Top 9 classes from SEC. That is crazy

Boozer92 said:

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Top 9 classes from SEC. That is crazy

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Not sure what we have to do to get in that top 5 but I wish we could.

Aubrey Moore is the only outstanding 2026 commit remaining to sign, correct?

KLB93 said:

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Aubrey Moore is the only outstanding 2026 commit remaining to sign, correct?

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That's what my list has.

cevans_40 said:

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Boozer92 said:

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Top 9 classes from SEC. That is crazy

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Not sure what we have to do to get in that top 5 but I wish we could.

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I certainly don't understand recruiting rankings and in softball am very skeptical because they don't seem to project as well as some other sports.

That being said #5 has 5 4star recruits. We have 6 4star recruits and a 3 star so we fall 3 spots. I can't see the logic there.

Agree. I don't understand the total scores, they don't seem to have a rhyme or reason.

Thanks again for posting, we appreciate it !!

So did we not offer Coach Ford's daughter or did she want to go out and make her own way someplace else?

I think it is the latter but just my thought.

Coach said in an interview that it would be better for both of them if they weren't together. This is D1 Softball Class rankings that came out today.

Boozer92 said:

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cevans_40 said:

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Boozer92 said:

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Top 9 classes from SEC. That is crazy

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Not sure what we have to do to get in that top 5 but I wish we could.

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I certainly don't understand recruiting rankings and in softball am very skeptical because they don't seem to project as well as some other sports.

That being said #5 has 5 4star recruits. We have 6 4star recruits and a 3 star so we fall 3 spots. I can't see the logic there.

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I don't really know either but I am guessing it has to do with not getting players in the top 25. Until we sign a sure-fire ace in the circle, I am not sure it will matter. I am very pessimistic about this season. I just don't think we can get it done in the circle. Lessentine has the best shot to be great but its going to take quite a bit of improvement over last season. Let hope Coach Ford can work her magic with her.

I don't know, maybe I'm just on the opposite end but I expect to see Lessentine take a big step forward in the spring. Sidne and Kate are more than serviceable and I think if if we are able to keep her fresh and keep her in a closer role Taylor Pannell is going to be great for us

Signing class press release:

https://12thman.com/news/2025/11/11/softball-welcomes-top-10-2026-signing-class

A huge welcome to Aggieland to all of them !!

dz_ag16 said:

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I don't know, maybe I'm just on the opposite end but I expect to see Lessentine take a big step forward in the spring. Sidne and Kate are more than serviceable and I think if if we are able to keep her fresh and keep her in a closer role Taylor Pannell is going to be great for us

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I desperately hope you are right. I think a deep post-season run is critical to building a powerful program.

Today the Shriner softball classic in Clearwater Fl went on sale.

Link?

https://www.clearwaterinvitational.com/tickets/

This season feels like one that will start slow and awkward and end strong

Get to Know: Ariel Kowalewski

https://12thman.com/news/2025/11/18/softball-get-to-know-ariel-kowalewski

I sure hope she gets to start this Spring, making the long wait worth it.

frankie00 said:

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Get to Know: Ariel Kowalewski

https://12thman.com/news/2025/11/18/softball-get-to-know-ariel-kowalewski

I sure hope she gets to start this Spring, making the long wait worth it.

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I don't believe there is any reason she wont. Is this in doubt?

Oh, she will probably start but the question is where. Coaches move players around a lot but I think the infield might be set for the start of next season (KP, KK, Tallen, Micaela). Catcher and one outfield position probably still up in the air. She has been working with the catchers so just might see her there.

When Ford has talked about her she always mentions catcher.

Do we think we see the full schedule release before Thanksgiving?

I am very strongly leaning toward Ariel being the starting catcher. I have never seen her play the position but she is smart, talented, a competitor and swings a good bat.

Schedule - I have been expecting the full schedule to come out 'any day' for several weeks. Was out a lot earlier last year. Probably still trying to work out a competive mix of teams even though in the two tournaments already announced (Left Coast and Florida) already have four of the top teams in the Big 10 plus OK State - these will be great tests !! We gave away the game vs OK State last year - great that we are playing them so soon AND two of our players are OK State transfers and both will probably start so makes it even better !!

Trying to think of other teams from the north who are usually pretty good since they play a lot of games in the South in the early season because of the better weather.

I always like to see Texas teams and we usually play them. TX State, Sam Houston and Baylor are common (played each one this Fall) but would like to see Houston, too. Wonder if they will schedule TX Tech again? North Texas common, too.

Also like to see Louisiana and SE LA because they are usually good although Louisiana dropped off after their coach went to Tech and took his best players with him. We have Duke from the ACC scheduled in each of the tournaments already but maybe Florida St will travel to College Station (we beat them in twice in Florida, at their place, last year) and certainly have to wonder if Coach Harger would consider scheduling Clemson and Ford's daughter !! But, he might wait until she is a starter !!

Would certainly be interesting to see Liberty in February!

Other surrounding state teams that would be good are Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, New Mexico and New Mexico State. Lessentine is from NM so that would be cool.

Anyway, I am sure the coaches will pick a great variety of opponents that will make us even more anxious for February to roll around !!

(when the schedule IS posted will see if this is correct or not !!)

Louisiana's schedule page has them at the "Texas A&M Invite" starting Friday, Feb 27. Their schedule for the tourney:

Saint Mary's
Texas A&M
Kennesaw State
Saint Mary's
Texas A&M

Texas State shows them playing A&M in their "San Marcos Show Down" tournament starting Friday, Mar 6. Their schedule for the tourney:

Tarleton State
Saint Francis
Texas A&M
Saint Francis
Tarleton State
Sam Houston

Adding the dates above to the dates now on the Aggie schedule page, in chronological order):

(OPEN, probably a home tourney starting on Fri, Feb 6. Checked a few possible opponents and did not see anything)
Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational our first game on Fri, Feb 13
Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic our first game on Thu, Feb 19
Texas A&M Invite starts Fri, Feb 27
San Marcos tournament starts Fri, Mar 6
A&M's first SEC series vs LSU starts Sat, Mar 14

We play Texas Tech Feb 7. Providence, Bryant and Abilene Christian also here that weekend. Maybe another

Boozer92 said:

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We play Texas Tech Feb 7. Providence, Bryant and Abilene Christian also here that weekend. Maybe another

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Since my first breath on the planet, I will cheer for another team to beat the Aggies when my daughter's Bryant Bulldogs face the maroon and white Sunday afternoon...

And Trisha knows it!

Get to Know: Taylor Pannell

https://12thman.com/news/2025/11/25/softball-get-to-know-taylor-pannell

Only Kate, Maddie and Kelsey left so almost finished going through the roster.

Softball schedule page updated:

https://12thman.com/sports/softball/schedule

Includes the usual two non-conference tournaments in College Station, the tournament in San Marcos and several mid-week non-conference games.

Just checked for that this morning. You're always on top of it! Thanks for sharing

Unfortunately we only get 2 non-conf/non-tournament midweek games at home this year (they're playing 3 total) and 6 less home games overall than last year.

Given the outcome last year, maybe adding away games is a strategy. And pocketing more cash to pay for the $20 million upper for roster changes and internal NIL payments is absolutely necessary.

greg.w.h said:

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Given the outcome last year, maybe adding away games is a strategy. And pocketing more cash to pay for the $20 million upper for roster changes and internal NIL payments is absolutely necessary.

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I have no idea what you mean by last year and how more away games helps.

Yes, we need to add more money to the NIL fund and buy a front-line pitcher.