Earlier this summer, we introduced you to our new blogger, Rose Wendel, a Class of 2027 corner infielder and pitcher currently competing for the Keystone State Bombers 18U team out of Manheim, Pa.

A dangerous power hitter who can smack a home run on any pitch, Rose smashed her first over-the-fence homer—on a high school field, impressively—at the tender age of 10 and hasn’t looked back since then. 

The young athlete recently moved with her family to Lancaster, Pa. where she attends Hempfield High in Salunga-Landisville and says she “practices outside as weather permits and in her family’s barn when the weather isn’t accommodating!”

Below you’ll find the latest from this two-sport athlete who hit a sizzling .588 at the club level this summer with a dozen dingers (note: her intro article from earlier this summer is included too)…

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Summer has been busy… I added up all my “softball” miles I traveled this summer, and it is over 9,000!

Between tournaments and showcases with my team, college camps and independent showcases, my travel has included going to Virginia Beach and Michigan several times with stops in Maryland, Washington DC, Delaware, New York, South Carolina, Connecticut and more.

It was great to travel with my team, compete and also see all the new places!

My summer was about growing as a player as well. I worked hard on my swing mechanics—upgraded to a heavier bat—and ended the summer season with 12 home runs and batting average above .500.  

In between trips, I also managed to fit in court time improving my tennis game. Tennis is my second sport and coaches have told me that having a secondary sport is a great complement to your main sport.

When back from my tournament travels, I squeezed in time to practice with my Dad (a former D1 tennis player) and worked on my serve. In the middle of August, I had tryouts for the high school tennis team. I made varsity again and this year I’m playing No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles!

Softball-wise, I just moved up to our 18U Keystone State Bombers team with Coach Amanda Herr over the last few weeks.

Our Fall schedule for my team is not finalized but we do have a couple of showcases in September and two in October as of now.

I was also very excited to learn that I was invited to guest play for a National Showcase team. I will be guest playing for the Athletic Mercado Showcase Team – out of my hometown of San Diego, Calif., and mostly playing with them on the East Coast or in middle America showcases as time allows.

I can’t believe high school has started but, honestly, I was really excited to see a lot of friends again that I did not get a chance to see during the busy summer season. I’m focused on my class work, taking all honors classes, so I know studying will be a big part of my daily regimen.

I finish my class schedule with health/weight training and it’s a fun class so it’s a great way to end the day. As September rolls in, we start high school fall softball, and I am really excited to attend a couple college camps this Fall!

As my journey continues in the sport, I feel so blessed with all the opportunities I’ve had, all the great coaches that help me, all the wonderful places I’ve been able to travel to and the amazing people I’ve met!!!

I love the sport of softball, I work hard every day and I thank God for the journey so far… bring on the rest! I can’t wait!!

— Rose Wendel

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Introducing Our Newest Line Drive Softball Blogger: Rose Wendel, a Top 2027 From the Keystone State

Originally published June 23, 2024.

As Line Drive Softball continues to grow, we will be adding the “voice” of the athlete to share what’s happening in softball from the perspective of the athlete.

Today, we’re introducing Rose Wendel, a Class of 2027 corner infielder, pitcher and strong hitter currently competing for the Keystone State Bombers 16U team coached by Sam Snyder out of Manheim, Pa.

A dangerous power hitter who can smack a home run on any pitch, Rose smashed her first over-the-fence homer—on a high school field, impressively—at the tender age of 10 and hasn’t looked back since then.

Here’s a video compilation of some of her home runs:

Rose grew up in San Diego, Calif. where she had older siblings who played baseball and softball, so she started hitting in the batting cages at just two years old!

She also was a talented pitcher who was on the mound in rec ball 8U games at age five and soon became the best hitter on the team.

At nine-years-old, Rose started playing travel ball and soon excelled thanks to her tremendous bat skills and her ability to throw with tough-to-hit spins among her multiple pitch options.

The young athlete recently moved with her family to Lancaster, Pa. where she attends Hempfield High in Salunga-Landisville, Pa. Rose practices outside as weather permits and in her family’s barn when the weather isn’t accommodating.

Check out this video interview with Rose where she explains her softball origins:

Rose also values working on the mental side of the game and maintains a healthy balance of good friends, impressive grades and a thankful and upbeat demeanor.

Ranked as a top 100 player in her class, she hit 10 over-the-fence home runs last summer in travel ball and, in her school ball and club games combined this spring, she smacked another 11 homers, but Rose is not a one-dimensional player only (power) as she also batted .483 with 89 RBIs.

The California transplant ended her freshman year with a 4.0 GPA in all Honors Classes. Rose is also a two-sport athlete for a 6A high school making both the varsity tennis and varsity softball teams as a freshman.

You don’t have to look far to see where her athleticism comes from:

• Her father played D1 tennis at the University of Washington,
• Her uncle played D1 soccer at Cornell,
• Her cousin played D1 baseball at Kent State University.

Looking ahead to playing at the collegiate level, Rose is passionate about competing at a high level now and in the future.

“My goal is to attend a school with strong academics and a competitive softball team,” she says. “On the field, I’m known for my work ethic, maturity, softball IQ, and composure on the mound.”

For now, though, she’s very busy and on the road a lot for her Keystone State Bombers team. It’s not likely you’ll find her at home in Lancaster too often.

Summarizing her softball play this summer, she explains:

“I was in Virginia Beach for a tournament and then flew to Michigan for a University of Michigan camp last week and also recently flew into State College for a national tournament at Penn State with my team. I also just recently went to a camp at Columbia University.”

The 2027 grad has shined in early events, hitting .500 at the Michigan camp and at the recent East Coast Showcase, she also hit at a close to .500 clip.

Rose will provide her written and video blogs a couple times each month and we’ll literally get to see her grow and develop into a college recruit right before our eyes!

She can also be found on the following social media pages:

• Instagram: RoseWendelSoftball
• Twitter:@RoseWendel2027
• YouTube:@RoseWendel

—Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball

If other players – be it a the club or college level – would like to blog for us, write brentt.eads@linedrivemedia.com and tell us your and what you’d like to share with our softball audience!