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Troy University Softball — Recruiting Overview
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3-Year Snapshot (2023 – 2025*)
2025 season (through Apr 25 2025)
- Overall record: 29-21, 8-10 Sun Belt
- Roster size: 24 players
- Positional mix: 6 pitchers ▪ 2 catchers ▪ 3 infielders ▪ 4 outfielders ▪ 9 utility
- Class mix: 9 freshmen ▪ 6 sophomores ▪ 4 juniors ▪ 5 seniors/grad
- Incoming freshmen (9): Emily Ferro, Caiden Oliva, Reaghan Oney, Hallie Ueberroth, Laney Williams, Dailynn Motes, Ally Fleck, Reese Green, Mya Holt
- Transfers added (4): Kate Peters (Lipscomb), Sarah Beth Brake (Wallace State CC), Cassidy Boltz (Gulf Coast State JC), Esmee Ames (Nova College, NL)
- Non-senior departures after 2024: 4 (no returning under-class players missing from current roster).
- Home-state spread: AL 12, FL 5, GA 3, TN 1, MS 1, KY 1, INTL 1
2024 season
- Overall record: 34-22, 13-11 Sun Belt
- Roster size: 28 players†
- Positional mix: 5 pitchers ▪ 3 catchers ▪ 8 infielders ▪ 7 outfielders ▪ 5 utility†
- Class mix: 8 freshmen ▪ 7 sophomores ▪ 6 juniors ▪ 7 seniors/grad†
- Incoming freshmen (8): Alexis Detwiler, Mia Tidmore, Makaley Boswell, Alyssa Faircloth, Savannah Money, McKinnon Howard, Mya Holt*, Kate Peters* (*spring enrollee)
- Transfers added (5): Sarah Beth Brake, Cassidy Boltz, Kate Peters, Esmee Ames (JUCO int’l), Bailey Drapola (Pittsburgh)
- Non-senior departures after 2023: 6 (headlined by ace Leanna Johnson/graduation).
- Home-state spread: AL 17, FL 4, GA 3, TX 1, MO 1, PA 1, NJ 1.
2023 season
- Overall record: 33-19-1, 14-9-1 Sun Belt
- Roster size: 20 players
- Positional mix: 5 pitchers ▪ 2 catchers ▪ 6 infielders ▪ 6 outfielders ▪ 1 utility
- Class mix: 4 freshmen ▪ 6 sophomores ▪ 6 juniors ▪ 4 seniors/grad
- Incoming freshmen (4): Emma Faulk, Jaida McCord, Kayden Dunn, Olivia Cato
- Transfers added (0): none
- Non-senior departures after 2022: 7 (including OF D’Aun Riggs and P Brookelyn Cannon).
- Home-state spread: AL 8, FL 6, GA 4, TX 1, Others 1.
*2025 record through games of April 25 2025.
†2024 roster counts reconstructed from official announcements and media-guide PDF; exact positional totals may vary slightly.
Key Takeaways
- Youth surge. Nine true freshmen headline the 2025 roster, giving Troy its deepest first-year class in a decade.
- Alabama pipeline. In-state talent supplies half the roster every year, peaking at 12 of 24 (50 %) in 2025.
- Circle rebuilt via portal. Transfers Kate Peters (RHP) and Esmee Ames (RHP) join returners Money & Faircloth, pushing staff to six arms.
- Power bats arriving. JUCO slugger Cassidy Boltz (.621 SLG at Gulf Coast State) and Florida prep Emily Ferro add needed pop to a lineup that homered 35 times in 2024.
- Retention improving. Non-senior departures dropped from 6 → 4 between 2023 and 2024 off-seasons.
Projected Positional Needs – Troy University Softball
Using the 2025 roster (24 players) as a baseline—9 freshmen, 6 sophomores, 4 juniors, 5 seniors/grad—we
estimate how many athletes at each position will graduate before the 2027 and 2028 seasons and how many new Trojans the staff should recruit to keep a balanced 22- to 24-player roster.
| Position group |
Leaving before
2027 |
Needs for
2027 roster |
Leaving before
2028 |
Needs for
2028 roster |
| Pitchers |
2 (both RHP) |
Add 2–3 – target one power RHP and one LHP |
2 |
Add 2 – strike-thrower plus late-inning reliever |
| Catchers |
1 |
Add 1 catcher with 1.9-sec pop time |
1 |
Add 1 – LH bat preferred |
| Infielders |
3 |
Add 3 – glove-first SS and two corner bats |
3 |
Add 3 – high-OBP 2B and impact 3B/1B |
| Outfielders |
2 (CF/RF) |
Add 2 – plus-runner CF and RBI corner |
2 |
Add 2 – big-arm RF + speed LF |
| Utility / DP |
1 |
Add 1 left-handed bat who can play 1B/OF |
1 |
Add 1 versatile hitter to slot at DP/UTL |
Recruiting Focus – Class Arriving 2027 (for 2027 season)
- Two frontline pitchers – one righty with 65-mph velocity and one lefty for match-ups.
- Catch-and-throw catcher to replace a graduating starter.
- Premium shortstop ready to anchor the infield, plus two corner infield power bats.
- Center-fielder who can run down gaps and lead off.
Recruiting Focus – Class Arriving 2028 (for 2028 season)
- Another two-pitcher bundle – high-spin freshman and veteran transfer.
- Middle-of-order right-fielder with 10+ HR upside and 65-mph arm.
- On-base machine 2B to set the table for power bats.
- Left-handed utility bat who can rotate through DP, LF and 1B.
Coaching Staff
Eric Newell — Head Coach
Third season at Troy (2023- ) after a 500-win D-II stint at Auburn Montgomery; owns a 96-62-1 record with the Trojans and led the club to 33 wins in his debut campaign. A five-time NCAA regional coach, Newell’s teams are known for power hitting and high-pressure small-ball.
Camden Decker — Assistant / Offense & Recruiting
Former Jacksonville State catcher entering year 3 on staff; coordinates hitting, catchers and player-development data systems.
Anna Shelnutt — Assistant / Defense
2018 WCWS hero at Florida State; joined Troy in 2023 and helped offense rank top-5 Sun Belt in runs, walks and slugging in 2024.
Leanna Johnson — Assistant / Pitching
Program strike-out queen (2023 grad) who transitioned to staff role in 2024, mentoring a youthful staff to a 3.11 ERA.
About the School
- Founded 1887 as Troy State Normal School; flagship of the statewide Troy University System.
- Four Alabama campuses + 60 teaching sites in 17 U.S. states & 11 countries.
- Fall 2024 enrollment ≈ 14,500 (5,924 on the main Troy campus).
- 820-acre hill-top main campus in Troy, AL; 50 mi from Montgomery.
- Offers 260 undergrad & graduate programs across 5 academic colleges.
- Carnegie R2 (High-research) classification; $70 M+ annual sponsored research.
- Member of NCAA Div I Sun Belt; 16 varsity sports compete as the “Trojans.”
- Signature facilities: Janice Hawkins Park sculpture garden & Trojan Oaks Golf Practice Course.
- Ranked #15 “Most Innovative School” in the South (U.S. News 2025).
- Alumni network > 150,000 across 100 countries; governed by Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. (since 1989).
Admission Standards (FTIC 2025-26)
- Unconditional admission: high-school core GPA ≥ 3.0 (4.0 scale) – test optional.
- Conditional admission: GPA 2.5–2.99 with supportive materials.
- Honors & scholarship benchmarks: ACT ≥ 20 / SAT ≥ 1030 & GPA ≥ 3.0 (scholarships); Honors Program requires ACT 26 / SAT 1250.
- 16-unit high-school curriculum recommended (4 English, 4 Math, 3 Science, 3 Social Studies, 2 foreign language).
- Applications accepted year-round via the Troy portal; rolling decisions; $30 fee.
- Test-free applicants may still submit scores for course placement & aid.
- Transfer: college GPA ≥ 2.0 on ≥ 12 transferable hours for unconditional entry.
Other Tidbits
- Nearest major airport: Montgomery Reg. (MGM) – 55 min
- Nearest major international airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) – 3 h
- Landmarks: Hank Williams Museum (Montgomery), Pioneer Museum of Alabama, Conecuh National Forest
- Famous alumni: DeMarcus Ware, Bobby Bright, Larry Hicks
- Avg. daytime highs: Spring 75 °F • Summer 91 °F • Fall 80 °F • Winter 60 °F
Links and Media
Troy Softball — Official Social Media
Key Program & School Links