Breaking down A&M softball's offensive attack in Ford's second season

Trisha Ford and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie softball team return to Davis Diamond on Friday to open the 2024 season with the Aggie Classic. We’re looking ahead to the upcoming season with our 2024 Texas A&M Softball Preview Series.

Trisha Ford set the foundation in her first year as Texas A&M softball’s head coach.

This year, the Aggies will build upon it.

The honeymoon is over. Now, the work continues.

The Aggies return to Davis Diamond on Friday to open the 2024 season.

Along with key returning pieces, the Maroon & White added some valuable transfers like sophomores Kennedy Powell (UCLA) and Kylei Griffin (Louisiana), and Ford and her coaching staff also welcomed freshmen such as Reagan Jones and Mya Perez to the roster.

“I want to see us step up and play this game at a high level, consistently,” Ford said. “My biggest goal is to be consistent in who we are. At the end of the day, I think we can be a super regional team, 100 percent. It's just going to be whether we can put the pieces together.”

As we await the first pitch at Davis Diamond, here’s a breakdown of what to expect from A&M’s position players.

Returning Seniors

Senior infielder Trinity Cannon led the Aggies with an on-base percentage of .469 while also picking up a few SEC accolades in 2023. A year ago, she made the switch from third base to first under Ford’s leadership. However, consistency is what makes Cannon’s talent shine. She reached base safely in 49-of-55 games and currently holds a 15-game on-base streak. Cannon finished the regular season with a total of eight home runs while also sharing the team lead with 41 runs scored.

Chris Swann, TexAgs

Rylen Wiggins earned first-team All-SEC recognition in 2023 after hitting .349 in conference games.

Rylen Wiggins, a senior infielder who moved to third base last season, follows close behind Cannon with an on-base percentage of .453. She racked up a total of 61 assists and finished with a .955 fielding percentage. Wiggins was one of two All-SEC first-teamers in 2023.

Named to the Preseason All-SEC Team, senior catcher Julia Cottrill has a resume full of awards to accompany her first season at A&M. Cottrill led the Aggies with 10 home runs, 12 doubles, 43 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .617. For the week of May 2, 2023, Cotrill was named D1 Softball and NFCA National Player of the Week. She joined Wiggins as a first-team All-SEC honoree.

Familiar Factoring Faces

Koko Wooley returns for her junior season and will remain a key component in the middle and atop the lineup. Last season, she led the team in batting average (.337) and had a fielding percentage of .915. She finished with 61 hits, six triples and 19 stolen bases. Wooley was recognized as a second-team all-conference pick in 2023.

Sophomore outfielder Keely Williams enjoyed an outstanding freshman campaign last season. She earned SEC Freshman of the Week on April 11, 2023. She logged 27 hits, five doubles and 20 RBIs before suffering a season-ending injury and missing the last 18 games of the season.

Sophomore Amari Harper started every game last season at second base and finished second on the team with a .414 on-base percentage. After a very successful freshman season, the 12th Man should continue to expect great things from this California native.

Appearing in 22 games as a DP, Aiyana Coleman is a dominating force in the box, with her first collegiate hit being a 267-foot home run. The hometown kid started as the DP on Opening Day last season and continued to perform at a high level noting her four home runs and 19 hits.

Sophomore catcher Gracyn Coleman had nine RBIs and two home runs on the season while also rounding home eight times. She appeared in just 27 games last year, making 21 starts.

Impact Transfers

After a successful freshman career at UCLA, infielder Kennedy Powell comes home to the Lone Star State. Powell finished with a .374 batting average, which ranked No. 17 nationally among freshmen and No. 10 overall in the Pac-12.

Jazmine Hill is another exciting transfer that should help bring an exciting energy to this team. Ranked No. 19 in the top 25 outfielders according to Softball America, Hill performed under Ford’s leadership at Arizona State and logged an impressive 30 home runs and 30 doubles during her three seasons in Tempe.

Starting 72 times at Arizona State, infielder Sav Price is another transfer to leave Tempe for College Station in her senior season. In her time playing for Ford’s Sun Devils, Price registered a .342 batting average and a .506 slugging percentage.

Incoming Freshmen

There is a lot of talent to be found in this incoming freshman class.

Outfielder Hailey Golden leaves Pearland High School with a collection of accolades from her four years of high school ball. She was named the UIL 6A State MVP while also earning State All-Tournament Team Honors. Golden’s older sister, Ashlyn Walls, had an impressive softball career at A&M from 2018-21.

Breaking the Alvin High School home run record her senior year with 12, infielder Reagan Jones also broke the school’s RBIs record with 50 in her sophomore year. Expect Jones to become a force at the plate in college as well.

Lovelady native and outfielder Scout Lovell led her team to a perfect 11-0 record in district play while also picking up District 21-2A Defensive MVP Honors in 2022. In her senior season, Lovell registered a .354 batting average along with 23 runs.

Infielder Mya Perez is coming off an impressive 13 home runs and 46 RBIs in her senior season at Norco High School in California. Perez said her first and last hit in high school were both home runs, so A&M fans are hoping she can continue that pattern in Maroon & White.