Sorcerer 18 Gold - Mumma

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Reputations can be created early in high school softball, even before a girl throws her first pitch or gets her first hit. The growth of travel ball allows kids like Johansen sophomore Gabby Maurice to face top competition while in elementary school. It also puts them in front of college coaches representing the nation's top programs, so they've faced pressure situation long before high school. Johansen sophomore Gabby Maurice, "Most everyone wants to go on to play college softball, so travel ball is like a summer tryout," said Maurice, a second baseman who is with the Concord Sorcerer this summer. "Coaches want to see us hitting against top pitching, and they want to see pitchers getting out the best hitters."Such offseason work is one reason the high school game is improving, and also why it seems to be getting younger:• Maurice, a speedy leadoff hitter with eight homers and a commitment to UCLA, is The Bee's Player of the Year. 

At the time, Maurice was a slap hitter who drove the ball into the dirt and used her fast feet to reach first. From that point, Johansen assistant Corey Reid said, Maurice could manufacture her own run.

"Get me Gabby on first base and I can get you a run," Reid said. "She'll steal bases, take an extra base on an out, force fielders to make poor throws. Most kids need a hit in there to get home, but not Gabby."

Maurice batted .391 and hit one triple and one homer as a freshman, as Johansen got to the section final. She batted .506 with six triples and eight homers this season, after she had committed to the Bruins.

She has a 3.7 GPA and will take Advanced Placement statistics in the fall, part of her academic plan. Even though UCLA offered and Maurice accepted, nothing is official until she signs a letter of intent — and that's two years away.

"UCLA offered me based on what they've seen me do and how they believe I'll improve my game," said Maurice, who also can play short. "They expect me to get stronger, faster and better in the field. There is no way I'm going to relax."

That's why Maurice has regular workouts at the gym, focusing on strength and agility with her personal trainer.

"I work with Pablo Hernandez at Athletic Edge, and that has improved my swing, giving me the extra power," said Maurice, who scored 41 runs and drove in 24. "I wanted to go beyond being a slap hitter, so I had to get stronger. I had to change my swing, as well.

"Slappers want to get on top of the ball, so you can drive it into the dirt in front of home plate. I want more power, so I had to level my swing, trying to get that line-drive power."