Reviewing the Recruiting Classes: Mid-Major Programs Ranked 26-49

The popularity of collegiate softball ensures that the days of Power 5 schools signing all the top talent in the nation is in the rearview mirror.

Mid-major programs have continued to make inroads during the recruiting process and have signed some of the top players in the nation.

In fact, 65 teams competing at the mid-major level secured recruiting classes ranked in the top 100 nationally.

Extra Inning Softball provides a look at the recruiting classes for mid-major programs that are ranked from 26-49.

Editor’s Note: Princeton is ranked 38th in the rankings, but the Tigers entire class information was unavailable.

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UAB Blazers

As UAB softball nears closer and closer to the 2024 season, the Blazers gear up for a new set of faces come Fall 2024. The Green and Gold come off their first year under AJ Daugherty, who was named head coach in the summer of 2022. Since then, the Blazers finished second in Conference USA, with Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors to add.

“As a staff, you want to feel like the program is heading in the right direction. Today was a great day for the trajectory of UAB Softball,” said head coach AJ Daugherty regarding the signing class. “We signed a class that will have the opportunity to make a dynamic impact on our program, and we are very excited about that.”

Five young ladies signed, spanning over four cities and two states, with numerous accolades on and off the field. Brantlee Wortham, Bria Allen, Hannah Cole, Jenna Madison, and Tait Davidson signed Wednesday, making their alliance clear to the Green and Gold.

The Blazers class is ranked 39th nationally and three players are ranked in the Extra Elite 100 rankings.

Wortham is ranked 39th, Davidson is ranked 41st and Allen is ranked 57th.

UAB release

East Carolina Pirates

Kendall Frost, Jenna Krol, Ava Fisher, Gabby Fowler and Brooke Masingale have signed their national letter of intent to play for East Carolina’s softball program beginning in the fall of 2024 according to an announcement by third-year head coach Shane Winkler.

“We’re really looking forward to getting our 2024 class onto campus,” Winkler said. “This group is explosive. We’re bringing in pitching with the potential to be dominant in our conference and a ton of power at the plate. This is the class with the potential to change our goals from postseason play to deep postseason runs. They will have a lot of success in Purple and Gold.”

The Pirates class of Frost, Krol, Fisher, Fowler and Masingale is ranked 35th nationally. Frost is ranked 19th in the Extra Elite 100, while Krol is ranked 20th and Masingale is ranked 85th.

East Carolina release

Florida Atlantic Owls

Florida Atlantic University head softball coach Jordan Clark announced the Owls’ 2024 signing class.

“This class is going to be something special for Owl fans to watch and get to know. We have eight amazing young women who are confident in who they are and where they want to spend the next four years. As a coaching staff, this group blindly trusted us without seeing our full vision play out on the field. I know we recruited not only amazing softball players but uniquely authentic women who are going to not only win championships on the field but in the classroom and community. This class brings power, speed, athleticism, and passion. I knew with this class we had a vision of what type of athletes we wanted and what our team needs were. We feel like we have eight girls who can play various roles if needed. We feel like we got the best of the best in this class and it’s always rewarding when others recognize that as well. We have several in the top 100 rankings for being the best at their positions. The future is bright with the recruiting we have been able to do and will continue growing because these eight have been promoting that Paradise is the place to play.”

Camrynn Gutherie (Burnet, Texas), Bella Foran (Hoover, Ala.), Emilie Ching (Windermere, Fla.), Brooke Kuczynski (Downers Grove, Ill.), Annika Segedi (Trenton, Mich.), Destiny Johns (Groveland, Fla.), Emma Grace Williams (Buford, Ga,) and Sophia Camacho (Boca Raton, Fla.) comprised the Owls recruiting class.

The Owls eight-member class is ranked 28th in the nation and includes three players ranked in the Extra Elite 100 rankings.

Foran is ranked 28th, Williams is ranked 32nd and Camacho is ranked 54th.

Florida Atlantic release

James Madison Dukes

The James Madison softball team has signed six student-athletes as part of its class of 2024, announced head coach Loren LaPorte.

Madalyn Johnson, Taylor Johnson, Emily LeGrand, Cali Legzdin, Lilian “Lili” Smith, and Raegan Wall officially signed their National Letters of Intent and will join JMU in the fall of 2024.

“Our staff is very excited to welcome the highly talented 2024 class,” LaPorte said. “These student-athletes will bring in a great deal of athleticism, versatility, and tools that will impact the program immediately. By position, the class is comprised of two pitchers, two utility players, one outfielder, and one corner. We are looking forward to having their competitive experience and championship mindsets in Harrisonburg next fall.”

The Dukes class is ranked 44th nationally and includes two players ranked in the Extra Elite 100 rankings. LeGrand is ranked 27th and Wall is ranked 31st.

James Madison release

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