Troy University Athletics
Softball Signs Four on National Early Signing Day
11/13/2025 10:00:00 AM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – With the spring season right around the corner, Troy softball, led by head coach Eric Newell, prepares for the 2027 season as it signs four freshmen on Early National Signing Day: Ellie Cox, Alivia Cooper, Anna Jo Bonds and Mariah Harrison.
"We're excited about the future of our 2026 recruiting class," Newell said. "Often in the recruiting process, we get asked, 'What do you look for in a player?' That question can be answered in three areas. First, you have to be able to play and succeed at a high level — that's your skill set. Second, you must be academically driven and motivated to excel in the classroom. Third, you need to be a great teammate — selfless, with strong character on and off the field. People should praise not only your ability but also the kind of person you are. The four players in this class embody exactly what we look for in the recruiting process. Each of them has competed successfully at a high level, shown commitment and drive in their academics, and proven to be outstanding teammates and people both on and off the field."
Ellie Cox | Pitcher | Dothan, Ala. (Wicksburg High School)
From Dothan, Ala., Cox will enter the 2027 Trojan lineup from the bullpen. At Wicksburg High School, she led her team to the 2024 2A State Championship and the 2025 3A State Championship, achieving a combined 138-31-1 record as a team over three seasons. Entering her senior season as a Panther, Cox has pitched 721 innings with a 1.914 ERA. She's punched out 1,125 batters while batting a .373 clip. Her accolades include Alabama All-State First Team in all three seasons, 2A Pitcher of the Year in 2024, 2024 Dothan Eagle Super 12 Selection and 2025 Dothan Eagle Player of the Year, among others.
"Ellie is a perfect fit for Troy softball," head coach Eric Newell said. "She is one of the most decorated players in the Wiregrass area, and we just love who she is on and off the field. I really look forward to seeing her develop and mature under Coach Hightower's tutelage."
Alivia Cooper | Catcher / Third Base | Mount Washington, Ky. (Bullitt East High School)
Named All-District First team, All-Region First Team, Defensive Player of the Year, Golden Glove and Impact Player of the Year, Cooper comes to Troy with a .372 batting average at Bullitt East High School. At the plate, she's accumulated 170 hits, 33 doubles, 10 triples, 15 homers, 131 RBIs and a 1.069 on-base percentage. She also boosted her program to the 6A District Champions and 6A Region Champions this past season.
"Alivia, like the others in the 2026 recruiting class, is a perfect fit for our program," Newell said. "She impressed our staff both offensively and defensively, playing in some of the biggest events in the country this past summer. She is a tough out offensively, has a great skill set defensively, and we are confident that she will develop in our system."
Anna Jo Bonds | Utility | Mobile, Ala. (Satsuma High School)
Troy's third signee is Bonds, who brought her team to a 181-70 record through five years on varsity at Satsuma High School and the 5A Alabama State Championship in 2021. Since 2021, Bonds has a .424 clip with 76 doubles, five triples, 19 homers, 186 RBIs, 152 runs, 261 total hits and a .462 on-base percentage. While playing in seven positions in her three seasons in the field, she's had 394 chances with a .972 fielding percentage. She also combined with fellow Trojan signee, Cox, to pitch the first no-hitter in the North-South All-Star Game, totaling a 29-7 record on the mound. Bonds pitched 202.2 innings with 213 strikeouts and a 2.96 ERA.
"Anna Jo is super versatile, but her bat is what does the most talking," Newell said. "She is a super talented hitter and has a knack for driving in runs, and is incredibly hard to get out. We look forward to watching her grow in our system."
Mariah Harrison | Utility | Phenix City, Ala. (Central Phenix City HS)
The fourth signee for the Trojans comes from Central Phenix City HS, where she led the Red Devils to a 133-18-1 in her three years. In her freshman season, Harrison batted 16 RBIs on a .278 batting clip, before doubling her RBIs at 36 with a .373 average to make the All-Chattahoochee Valley Softball Second Team in 2024. Her junior year saw further improvement, with 51 RBIs on a career-best .393 batting average.
"Mariah is an incredibly versatile athlete," Newell said. "She is capable of playing just about anywhere on the field and has both a plus arm and speed. We look forward to seeing her game blossom in our program."
"We're excited about the future of our 2026 recruiting class," Newell said. "Often in the recruiting process, we get asked, 'What do you look for in a player?' That question can be answered in three areas. First, you have to be able to play and succeed at a high level — that's your skill set. Second, you must be academically driven and motivated to excel in the classroom. Third, you need to be a great teammate — selfless, with strong character on and off the field. People should praise not only your ability but also the kind of person you are. The four players in this class embody exactly what we look for in the recruiting process. Each of them has competed successfully at a high level, shown commitment and drive in their academics, and proven to be outstanding teammates and people both on and off the field."
Ellie Cox | Pitcher | Dothan, Ala. (Wicksburg High School)
From Dothan, Ala., Cox will enter the 2027 Trojan lineup from the bullpen. At Wicksburg High School, she led her team to the 2024 2A State Championship and the 2025 3A State Championship, achieving a combined 138-31-1 record as a team over three seasons. Entering her senior season as a Panther, Cox has pitched 721 innings with a 1.914 ERA. She's punched out 1,125 batters while batting a .373 clip. Her accolades include Alabama All-State First Team in all three seasons, 2A Pitcher of the Year in 2024, 2024 Dothan Eagle Super 12 Selection and 2025 Dothan Eagle Player of the Year, among others.
"Ellie is a perfect fit for Troy softball," head coach Eric Newell said. "She is one of the most decorated players in the Wiregrass area, and we just love who she is on and off the field. I really look forward to seeing her develop and mature under Coach Hightower's tutelage."
Alivia Cooper | Catcher / Third Base | Mount Washington, Ky. (Bullitt East High School)
Named All-District First team, All-Region First Team, Defensive Player of the Year, Golden Glove and Impact Player of the Year, Cooper comes to Troy with a .372 batting average at Bullitt East High School. At the plate, she's accumulated 170 hits, 33 doubles, 10 triples, 15 homers, 131 RBIs and a 1.069 on-base percentage. She also boosted her program to the 6A District Champions and 6A Region Champions this past season.
"Alivia, like the others in the 2026 recruiting class, is a perfect fit for our program," Newell said. "She impressed our staff both offensively and defensively, playing in some of the biggest events in the country this past summer. She is a tough out offensively, has a great skill set defensively, and we are confident that she will develop in our system."
Anna Jo Bonds | Utility | Mobile, Ala. (Satsuma High School)
Troy's third signee is Bonds, who brought her team to a 181-70 record through five years on varsity at Satsuma High School and the 5A Alabama State Championship in 2021. Since 2021, Bonds has a .424 clip with 76 doubles, five triples, 19 homers, 186 RBIs, 152 runs, 261 total hits and a .462 on-base percentage. While playing in seven positions in her three seasons in the field, she's had 394 chances with a .972 fielding percentage. She also combined with fellow Trojan signee, Cox, to pitch the first no-hitter in the North-South All-Star Game, totaling a 29-7 record on the mound. Bonds pitched 202.2 innings with 213 strikeouts and a 2.96 ERA.
"Anna Jo is super versatile, but her bat is what does the most talking," Newell said. "She is a super talented hitter and has a knack for driving in runs, and is incredibly hard to get out. We look forward to watching her grow in our system."
Mariah Harrison | Utility | Phenix City, Ala. (Central Phenix City HS)
The fourth signee for the Trojans comes from Central Phenix City HS, where she led the Red Devils to a 133-18-1 in her three years. In her freshman season, Harrison batted 16 RBIs on a .278 batting clip, before doubling her RBIs at 36 with a .373 average to make the All-Chattahoochee Valley Softball Second Team in 2024. Her junior year saw further improvement, with 51 RBIs on a career-best .393 batting average.
"Mariah is an incredibly versatile athlete," Newell said. "She is capable of playing just about anywhere on the field and has both a plus arm and speed. We look forward to seeing her game blossom in our program."
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