 2025, 9:22 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Chill only have two uncommitted 2026 players and one of the two just joined the team this fall. They'll be signed soon.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Well on November 20, 2025, 7:58 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Bandits also have at least one 2026 who isn’t signed. I don’t understand.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @Chill Out on November 17, 2025, 2:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

That's so right, total scam. College Coaches have been getting duped for years. They'll never catch on that there are hundreds of better players than the Chill or Bandits. Coaches are so dumb.

Keep selling the story scooter.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Bill on November 19, 2025, 1:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

You are a an idiot. Don't disrespect the kids who worked hard to get an offer and don't disrespect the many kids who didn't get recruited by insinuating they automatically would get recruited by putting a jersey on. There are other routes to get recruited not just the Chill and the Bandits. See Chicago Cheetahs, NLL, Sparks, Wasco etc... I can probably name ½ dozen D1 P4 girls from those organizations in the 2026 class alone.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Name Caller on November 19, 2025, 4:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Since name calling is allowed I will drop a bomb.

Notre Dame’s recruiting decisions are crazy.
Illinois will never be very good because of their recruiting methods and decisions.
Northwestern and Wisconsin are decent.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @Bill on November 19, 2025, 3:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Please tell us how many P4 scholarships those other orgs have produced in the past 24 months.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@Bill on November 19, 2025, 5:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

No dog in this fight, but I enjoyed sniffing this out... here is website results from 16U and 18U teams of P4 commits:

NLL: One - ND.
Sparks: Zero.
Cheetahs: Five - ASU, So Carolina (2), NW, GaTech
Wasco: One - Purdue.

Chill: Ten - PSU, MN, MichSt, NW, VT, ND, UK, NCST, ILL, Louisville

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Evidence Suggests on November 20, 2025, 11:54 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

That Bill lost this debate.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Ten!!!! on November 20, 2025, 11:02 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

The Chill have 10 P4 commits. Then it is settled. These college coaches simply call up Quinn and say “who ya got” instead of evaluating talent.

If the Chill had 10 legit P4 players they’d be steam rolling everyone. They are indeed very good, but they so are lots of other teams (and players).

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by one correction on November 20, 2025, 9:08 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

NLL's was done @Bandits and family chose to downshift

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@@@@Correction on November 17, 2025, 10:22 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

That makes me laugh.

In SOFTBALL, high school coaches usually do not do much. There is not enough time, they work with what is given to them (public) or who they recruit (private). If you think otherwise, I am sorry to say, but you are very wrong.

Most cannot even coach a recreational little league team.

In softball athletes get recruited in the travel ball world.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@@@@Correcdtion on November 17, 2025, 10:07 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Wait, have the words "high school doesn't matter, college coaches don't care" ever come out of your mouth? I'm guessing they're a standout in travel.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@@@@@@correction on November 17, 2025, 8:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

They are certainly NOT a standout in travel. She barely plays, and gets put in the outfield for a few innings as a courtesy and somehow manages to make multiple errors even in those very limited opportunities.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@@@@@@@correction on November 18, 2025, 12:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Your comments are correct. For high school and travel. Imagine the D1 experience will be short lived.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @Creep as F on November 18, 2025, 8:01 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

I'm assuming this isn't your offspring, so I'm calling it now, YOU ARE THE CREEPIEST POSTER OF 2025. Multiple individuals with a higher level of experience and success in the sport disagree with your assessment and even if they didn't your obsession is unhealthy.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @Creepy as F on November 18, 2025, 10:33 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Thinking the same, I wonder if people like this ever voice their opinion face to face.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by Correction on November 17, 2025, 3:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Rarely a hit and repeated errors are not D1.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @Bob on November 16, 2025, 9:53 am, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Antioch also has a junior committed to Michigan State. Which is stupid good for a 3A school. If you look at Lemont and Antioch’s playoff rosters from their 2023 state finals both schools had over 10 scholarship players listed

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @@Bob on November 18, 2025, 8:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Sister.

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by In the know on November 19, 2025, 2:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Signing Day Observations"

Younger sister was a better pitcher prior to injury, reinvented herself into a hitter, had several power 4 offers

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @BOP on November 13, 2025, 3:56 pm, in reply to "Signing Day Observations"

The should be no excuse for the roster limits impacting signings... but it happened.

The coaches had PLENTY of notice that the 25 max was coming, and some still signed way too many. And then had to go back and cut them loose.

Totally crap thing to do to a kid.

(I have no idea how many of these cases there were, but know of a couple.)

Re: Signing Day Observations

Posted by @Bob on November 13, 2025, 2:52 pm, in reply to "Signing Day Observations"

Maybe some people/schools just don't post, their social media person is bad.

Maybe the school did not take pictures.

Maybe...you missed a ton!!

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