RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
Whenever Extra Inning Softball launches a rankings class–like we’re currently doing with the Class of 2027–we always get a new wave of readers (welcome!) and it prompts memories of players in the past who we’ve gotten to know as they’ve been honored as the No. 1 player.
Since we do the rankings for each class multiple times, it’s rare that one player has been No. 1 each time that age level’s rankings were updated but–with the Class of 2020–there was that one singular special talent who was on top every time:
Jayda Coleman.
Currently a junior for the No. 1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners, Jayda’s career has been amazing at every level and we’ve been privileged to cover each step in her journey.
She’s won National Championships, been an All-American and is showing no signs of slowing down as she smacked a two-run home run–her team-best eighth of the year–in the 30-1 Sooners’ most recent game, a win over Iowa State on March 25.
In one two-game series against Auburn two weeks ago, Jayda went 6-for-8 with five RBIs, four runs scored and a home run and her current .500 batting average ties her for 5th best in all of Div. I as OU hosts Texas in a three-game home series this weekend.
Wow.
It seems like I have been covering Jayda for the last 20 years–OK it’s been actually closer to a decade–but it’s impressive how she has been so accomplished at every stage of her prolific career.
For example, I can remember like it was yesterday being in Irvine, California for the PGF Nationals in 2014 and watching the 12U championship game.
That contest featured a team with a funky name, the DirecTV Genies, which would lose in an exciting game, 4-3, to the So Cal A’s – Mercado team but I could not take my eyes off a thin, but obviously talented shortstop who made play after play after play.
Her name? Jayda Coleman and, indulge me here for a second: take two minutes to watch some of the young Texan’s plays in that game:
Ummm… yea, that’s what I thought too!
Also, did you see her stats in the first at-bat? She was 15-for-23 (.652) after that first hit!
In those few minutes of highlights, you see everything that would make Jayda a future high school and college All-American along with being the top-ranked player in the 2020 Extra Elite 100: great hitting, speed on the bases and unbelievable defense (did you see her one-handed grab at the 1:15 mark to start a double play?!?). Seriously?!?
I don’t know whether I like that turn at second more, though, or her dad, Cedric, showing off some enthusiastic dance moves right after that inning-closing play!
So what made me think about this event nine years ago?
Those PGF Nationals was when I first saw Jayda on the national stage and realized this was a future star in the making.
I’ve been privileged to watch Jayda grow up literally in front of my eyes and get to know her and her wonderful parents–you can see where she gets her Texas charm, sense of humor and great personality.
How impactful has Jayda been? Since Extra Inning Softball began in 2018, we’ve referenced Jayda 227 times in stories, rankings, videos, etc!
When she was chosen as the #1 player in the 2020 Extra Elite 100 more than three years ago, we thought we’d come up with something different on her and thus the article below which is fun to remember on this Throwback Thursday.
So continued best of luck to Jayda as she continues in her amazing softball career but, man, what a ride it’s been so far!
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17 Things You Didn’t Know About 2020 Extra Elite 100 #1 Jayda Coleman
Originally published Nov. 4, 2019 on Extra Inning Softball
On Friday, we announced our Top 10 of the 2020 Extra Elite 100 and heading the list was a repeat selection, Jayda Coleman from The Colony, Texas.
Jayda has been on the national scene ever since she made some jaw-dropping players for the DirectTVGenies, coached by her father, Cedric, at the 2014 PGF 12U Nationals.
Both father and mother, Deana, are coaches and have done a wonderful job of raising Jayda to be a success on and field the softball field.
And, boy, is she good between the lines.
Kevin Shelton, her coach on the Texas Glory 18U team, may have put it best when describing Jayda’s softball IQ when he said, “Jayda is playing chess while most are playing checkers.”
But that could describe her softball skill set in many ways.
*** To see the complete list of the 2020 Extra Elite 100, click HERE.
Today, the current high school senior has continued to elevate her game, earning All-American honors in high school, winning National Championships with Shelton’s Texas Glory team, committing to Patty Gasso and the Oklahoma Sooners, excelling with the USA Softball U-19 Women’s National Team and just about everything else you can do at a high level in softball for her age.
Last year, when she was named as the top player in the 2020 Extra Elite 100 at that time, we ran a short clip of Jayda as interviewed by Coach Shelton and you get a sense of her personality:
But there’s a lot more to Jayda and we thought it would be fun to ask HER: “What are some things people generally don’t know about you?”
Here’s what she came up with… and we think you’ll agree she’s had a pretty interesting and very accomplished life so far!
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1. I played my first select softball game when I was still in day care. People would ask me what grade I was in and I said I go to Kids Count Too (that was my daycare). My mom would have to drive me around in the car at tournaments so I could have my naptime.
2. The first time I went to a softball camp was at Oklahoma State University. I was in the 5thgrade. The coaches asked me when I graduated. I remember saying “I don’t know, hold on… Mom, what year do I graduate?”
3. I was the 2019 Homecoming Queen at The Colony High School.
Congratulations to our 2019 Homecoming King Keith Miller and Homecoming Queen Jayda Coleman. pic.twitter.com/30RFDB8yJY
— The Colony HS (@TheColonyHS) October 3, 2019
4. I have also played varsity volleyball since I was a freshman. I have almost 1,000 career kills (991) and 1,000 career digs (987) with at least two games left in the season. I missed the first month of the season when I was playing for the USA Softball U-19 Women’s National Team.
5. I’ve run varsity track since my freshman year and have the school record in the long jump at 18’2 and triple jump at 37’10. Each of the last three years—the 9th, 10thand 11thgrade track seasons—I made it to the Regional Track meet. The top two athletes at regionals go to the state meet, but twice I couldn’t go due to playoff softball games.
6. I am a member of FCA, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
7. I participate in a program called PALS (Peer Assistance Leadership). This program works with special needs kids from elementary to high school. We help them prepare for the Special Olympics, Job Olympics and other activities at the high school.
8. I absolutely love Erin Miller. She is my favorite softball player. She was my mentor and pal when she played at OU. Since the day I first visited OU, I just loved Erin Miller.
9. Favorite TV show is Greys Anatomy.
10. My cousin Kendall Coleman got drafted out of high school to play baseball for the Yankees.
11. My favorite subject in school is Chemistry.
12. I want to become an orthodontist.
13. I have Dyslexia. I really struggled when I was younger with reading and spelling because letters look scrambled. I still struggle today but I have figured out how to work through it.
14. My favorite thing to do is to meet new people.
15. I want to live on the outskirts of a big city with a lot of land so I can have a bunch of animals.
16. I am a Hot Cheeto Puff addict.
17. The best part of playing on the USA softball team this summer was all the awesome people I got to meet. All the coaches, trainers, managers and players are just awesome people.