Club News: New Mojo – Wade ’07 Team Emerges with a Strong Core to Build Upon

Head Coach Jason Wade has been a part of two national championship teams in USA Softball and has seen his teams ranked in the Top 10 club ratings for many years, but he knew he work to do with the new Mojo 07 team.

“It really is a phoenix type of story as they rise from the ashes,” he explains. “A good team is run by its participants with the help of leadership willing to listen to the needs of the participants.  It is a circle of life if you want it to be successful.”

The core elements are there for the rebuilt team to be success, the coach says. “We have elite speed, spin and speed (62-plus mph) and big bats. We’re a triple threat!”

Here’s a closer look as compiled by Extra Inning Softball correspondent Will Turner…

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A new member of the Tennessee Mojo organization has been born recently, as a recent changing of the guard has taken place.

Mojo – Wade ’07 is a new team in the Tennessee Mojo organization that was built out of a team that saw itself evolve down to only a few members remaining after the spring and summer season.

“Parents and players from the old regime were asking for a higher level of coaching, leadership and accountability,” said head coach Jason Wade, who’s taken over the new squad. “As seasons change, so do leadership and direction.”

The spring and summer season was a successful one for the then existent squad that went 49-15-1 and picked up multiple wins against Top 20 clubs in Extra Inning Softball’s 14U club rankings against reputable teams like EC Bullets – Holcombe, Atlanta Vipers – Tamborra, and VA Unity – Johnson, which won PGF Nationals.

But with that chapter in the books, in comes Wade, who makes the jump from Mojo – Lunsford, a successful 16U team that took home the Atlanta Legacy 16U Invitational Championship in July, among other top place finishes on the travel circuit this summer.

Wade’s new ’07 team will get a chance to practice with Mojo’s ’05s to get ready for the upcoming slate of games.

“Brooks Cherry has continued to allow each team to have its autonomy while using the organization as a resource for success,” Wade said.

There’s certainly resources aplenty for Mojo – Wade within the organization.

Mojo – Fisher (under Josh Fisher) was a 2021 PGF Nationals Premier finalist in the 16U division, while Mike Danley won PGF Nationals twice. Pair that with Wade’s former partner at Mojo – Lunsford, Mike Lunsford—a two-time USA National Champion in his own right—and there’s plenty of precedent for the new Mojo – Wade ’07 team to follow.

While official tryouts just wrapped up Saturday, Mojo – Wade already had eight talented players committed to the team:

Jahnnie Patterson is a 2025 second baseman and outfielder that got on base a lot, getting plunked 16 times, which helped compile a .565 OBP this spring. When she got on base, Patterson was dangerous, stealing 27 bags. A 2.8-second home to first time explains why she was so effective on the base paths, as she’s built her game around elite speed, excellent athleticism and high IQ for the game.

Haley Barrett was formerly the only ’07 player on the Georgia Impact – Hollifield ’06 team before making the jump to Mojo – Wade, starring as the starting third baseman, especially offensively. Barrett has great gap-to-gap power and is a strong situational hitter.

Katelynn Wilson is ranked as the No. 24 catcher and No. 50 overall player in the Class of 2026 by Extra Inning Softball and plays corner infield as well as catcher. Wilson hit .400 in the fall and spring of 2021 and slugged over .700, putting together a 51-hit, seven-homer and 40-RBI campaign on the travel circuit. In addition to her skills on the softball diamond, Wilson is a multi-sport athlete pairing softball with soccer, basketball and track and field.

Caitlyn Nesbitt is coming off of a fantastic summer where she hit .393 with 45 RBI, 13 doubles and a 1.154 OPS along with a 12-1 record and a 1.63 ERA in the circle. As the No. 1 ranked outfielder in Georgia and the No. 8 outfielder in the country, Nesbitt had 11 homers this season, including a 250-foot bomb during the Triple Crown Series in Georgia. Nesbitt was also a region champion in the 100-meter dash and the 300-meter hurdles and was the MVP on her middle school soccer team at West Laurens Middle in Georgia.

Riley Nelson comes from the successful Impact Gold – Steger team, where she was a team leader in home runs and RBIs this past season. She’s the No. 79 ranked player in the country and has an effective drop ball that can hit spots and change speeds well to keep hitters off balance. Another dual-sport athlete, Nelson plays basketball for her high school team.

Ronnie Wade gives Mojo – Wade another speedy outfielder that’s one of the highlights of this budding team. Ranked by Extra Inning Softball as the No. 24 overall outfielder, the 2026 star can slap, bunt or hit for power and slashed over .400 with an even better on-base percentage. Her sister, Cameron, is a shortstop on Mojo – Lunsford.

Kendra Walker is one of the out-of-state talents that Mojo – Wade brings in, Walker hales from Florida, where she was a member of the Tampa Mustangs organization. The rising freshman from Wesley Chapel High is a rising power hitter and already has a few Power Five schools looking at her. Walker stands 5-foot-5 and will play catcher for Mojo.

Halley Nobles comes in as an incoming freshman at West Laurens High in Georgia and is yet another speedy outfielder that Mojo – Wade will have at their disposal. Nobles hit .412 in the fall and led her team in steals with 22 and OBP with .533. Keeping the theme of multi-sport athletes, Nobles plays basketball and soccer, as well as softball.

— Will Turner, Extra Inning Softball correspondent