Lainey Stephenson '17

[RichHParticipant]

Veritas Prep, Arix.
A P ,second in the nation in SOs with 468.

[TMHParticipant]

WOW…Fran’s recruiting is unbelievable. Read this.

http://www.captainu.com/Softball/2017/LaineyStephenson

Keep in mind that she is only heading into her junior season and is already a 2 X small school AA. I have to believe that even small school softball in AZ is pretty good.

[RichHParticipant]

Just finished article and watching video. Fran is a remakable coach and recruiter. Can you recall any recruit, over the last few yrs particularly,where we weren’t saying Wow.

[RichHParticipant]

Any clue what is going on with Vball?

[TMHParticipant]

Rich,
Truthfully, I was not that excited about the 2014 recruiting class other than Yozzo. Other than that, you are right. I just wonder how good Stephenson has been in ASA ball. At 29-1, Veritas was only ranked as the #66 team in AZ. Then again, Bauscher played Group 1 (smallest) in NJ. Campbell pitched at a small prep school. In Fran we trust

Volleyball had a mass defection during the off season. Lowe and the Carrol twins left the team over the summer. All 3 were expected to contribute a lot. I had high expectations for the team this year.

[RichHParticipant]

Knew Lowe left,did not know twons quit also. They leave big holes in rotation.

[RichHParticipant]

TMH great article on Stephenson in Arizona paper.

[LU15Participant]

See she throws a screw ball, LU’s Fernando Valenzuela

[RichHParticipant]

She’s cuter and at least 100 lbs less than Fernando. Hope her screwball is as good

[TMHParticipant]

Here is the link

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/03/10/softball-pitching-phenom-lainey-stephenson-feels-home-academically-challenging-veritas-prep/81168406/

I talked to Fran about her and in true Joe Paterno fashion, he tends to downplay expectations. She does play at a very low level (as Fran noted) but I’m sure he didn’t recruit a sophomore by going to Veritas to watch her play. She must have performed well in California ASA ball.
She is however a pre-season All-American as a junior and is considered one of the very best players in AZ.
Of some note, I’m not sure if she is hurt, since she didn’t play in their last 2 games.

[TMHParticipant]

Lainey is struggling a little bit this season, compared to her 1st 2 campaigns. I think that there may be a hand injury involved.

http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/lainey-stephenson/VoTueJdYEeOzMAAmVebBJg/gendersport/softball-stats.htm

With that being said however, she recently became just the 4th pitcher in the country to amass 1,000 Ks in a career since they moved the mound back to 43 feet in 2001. The really amazing part however is that she is in the middle of her junior year.

Arizona softball star Lainey Stephenson reaches 1,000-strikeout plateau in just three seasons

[RichHParticipant]

Holy mackerel! What is the post 01 career record for strikeouts?

[TMHParticipant]

Lainey was named 1st Team A/S Division 3 in Arizona but as a utility player. She can really hit too.

[TMHParticipant]

Stats for anyone who looks at these things

http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/lainey-stephenson/VoTueJdYEeOzMAAmVebBJg/gendersport/softball-stats.htm

[RichHParticipant]

Where do you think she’ll play here? A P who also hits?

[Author]

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