It was a good weekend for Head Coach John Rittman and his Clemson coaching staff as the Tigers picked up a verbal from a Top 50 player in the 2026 Line Drive HOT 100: Abbi Call who competes for Joe Harvey’s Newton Rock 18U team and is from the eastern side of Pennsylvania close to Scranton.

Here’s how we described Abbi last week when she was profiled in the rankings at No. 44:

Abbi Call, P/1B, Newtown Rock 18U – Garvey
Abbi is one of the top 2026 pitching prospects in the Northeast as a 5-foot-8 power pitcher who throws in the mid 60’s with a curve, drop, screwball, and change-up in her repertoire. She helped lead Joe Garvey’s team to a 36-9-1 record this past summer contributing as a key member of the pitching staff and faced many of the top 18U teams in the country. Abbi was named to the PGF All-American Watch List and, for the summer, she had a 9-2 record with a 2.86 ERA. She’s a dual threat who also hits for average and power with an exit velocity of 75 mph (OnDeck Measurements testing) and is a threat to go deep at any time. During her high school campaign in the spring for Valley View (Archibald, Pa.) High, Abbi was second in the state with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs and in the circle went 11-2 with 102 K’s in 61 innings pitched to earn All-State recognition.

One key fact about the talented 2026 grad is she has shined against elite competition, even playing up against opponents a year or two older than year.

“We brought Abbi up to our 18U team last year as a sophomore,” recalls Garvey, “where she had success pitching against some of the top 18U teams in the country. She is a true power pitcher, and her velocity is now consistently 65-66 mph.”

“In addition,” the Newtown Rock head coach continues, “she throws a very heavy ball that results in a lot of ground ball outs. We expect Abbi to continue to refine her game over the next two years and be ready to contribute early in her college career.”

Line Drive Softball got in touch with Abbi yesterday to get her thoughts on her verbal to Clemson and more… here’s what she had to say:

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LINE DRIVE SOFTBALL: Congrats on your verbal commit to Clemson! Have you come down out of the clouds yet? Seriously, how rewarding and fulfilling does this feel now after all the hard work you’ve put it to get to this point?
ABBI CALL: I couldn’t be happier to announce this accomplishment! I’ve trained since I was nine years old to fulfill my dream of playing at the collegiate level!

LD Softball: Tell us how the moment of actually committing to the coaching staff happened?

AC: I got an offer that I could not turn down and I decided to commit on the spot which was very exciting. It was on Saturday.

LD Softball: Your official visit… when was it and were there other recruits on the Clemson campus also?

AC: Yes, my visit was this past weekend; I went on some other visits, but I felt Clemson was the best fit for me. There were five other recruits on the visit and two other recruits that I know of committed: Emma Ford (an outfielder with Arizona Rising 18U – Appel) and Jordyn Johnsen (an infielder with Firecrackers 2026 Leles/Enyard). Editor’s note: both are also Top 50 in the Line Drive HOT 100 rankings.

LD Softball: When and where did the Tigers’ staff first find out about you?
AC: The coaches have been watching me play throughout the fall/summer and I’ve also been to multiple camps. 

LD Softball: From your perspective, what sold Clemson on being the place for you?
AC:  The second I stepped on campus, I fell in love with the school. It is surrounded by so many people and things that just made it feel like home.

LD Softball: When and how did they offer you? I.e. was it on the trip itself or earlier?
AC: I went on an official visit and met with the coaches towards the end of the visit. They met with me, my mom and grandfather and just had a conversation to get to know us some more. My dad and brother, Brody who is 15, couldn’t make it because Brody had a varsity football game. All of my grandparents have always supported me throughout this process, they are probably my biggest fans, and I would say I have about 12 cousins that I’m extremely close with.

LD Softball: What did Coach Rittman and staff say they love about your game to bring you in?
AC: Coach Rittman and his staff said that they love my personality, resilience, athleticism, pitching and hitting skills, and how I pick my teammates up even when I’m having a bad outing.

LD Softball: What accomplishment are you most proud of so far in your softball career (personally and as a team member)?
AC: I’m proud of being on the PGF Watchlist for All-American recognition, of being a two year varsity starter for high school, being named as an Athlete of the Week and Year and earning All-State and All-Region honors for the last two years. I’m also proud that we won a District Title and, on the travel ball side, that we’ve played the best competition and won many games.

LD Softball: In your “thank you” post you extend gratitude to what sounds like a pretty big family!!! How did they support you through the journey?
AC: I’m extremely close with my cousins and brother they were there for me this entire process! My entire family has always supported me since I stepped foot on a softball field to achieve my goals. Without my family, I would never be able to do any of the things I have done, and I can’t thank them enough!

Abbi’s note on social media:

LD Softball: Do you know what you’ll study when you get to Clemson?
AC: My major is undecided right now

LD Softball: Finally, having gone through the recruiting process, what advice would you give young prospects who want to be where you are now?
AC: I would tell younger recruits to just be themselves and to trust the process! Everything happens for a reason and remember why you play the game because there is beauty in the struggle!

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball