Jordyn Bahl's 'Scary' Decision To Decommit From Nebraska

Update: Jordyn Bahl announced her commitment to Oklahoma on Sept. 16, 2019.

The crowd around the field at Aurora Sports Complex at the Triple Crown Fireworks looked like a coaching convention. There were 60-plus in attendance and most were from Power 5 schools.

Jordyn Bahl of the 16-and-under Iowa Premier tries not to pay attention to all the coaches who crowd the backstop with their radar guns and clipboards. She acknowledges their presence and as a pitcher, how could she not?

“An important thing that our coaches preach is don’t play for the (college) coaches, don’t play for the full-ride scholarships, don’t play for that part of the game,” Bahl said. “Play because you love of the game and play because you love to compete. That’s our main focus so we don’t worry about who’s watching.”

The junior from Papillion-La Vista (Nebraska) is the No. 18 recruit in the class of 2021. She committed to Nebraska the summer entering her freshman year of high school and on July 1, she announced her decommittment and opened herself up for recruiting again.

“Scary,” Bahl said to describe her recent decision. “I committed super young, when I was 14 and I just came to the realization that I go off to college soon and I only got to visit one school. (So) I just wanted to open it up, see what opportunities come, go visit more schools and just make sure that where I end up is going to be the best fit and feel like home for the next four years.”

Iowa Premier was founded by Greg Dickel in early 2014 and has become a pipeline for midwest kids finding homes in Division I softball. Dickel compares Bahl situation to IPF alumna, Kendyl Lindaman.

“I compare Kendyl’s situation a lot to what Jordy is going through now and all the attention and deservingly so,” Dickel said. “She’s a special kid.”

Bahl excels in all facets of the game. She consistently throws between 65 and 67 m.p.h. and hits homers in the heart of the lineup. She even has speed on the base paths.

But, it’s never just about her. She always wants to shine light on her teammates.

“She’s a tremendous team player, tremendously competitive,” Dickel described her. “She can hit as well as she can pitch and she’s a sub-14 second home-to-home speed kid too. She’s got all five tools and makes a difference for our team.”

A self-claimed adrenaline junkie, Bahl thrives in the big moments. She’s not afraid of any challenge presented before her and it’s apparent when she’s throwing a bullpen in front of 2019 Women’s College World Series coaches and more.

She hasn’t completely ruled out Nebraska but by opening her recruiting back up, it will allow her to slow down and really take in the experience of the recruiting process.

“I really like the new rule,” Bahl said. “Growing up in Nebraska, Nebraska is the team. It’s every kid’s dream is to play for Nebraska. There wasn’t any pressure. I got an offer to play at my hometown school, obviously (in that moment) I’m going to do it. A part of me still feels that way but I have to realize that I only get four years of college softball and I just want to make sure I’m somewhere that feels like home and go through more of a process to make sure I feel like that.”

Q&A With 2025 Standout Abby Hammond On Goals, College, More

Abby Hammond was named the 2022 Gatorade Softball Player of the Year for the state of Kentucky.