Troy University Athletics
Troy Softball Welcomes Five Newcomers on Signing Day
11/11/2020 10:03:00 AM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – Troy softball head coach Beth Mullins announced the addition of five standouts from the class of 2021 on Wednesday. The signing class features Brookelyn Cannon, Aayanah Hughes, Crystal Maze, Taylor McKinney and Emma Grace Walker.
"It's a great day to be a Troy Trojan," head coach Beth Mullins said. "We are really excited about this group! They are going to bring in great pitching, hitting and a lot of speed to our program. This group is going to really help raise the standard of Troy Softball. They are not only great athletes but all the way around great individuals. These ladies are a great fit for our program here at Troy. We cannot wait to get them here on campus in August!"
The incoming class is comprised of five high school seniors and includes two pitchers, two infielders and an outfielder. The group features three Alabama natives and two Georgia natives.
Brookelyn Cannon
Cannon comes to Troy out of Hoover High School. The pitcher sat down a career-best 15 batters against Pelham and shutout the defending 7A state champions, 3-0, during her junior campaign. Cannon also helped lead the Buccaneers to back-to-back 20-win seasons (2018-19) behind 290 career strikeouts over 300 innings of work.
The Hoover, Ala., native was dubbed a member of the Birmingham Region High School Terrific 20 Team, 2020 North-South team, 2020 First Team All-Metro, 2019 All-Region team and the 2019 Over the Mountain team.
Aayanah Hughes
Hughes will join the Trojans out of Union Grove High School. The infielder has helped lead the Wolverines to an elite eight and sweet 16 appearance. In her senior season, Hughes recorded a .450 batting average with seven home runs.
The McDonough, Ga., native has earned a pair of second team all-region honors and was dubbed a first team all-region selection a year ago.
Crystal Maze
Maze is set to begin her senior season at Hewitt Trussville High School before joining the Trojans. The Trussville, Ala., native led the Huskies to a 2019 7A state championship powered by a .312 batting average and five home runs. In her three seasons, Maze smashed 20 home runs and was on track for a historic 2020 season, batting at a .485 clip with a .605 on-base percentage through 13 games.
The infielder was tabbed a member of the 2020 First Team All-South Metro team, 2020 All-State Terrific 20, 2020 North-South team, a two-time all-region and all-state selection and the 2019 7A State Tournament MVP.
Taylor McKinney
McKinney signs with the Trojans out of Macon East Academy where she helped lead the Knights to a 2018 3A state championship. McKinney became the first Knight to blast four home runs in the state tournament and holds the school's single-season home run record with 16.
The Montgomery, Ala., native was named the 2018 AISA All-State Player of the Year and the state tournament MVP.
Emma Grace Walker
Walker will join the Trojans after her senior year at Harrison High School, where she has helped lead the Hoyas to back-to-back 6A state titles and back-to-back 7A Region 3 titles. The Kennesaw, Ga., native blasted a home run in the 2020 state tournament where the Hoyas placed third.
The outfielder is a two-time all-region, all-county and all-state selection. Walker was also tabbed a two-time scholar athlete and the 2019 team Offensive Player of the Year.
"It's a great day to be a Troy Trojan," head coach Beth Mullins said. "We are really excited about this group! They are going to bring in great pitching, hitting and a lot of speed to our program. This group is going to really help raise the standard of Troy Softball. They are not only great athletes but all the way around great individuals. These ladies are a great fit for our program here at Troy. We cannot wait to get them here on campus in August!"
The incoming class is comprised of five high school seniors and includes two pitchers, two infielders and an outfielder. The group features three Alabama natives and two Georgia natives.
Brookelyn Cannon
Cannon comes to Troy out of Hoover High School. The pitcher sat down a career-best 15 batters against Pelham and shutout the defending 7A state champions, 3-0, during her junior campaign. Cannon also helped lead the Buccaneers to back-to-back 20-win seasons (2018-19) behind 290 career strikeouts over 300 innings of work.
The Hoover, Ala., native was dubbed a member of the Birmingham Region High School Terrific 20 Team, 2020 North-South team, 2020 First Team All-Metro, 2019 All-Region team and the 2019 Over the Mountain team.
Aayanah Hughes
Hughes will join the Trojans out of Union Grove High School. The infielder has helped lead the Wolverines to an elite eight and sweet 16 appearance. In her senior season, Hughes recorded a .450 batting average with seven home runs.
The McDonough, Ga., native has earned a pair of second team all-region honors and was dubbed a first team all-region selection a year ago.
Crystal Maze
Maze is set to begin her senior season at Hewitt Trussville High School before joining the Trojans. The Trussville, Ala., native led the Huskies to a 2019 7A state championship powered by a .312 batting average and five home runs. In her three seasons, Maze smashed 20 home runs and was on track for a historic 2020 season, batting at a .485 clip with a .605 on-base percentage through 13 games.
The infielder was tabbed a member of the 2020 First Team All-South Metro team, 2020 All-State Terrific 20, 2020 North-South team, a two-time all-region and all-state selection and the 2019 7A State Tournament MVP.
Taylor McKinney
McKinney signs with the Trojans out of Macon East Academy where she helped lead the Knights to a 2018 3A state championship. McKinney became the first Knight to blast four home runs in the state tournament and holds the school's single-season home run record with 16.
The Montgomery, Ala., native was named the 2018 AISA All-State Player of the Year and the state tournament MVP.
Emma Grace Walker
Walker will join the Trojans after her senior year at Harrison High School, where she has helped lead the Hoyas to back-to-back 6A state titles and back-to-back 7A Region 3 titles. The Kennesaw, Ga., native blasted a home run in the 2020 state tournament where the Hoyas placed third.
The outfielder is a two-time all-region, all-county and all-state selection. Walker was also tabbed a two-time scholar athlete and the 2019 team Offensive Player of the Year.
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