Kaila Pollard Announces Transfer to Oregon

The following release information was issued by Oregon and information and photos courtesy of Oregon…

EUGENE, Ore. – Kaila Pollard, the No. 3 recruit nationally in the 2022 class according to Extra Inning Softball, is transferring to Oregon, head coach Melyssa Lombardi announced.

Pollard, an infielder from Riverside, Calif., played her freshman season at Florida. She hit .261 with seven doubles and 17 RBI in limited action with the Gators. Pollard appeared in 37 games and started 24. She started all four games for Florida at the 2023 NCAA Stanford Regional.

Pollard will redshirt the 2024 season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules and be a redshirt-sophomore with three years of eligibility remaining, beginning with the 2025 season.

“Kaila is an elite athlete who excels both on offense and defense,” said Lombardi. “She can play anywhere on the infield and can change the game with one swing at the plate.

“She can hit for power, for average and can run,” said Lombardi. “Her year of experience playing in a very tough conference and the NCAA Regionals will be a huge addition to our roster.”

Kaila Pollard, INF (B-L/T-R), Riverside, Calif. (Martin Luther King HS / Florida)
BEFORE OREGON
Played in 37 games and started 24 as a freshman at Florida in 2023 … Hit .261 with seven doubles, three home runs and 17 RBI … Had a pair of doubles against Mercer … Three multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games … Hit a game-tying homer against Kentucky in a contest Florida eventually won 6-2 … Started all four of Florida’s games at the 2023 NCAA Stanford Regional.

HIGH SCHOOL
The No. 3 recruit nationally in the class of 2022 according to Extra Inning Softball … Ranked as the No. 2 shortstop in the class of 2022 by both Extra Inning Softball and MaxPreps.com … Impressive club career with Athletics Mercado included an Alliance all-star selection in 2022 and the 2021 Alliance Tier 1 national club championship … During that 2021 national championship summer, hit for .420 with an OPS of 1.289 … Team won back-to-back titles at the 2021 and 2022 Colorado Sparkler tournament … Athletics Mercado also won the trophy at the OKC Top Club tournament in both 2020 and 2021 … Named to the 2019 Inland Sports all-area team as a freshman for Martin Luther King High School … Was named that school’s offensive player of the year and freshman of the year … Older sister Jordan Olivarez played softball at Villanova … Grandfather was in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ minor league system.

Kaila Pollard on Oregon
“I felt very welcomed and appreciated by everyone around. The atmosphere even with students home for break was amazing and it is clear student-athletes are valued and appreciated. The resources student-athletes have and the overall welcoming atmosphere of every team, coach and academic faculty member made me feel like Oregon was the right place for me.”

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