Tag: Aggie softball

The Texas A&M softball team went 4-0 in the Aggie Classic for a strong start to the season

The Aggies softball team sweeps the weekend with a strong offensive output

The long ball was on full display over the weekend with the Aggies hitting an impressive 12 home runs over four games. They outscored their opponents 39-9 on 34 hits and ran the bases well.

It’s a good start but they still have some work to do as they allowed 9 runs in just two games. Besides that, Coach Trisha Ford has a lot to like from what she’s seen so far.

“For Aggie softball um I thought our offense tonight um was just absolutely dynamic I don’t know just lots of hard hit balls they’ve been working hard our lineup as you can tell has changed quite dramatically from last year”
“..just you know for me it’s first you know day of the season so some good and some things that we need to improve on which I think is always good.”
There is a lot to be excited about going forward and you can watch some of the highlights from the successful weekend.

Texas A&M Softball’s 2024 National TV schedule has been released

The Aggies’ nationally televised schedule is out, and fans will get eight chances to see them take on a number of SEC opponents

Head softball coach Trisha Ford is ready to get rolling in a few weeks and we now know what games will be nationally televised. With a solid core returning from last year and an experienced transfer pool to boot, the Aggies have a lot to look forward to when the season starts.

Leading the way will be the SEC pre-season No.1 ranked catcher Julia Cottrill and the No.19 nationally ranked outfielder Jazmine Hill. Both players bring energy and a veteran presence to the field that the team can benefit from while making a run to the super regionals.

Out of the eight televised games, three will be at home: South Carolina, Auburn, and Kentucky. The remaining five will be on the road: Alabama and Florida. For the dates and times, you can check the image below.

Texas A&M will open the season at Davis Diamond when they host the Aggie Classic from February 9 -11th.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1

An early look at year two for Texas A&M head softball coach Trisha Ford

Head Softball coach Trisha Ford previews the 2024 season and she is excited to get started

The Texas A&M softball team is putting in work this off-season in preparation for coach Trisha Ford’s second year at the helm.

Some new faces on the staff and players will be on the diamond this season. We got to see our first look at those fresh faces during the fall ball and now they are ready for the season.

“I’m just excited I think that we have a lot of good ingredients and it’s going to be up to us if whether or not we can kind of put them all together but um we’ve got a good mixture of old good mixture of new and really they understand what to expect out of us you know now”

There is always a question if new players will gel with the current team especially with the transfer portal being so active these days and Coach Ford is excited about where they currently are with the new teammates.

“we honestly have been spoiled the last two years they’ve transitioned so well”

Below you can view everything Coach Ford had to say in the lead up to the start of the season.

 

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1

The Aggie Softball team officially inks it’s 2024 class on National Signing day

Texas A&M head softball coach Trisha Ford brings in a haul on National Signing Day with 10 class of 2024 players signed

National Signing Day is here for several college athletics, including softball. The Aggies brought in a good haul, inking ten newcomers as coach Trisha Ford starts to build her roster for the future.

Harley Vestal

  • Blue Bell/TSWA Class 5A all-state first team
  • THSCA 5A Softball Super Elite Team
  • District 26-5A Offensive MVP

Kate Munnerlyn

  • All-Bay Area First Team
  • West Coast Preps Softball Pitcher of the Year
  • Blue Bell/TSWA Class 5A all-state first team
  • 2nd team All-Conference

DeeDee Baldwin

    • 2nd Team All-Conference

Khamara “KK” Dement

  • All-Central Sequoia League First Team
  • Jennie Finch Classic participant
  • Player of the Week multiple times

Della Jasinski

  • Honorable Mention Pitcher Blue Bell/TSWA Conference 5A All-State team
  • First Team All Brazos Valley
  • District Pitcher of the Year

Sydney Lessentine

  • District 3-5A All-District

Taylor Brown

  • Three-Time Conference Player of the Year
  • Three-Time All-State
  • Three-Time Missourian Player of the Year

Larisa Perez

  • Blue Bell/TSWA Class 6A all-state first team
  • District 12-6A Co-Offensive Player of the Year
  • Lady Dawg Most Valuable Player of the Year

Frankie Vrazel

  • Two-Time All-District Offensive MVP
  • Danbury High Female of the Year
  • Softball Newcomer of the Year (Freshman)

Kelsey Mathis

  • #11 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100
  • Two-Time 1st Team All-District

Congratulations to these young ladies for committing to the best University in the Great State of Texas, and we wish them all a great senior season.

Aggie softball adds talented coach Bobby Buchanan as Director of Player Development

Trisha Ford keeps adding top coaching talent to her staff with the hire of talented player developer Bobby Buchanan

It was announced a few days ago that Trisha Ford added Bobby Buchanan to the Aggie Softball staff. This is one of my favorite assistant coaching hires across Texas A&M athletics in recent years. Coach Buchanan has an excellent eye for talent and is a forward thinker in growing a solid mental game for athletes.

Before joining the Aggie staff Coach Buchanan worked his way up from a volunteer assistant at Texas State University to Head Softball coach at Louisiana College. He also spent some time as a professional coach for the ASBA league.

“Bobby Buchanan is the real thing,” said Michael Chiaradio, CEO and Chairman of ASBA. “His wealth of experience brings credibility and excitement to our league. We couldn’t be happier to welcome him to the ASBA family.”

Most recently, he’s worked with multiple softball players via affordable and data-driven consulting through his company, High & Inside.

This is a tremendous hire for Coach Ford’s staff, and I have no doubt it will play dividends almost immediately. Let’s welcome Coach Bobby Buchanan to the Aggie family with a Howdy and Gig’em.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

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Russ Heffley will move to a full-time role on the Aggie softball staff

Aggie Softball: Volunteer assistant coach moves to Full-time position on coach Ford’s staff

Russ Heffley is a veteran softball coach that has been with Coach Ford since 2020 and served as the in-game first base coach and oversees the catchers. With his new position, he will take on a new task, including recruiting for the Aggies.

Head baseball coach Trisha Ford announced Heffley would be joining the team in a full-time capacity:

“Russ is more than deserving of the promotion,” Ford said. “Coach Heffley has been an important piece to my staff the past three seasons and is an integral part of Aggie softball. He has a great understanding of how to connect to young players, develop and elevate their game. More importantly, he has a lot of passion for the game and brings a positive energy to the clubhouse each day that is contagious. I’m thankful to Ross Bjork, Jeff Toole, and our administration for their continued support and commitment to the Aggie softball program.”

Congratulations to Coach Russ Heffley on his promotion. We look forward to watching him excel in his new duty. Gig’em!

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

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The Aggies add veteran coach Eric Leyba to the softball staff

Aggie Softball is not only bringing in solid transfers but also showing they are in the coaching market by adding Eric Leyba to the staff.

Not only are players on the move this summer during the portal season, but coaches are also looking for new opportunities or challenges across the NCAA map. Coach Ford hasn’t just hit the transfer portal for the talent; she made an impressive hire adding Eric Leyba as an assistant coach.

Coach Leyba will arrive at Texas A&M after spending the last five seasons as the infield and hitting coach for the Oregon State Beavers. While there, he helped coach Freshman infielders Frankie Hammoude and Maia Rader take home Pac-12 All-Freshman honors at their respective positions.

Below is what Coach Ford envisions that Leyba will bring to the team

“We are excited to add Eric [Leyba] to our staff as he brings a wealth of knowledge, experience but more importantly the ability to connect with our players,” Ford said. “Coach Leyba has been around the game of fastpitch softball most of his life as both a player and coach. His ability to recruit nationwide, identify talent and elevate their level of play once they get to campus is something that I am looking forward to.”

Trisha Ford is making a push this offseason to ensure her young talented team can have all the right pieces in place to have a more successful run in year two. Let’s all welcome Coach Eric Leyba to the Aggie family.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

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All Pac-12 Freshman is headed back to Texas to join the Aggie softball team

A&M softball team continues to add talent to next season’s roster via the transfer portal

The portal season isn’t over yet, and the Texas A&M softball team continues to add talent to next season’s roster. With the addition of former UCLA Bruin Kennedy Powell, Coach Ford can feel confident in the quality of the in-team competition she will replace after losing three to the portal earlier this summer.

Powell hails from Conroe, Texas, where she was a star two-sport athlete named the District 13-6A Offensive Player of the Year in back-to-back years before joining the UCLA softball team. She had a very productive freshman year in Southern California, starting 45 of 59 games played and having one of the team’s better batting averages.

The Bruins are a softball powerhouse, and with Powell joining the Aggies, she brings in something that Coach Ford constantly preaches about…. playing at a high level at all times. Even though UCLA did have an unexpected early exit from the NCAA Tournament, they still only lost seven games the entire season, beating many good teams along the way. Below are a few stats from Powell’s freshman season and her announcement via Twitter.

Kennedy Powell snapshot:

  • Pac-12 All-Freshman Team
  • Batting Avg – .374
  • Hits – 43
  • RBI – 21
  • Home runs – 1
  • Stolen bases – 5

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

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2024 Aggie softball commit Kate Munnerlyn racks up the accolades

Aggie Softball commit named Softball Player of the year by the Bay Area News Group

Coach Ford is bringing in a highly productive left-handed pitcher from Northern California named Kate Munnerlyn in the 2024 class. The St. Francis product boasted a very impressive 0.55 ERA en route to a 16-win season. After a strong performance in the playoffs, where she threw three no-hitters and did not allow an earned, she was named the Bay Area News Group softball player of the year.

Not only was she named player of the year, but she was also named to the All-Bay Area First Team, All-West Catholic League First Team, and the West Coast Preps Softball Pitcher of the Year. The pitching might be her bread and butter, but she can also hit the ball well, as she ended the season with six home runs and hit over .300.

The Aggie softball team will return a solid core, including a few talented transfers. With this impressive 2024 class, the cream will have to rise to the top as they compete for playing time and try to build off last season.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

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Aggie Softball stays busy in the transfer portal adding two more

As the transfer window hits its final stretch, Coach Ford lands two more commits out of the portal

With about a week left in this portal window, the Aggies are pulling in some reinforcements for next season’s campaign. Ole Miss pitcher Brooke Vestal and Louisiana infielder Kylei Griffin announced via Twitter that they will be transferring to Texas A&M, bumping the total of transfers to three in the past few weeks.

Brooke Vestal confirmed she will be joining her little sister, 24′ commit Harley Vestal, in College Station for the 2024 season. Vestal will bring a wealth of Big 12 and SEC experience to the after spending the last few seasons at Oklahoma & Ole Miss making her a great addition to the pitching rotation.

Brooke Vestal Ole Miss snapshot:

  • 12-5 Overall Record
  • ERA – 3.14
  • Oppo Batting Avg. – .191
  • Strikeouts – 104

After one season representing the Ragin’ Cajuns, Freshman Kylei Griffin is headed back to the Lone Star State to be a part of the Aggie Softball team. The Tyler, TX native announced via twitter that she will be transferring for the 2024 season. Griffin was a multi-sport athlete who excelled on the softball diamond and left high school as one of the top prospects in the state. She will bring even more athleticism to the infield and will create some healthy competition for playing time.

Kylei griffin snapshot:

  • Batting Avg – .242
  • Hits – 8
  • RBI – 3
  • Home runs – 1

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

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