Softball Announces Eight Additions on NSD
Trachsel’s First Recruiting Class Ranked 10th in the Nation
OXFORD, Miss. – (Courtesy of Ole Miss Media Relations) On Wednesday, Ole Miss head softball coach Jamie Trachsel announced her first Rebel recruiting class, with the class of 2021 putting pen to paper on National Signing Day.
The Rebel class, ranked No. 10 in the nation by Extra Innings Softball, bolsters a healthy mix of talent all across the field. The class includes eight total signees, including four members of Extra Innings’ Elite 100 Player Rankings. Continue reading below for more information on Ole Miss’ eight signees to the Class of 2021
Brooke Barnard
INF | Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. | Palm Beach Gardens
HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked tied for 11th in Extra Innings Softball’s Recruiting Rankings … A three-time letterwinner at Palm Beach Gardens High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida … Had junior season in 2020 canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic … Helped lead PBGHS to district championships in 2018 and 2019 … Named all-state, all-county and all-district in 2018 and 2019 … Also named the offensive MVP in 2018 and 2019 … Batted .473 as a freshman with seven doubles, six home runs, four triples and 36 RBIs … As a sophomore, hit .439 with nine triples, five home runs and 42 RBIs, registering a slugging percentage of .840 … ranked in the top five percent of her class academically.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Curtis and Chapman Barnard … Born Jan. 7, 2003 … Has two siblings, Alexandra and Chance … Interns at a doctor’s office.
Lexie Brady
C/UT | Sioux Falls, S.D. | O’Gorman
HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked tied for 52nd in Extra Innings Softball’s Recruiting Rankings … A four-time letterwinner at O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota … A three-time South Dakota First Team All-State and four-time Class A All-Tournament Fastpitch honoree … Helped lead GHS to the state championship in 2017 … Played in 26 games as a freshman, batting .500 with eight doubles, three triples, a pair of home runs, 23 runs scored and 33 runs driven in … As a sophomore, batted .567 with nine doubles, five triples and four homers, scoring 31 runs and driving in 32 more … Posted a .656 average at the plate as a junior with nine doubles, five triples and four homers, registering 39 runs and 24 RBIs … As a senior, hit .544 with nine doubles, a triple and eight home runs, scoring 35 runs and driving in 28 more … Played travel ball for Sioux Falls Cyclones 03 and Nebraska Gold Nationals 18u … Also competed in track, basketball and powerlifting … Named MVP for shot up and discuss on the track team … Set the school shot put record as a sophomore … Finished second in the state in shot put in 2018, also taking third in 2017 and fifth in 2016.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Larry and Lynn Brady … Born April 14, 2003 … Has two siblings, Lynnzee and Lucas.
KK Esparza
C/INF | Friendswood, Texas | Friendswood
HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked tied for 69th in Extra Innings Softball’s Recruiting Rankings … A three-time letterwinner at Friendswood High School in Friendswood, Texas … Played under Olympic gold medalist Christa Williams-Yates … Helped lead her FHS team to a 2019 district championship … Named the defensive player of the year as well as first team all-county and Texas Sportswriters All-State in 2019 … Batted .352 as a freshman with 13 RBIs and three extra base hits before suffering a season-ending injury … Hit .510 as a sophomore, recording 11 doubles, six home runs, 41 RBIs and 13 stolen bases … 41 RBIs as a sophomore set the school record … Prior to junior season being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, batted .442 with five doubles, a triple, two homers, 17 RBIs and six steals … Played travel ball for 18u Hotshots Dumezich … Member of the all-A honor roll.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Charlie and Christie Esparza … Born Feb. 9, 2003 … Has three siblings, Cayne, Charleigh and Chylie … Helps out with coaching in her free time … Has career plans of working in sports psychology.
Keila Kamoku
INF | Kapolei, Hawai’i | Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
HIGH SCHOOL: A three-time letterwinner at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama in Honolulu, Hawai’I … As a junior, batted .500 with three home runs, nine RBIs and four runs scored before season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic … Played travel ball for Easton Preps Hansen 16u … Member of honor roll freshman through junior years.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Maile and Kela Kamoku … Born Jan. 1, 2003 … Has four siblings, Blaze, Diezel, Kelia and Zhyten-Tyga.
Brooke Lorenzo
INF/UT | Katy, Texas | Obra D. Tompkins
HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked tied for 103rd in Extra Innings Softball’s Recruiting Rankings … A four-time letterwinner at Obra D. Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas … Had junior season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic … received all-district honors as a freshman and sophomore … Batted .462 during shortened junior season with a .556 on-base percentage, 18 RBIs and two home runs … Named 2019-2020 Impact Gold Offensive MVP in travel ball … Also competed in basketball.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Henry and Shelly Lorenzo … Born Jan. 16, 2003 … Has one brother, Cory.
Annie Orman
OF | Myrtle, Miss. | West Union
HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked tied for 144th in Extra Innings Softball’s Recruiting Rankings … A six-time letterwinner at West Union High School in Myrtle, Mississippi … Had junior season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic … Tabbed the Northeast Daily Journal Player of the Year in 2019 as well as a Northeast Daily Journal First Team selection … Named Northeast Daily Journal Second Team in 2016 and 2017 … A first team all-division honoree four times from 2016-19 … As a seventh grader, batted .644 with 28 stolen bases … Registered a .506 average with a .570 on-base percentage and 33 steals as an eighth grader … Hit .569 as a freshman with a 1.086 slugging percentage, a .625 on-base percentage, 29 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and four home runs … As a sophomore, batted .577 with a 1.225 slugging percentage, a .691 on-base percentage, 31 runs driven in, 12 doubles, five triples and eight home runs … Also a five-time letterwinner in basketball … Played travel ball for Germantown Red Devils 14u-16u and Fury Platinum 18u … Member of honor roll and named senior class president … Member of FBLA, Beta, FCA, Northeast Mississippi Youth Foundation and Helping Hands of Union County
PERSONAL: Daughter of Scott and Angela Orman … Born June 10, 2003 … Has one sister, Alex Verrell … Father Scott attended Ole Miss.
Catelyn Riley
RHP | Dandridge, Tenn. | Jefferson County
HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked tied for 209th in Extra Innings Softball’s Recruiting Rankings … A three-time letterwinner at Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, Tennessee … Had junior season shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic … Named the 5Star Prep Pitcher of the Year and East Tennessee AAA Miss Softball in 2019 … Also an all-state selection as a sophomore … A two-time all-district, all-region and All-Lakeway Team honoree … Pitched 162 innings as a freshman, registering a 1.77 ERA with 210 strikeouts … At the plate, batted .345 with four home runs and 18 RBIs … Registered a 1.62 ERA as a sophomore in 215 innings of work, striking out 278 … Hit .423 with 10 homers and 43 runs driven in … During shortened junior campaign, pitched 17 innings with 38 strikeouts without allowing a single earned run … Posted a .600 batting average with three home runs and 13 RBIs … Played travel ball for Tennessee Heat Mayfield … Also played basketball … Named the Student of the Year in 2020 … A three-time member of the A-Honor Roll.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Spencer and Beth Riley … Born May 27, 2003 … Father Spencer was the starting center on Tennessee’s 1998 National Championship winning football team … Uncle Matt Riley played football at Middle Tennessee State … Uncle Rocky Riley played football at Tennessee … Cousin Jackson Riley played football at ETSU.
Makenna Segal
INF | Cumming, Ga. | South Forsyth
HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked tied for 65th in Extra Innings Softball’s Recruiting Rankings … A four-time letterwinner at South Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia … Set school records in career batting average (.489), single season batting average (.585), career on-base percentage (.620), single season on-base percentage (.722), home runs (34), single season home runs (12), career walks (118) and single season walks (43) … A four-time all-region and all-county selection … selected as the region offensive player of the year in 2017 and 2018 and the county player of the year three-straight years from 2018-2020 … A two-time team captain … Helped lead SFHS to region championships in 2017 and 2020 and Georgia State Playoffs Sweet Sixteen appearances four-consecutive years from 2017-2020 … Batted .425 as a freshman with 34 RBIs and eight home runs … Hit for .476 as a sophomore with a .596 on-base percentage, 31 RBIs and 12 home runs … As a junior, registered a .585 average at the plate with a .722 OBP, 27 RBIs and seven homers … Batted .468 as a senior with a .700 on-base percentage, 25 RBIs and seven home runs … Also competed in basketball, diving and lacrosse … Member of FCA, Spanish National Honor Society and DECA.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Grant and Cindy Segal … Born Sept. 12, 2002 … Has one brother, Griffin … Has career plans of becoming a sports broadcaster … Mother Cindy played basketball and softball at Saginaw Valley State … Father Grant was a diver at Florida State.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
