Since starting our 2026-2027 edition of the Master Commit Spreadsheet on Sept. 1, we have now 1,365 commits in the less than two months since then!

Of those, 590 are for the current junior class (2028’s) and 693 are seniors (2027’s).

These seniors included since Sept. 1 are in addition to the 2027’s who committed previously—the nearly 2,000 listed in LAST year’s Master Commit Spreadsheet?

Important NOTE about 2027’s: We are still getting a heavy number of 2027 commits coming in so if you’re one of those, feel free to send your info in to us to get added into our system.

NOTE: We publish the updated lists weekly–typically on Sundays & mid-week in the fall… the next edition will be a week from today–Wednesday, Nov. 4–as we’re on the road this weekend at a club event.

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Today’s Commit Spotlight Is… 

Illyana Shepard, an outstanding 2028 pitcher/first baseman for Beverly Bandits – Conroy, announced yesterday that she’s Big Ten bound as the 2028 grad from Rogers, Minn., has committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Last month, we announced Illyana as being ranked No. 25 in the Line Drive Media 2028 HOT 100… here’s what her bio said:

T-25—Illyana (Lilly) Shepard, P/1B, Beverly Bandits – Conroy
Lilly is a strong left-handed pitcher and hitter and came from the Minnesota Moose club program before, as Head Coach Bill Conroy explains it, “she hit the ground running with our Beverly Bandits team.” The athlete has an exit velo of 83 mph and throws in the mid-60’s. Coach Conroy adds: “Lilly spins the ball extremely well and can hit her spots on a dime as well as throw a traffic change-up.” Not just a pitcher only, the athlete from Loretto, Minn., also hits for a high average and has top-end power with the bat. Lilly’s bat speed has been clocked at 63.4 mph and at the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS) last year, she batted .455 in 21 plate appearances.

Lilly already holds multiple single-season school records for Rogers High showing her talent not just as a pitcher but also a hitter–these include ERA (.023), total bases (68) and slugging percentage (.821).

Overall, as a sophomore she pitched 38.2 innings and gave up just one earned run while limiting opposing hitters to a .150 batting average. With the bat, she hit .474 with a .534 on-base percentage and had seven home runs with 29 RBIs.

An interesting aspect to Lilly’s story is that, at the age of 12, she was “diagnosed with a lower-back stress fracture and acetabular hip dysplasia,” which is a condition where the hip socket fails to properly cover and support the ball of the thigh bone.

She ultimately had a four-hour surgery at Gillette Children’s hospital in St. Paul, Minn., and today is pitching at 100 percent.

As detailed on the hospital’s website in an article titled “Hip Care at Gillette Helps Illyana Become a Stronger Softball Player” published last November:

When Illyana was 12, she began to feel pain in her back and hips. That prompted her mother, Jennifer, to schedule an appointment with Gillette Children’s pediatric orthopedic spine surgeon Walter Truong, MD.

“Dr. Truong diagnosed Illyana with a stress fracture in her lower back, and he thought something also looked off with her hips,” Jennifer recalls.

“He ordered additional imaging and tests, and that’s when we got a diagnosis of hip dysplasia.”

After a year of monitoring Illyana’s acetabular dysplasia, Dr. Dittmer and Illyana agreed surgical intervention was the best next step.

“After her surgery, we noticed Illyana’s pitching mechanics were better,” Jennifer says. “That’s because her hips were not wiggling and were in better alignment.”

“I feel stronger as a pitcher,” Illyana says. “My body just feels stronger overall, and I’m happy I had the surgery and have a great care team at Gillette.”

Here are some recent video clips of Illyana working out in the cages on her hitting and pitching skills:

Little peek at pitching lessons this week! We focused on leg drills, gaining my speed back, and my change up! @Bandit16uConroy @MidwestPremierS @ExtraInningSB @THEWOWSB @D1Softball @LineDsoftball @SoftbalAmerica https://t.co/o5uUghg7HB

— Illyana Shepard 2028 LHP (@IllyanaShepard) September 25, 2026

Getting some swings in, working inside pitches! @Bandit16uConroy @ExtraInningSB @MidwestPremierS @LineDsoftball @SoftbalAmerica @THEWOWSB @TOP_D1RECRUITS @D1Softball https://t.co/OFYDpLQAgi

— Illyana Shepard 2028 LHP (@IllyanaShepard) September 26, 2026

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If you know of a commit AT ANY LEVEL, email Brentt.Eads@LineDriveMedia.com to get the verbal added to our Master Commit Spreadsheet

*** Click HERE to see our 2025/2026 database of nearly 4,000 commits!

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Here are some recent commits who have posted their happy news on social media… here are a few of them…

FINS UP 🦈🩵 https://t.co/roBcWea2li

— Taylor Marvin 2028 (@taylormarvin37) October 16, 2026

Committed to @UCRSoftball 💙💛🤞See you in Cali 🌴 @diamondaddicts @CommitBoundSB @CommitU_Sports @SoftbalAmerica @ExtraInningSB @LineDsoftball @SoftballDown @NashvillePreps @DfwSho @PrepSoftball @MaxPreps @MainStreetPreps @Tpalmateer83 https://t.co/Y435gzibaw

— Ashlyn Elliott (@ashelliott2028) October 24, 2026

I am so excited to announce my commitment to play softball at Fordham University! Thank you to Coaches Melissa, Kenzie, and Bella for this amazing opportunity. I also want to thank my family, friends, coaches and teammates for all their support along the way. Go Rams!! 🐏❤️ https://t.co/LJPecn7xgL

— Lucie Touomou c/o 2027 (@LucieTouomou) October 9, 2026

ROLL GATE’ 🤍🤍 I am officially a raider!! Colgate ‘32 #rollgate @MattNandin @MarissaLamMyers @ColgateSoftball @Intensity16uBOD @tagupSoftball https://t.co/94mgV2kK2P

— Siri Krabbe #7 (@SiriKrabbe2028) October 23, 2026