Troy University Athletics
11/12/2026 9:03:00 AM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – Troy softball head coach Eric Newell welcomed eight new Trojans to the roster during the early signing period, the top-ranked class in the Sun Belt Conference and 45th best in the country, per D1Softball.
"We are really excited about the momentum surrounding Troy softball and the quality of players who are beginning to see what we are building here," Newell said. "This 2027 recruiting class is a great representation of that vision. The recognition from D1Softball is well deserved, and we believe this group has the talent, athleticism, and competitive mindset to make a significant impact on our program. We are intentional about the players we recruit, and this class reflects the type of student-athletes we want representing Troy University."
Milleigh Kate Byrd, INF, Fayetteville, Tenn. / Lincoln County HS
Named the Lincoln County High School Slugger of the Year as a junior after batting .431 with 12 doubles, seven triples, 13 home runs and 59 RBIs … Added a 1.400 OPS and .931 slugging percentage … Stole 10 bases and scored 43 runs … Earned first team all-district honors … RBI and slugging percentage ranked fourth in school history, while home run total was fifth best … Played at Buckhorn High School her first two seasons … Hot. 426 with a .478 on-base percentage and 1.252 OPS … slugged .774 with nine doubles, five triples, seven homers and 53 RBIs … Two-time team defensive MVP
Head Coach Eric Newell on Milleigh Kate Byrd
We absolutely love MK's athleticism and versatility. She plays shortstop for her high school team, but we firmly believe she has the ability to play just about any position on the field. She defends well, swings the bat well, runs the bases well and our staff thinks her best softball is in front of her. She has a very high ceiling. She has put together an outstanding prep career competing in both Alabama and Tennessee and is widely regarded as one of the top softball players in her area. We are excited about her potential and look forward to helping her continue to develop and grow within our program.
Avery Chaney, INF, Hoover, Ala. / Hoover HS
Posted a .394 batting average, .428 on-base percentage, .563 slugging percentage and .991 OPS her junior season at Hoover High School … Helped lead the Bucs to back-to-back area championships and a third-place Alabama 7A finish in 2024 … Plays for the Birmingham Thunderbolts … Hit .397 with seven doubles, six home runs and 21 RBIs over the summer of 2026; added a .468 on-base percentage and 1.232 OPS
Head Coach Eric Newell on Avery Chaney
Avery plays with one of the top travel ball organizations in the county – the Birmingham Thunderbolts. She is a well-rounded player who does a lot of things exceptionally well, but her defensive skills really stand out. Her footwork, soft hands and arm-slot versatility are all top-tier. She has the potential to be an outstanding defender at this level, but don't sleep on what she can do at the plate. She has above-average speed and more power than people might initially expect. Avery is an exciting addition to this class, and we look forward to seeing her impact on our program.
Jaidyn Griffeth, P/1B, Canton, Ga. / Creekview HS
Helped lead Creekview High School to back-to-back-to-back Georgia 6A state championships … As a junior, posted a .534 batting average, while slugging at a 1.068 clip thanks to 11 home runs and 17 doubles … Drove in 36 runs and posted a .624 on-base percentage … Two-time all-region, all-county and all-state selection … Named the 2024 Region Pitcher of the Year … In 2025, named the Cherokee County Co-Player of the Year
and the GADC 5A Player of the Year … Selected to the 2025 and 2026 GADC All-Star Game
Head Coach Eric Newell on Jaidyn Griffeth
First and foremost, Jaidyn is a winner - her high school team has won three straight Georgia 6A State Championships. She is an outstanding two-way player who has impressed us tremendously both in the circle and at the plate. We watched Jaidyn a great deal on the recruiting trail, and she is widely regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in the 2027 class in the Southeast. Our staff has seen her win a game with a big swing on multiple occasions, but she has gained the most recognition for what she has accomplished in the circle. During the recruiting process, there was instant chemistry between her and our coaching staff.
Addison Holcomb, P/1B, Russellville, Ala. / Colbert Heights HS
Played varsity softball since seventh grade season … Spent seventh through ninth grade in the Russellville City Schools before transferring to Colbert Heights High School as a sophomore … Combined to hit .348 with a.460 on-base percentage and .768 slugging percentage in her varsity career … Career totals include 63 home runs, 196 RBIs and a 2.66 ERA in the circle … Two-time AHSAA All-State First Team selection as a sophomore and junior and earned second team honors as a freshman … Three-time all-area pick … Invited to play in the 2026 Alabama North/South All-Star Game
Head Coach Eric Newell on Addison Holcomb
Our coaching staff was in complete agreement that Addison was someone we needed to add to this recruiting class. She possesses elite power and an incredibly high ceiling, with the ability to accomplish just about anything she sets her mind to. In addition to being a major power threat at the plate, she has the ability to pitch at a high level. She throws a very heavy ball in the circle and complements it with a devastating changeup. We are excited about the opportunity to develop Addison as a two-way player at Troy and to see just how much potential she can reach in our program.
Brooklyn Howard, C/3B, Fayetteville, Tenn. / Lincoln County HS
Named the Tennessee 4A District 6 MVP following junior season … Hit .437 with 10 homers, 46 RBIs, 21 runs scored and just eight strikeouts as a junior; also walked 26 times … As a sophomore, hit at a .526 clip with 13 homers, 18 walks, 62 runs scored, 56 RBIs and just five strikeouts … Began playing varsity in eighth grade … Earned all-state first team honors as a sophomore and to the Terrific 22 in Huntsville … Played first three seasons at Hazel Green (Ala.) High School … Also an all-district volleyball player
Head Coach Eric Newell on Brooklyn Howard
Brooklyn has played, competed and excelled at the highest levels in both travel ball and high school ball. She brings so many positive attributes to our program. She is strong, fearless, athletic, versatile, energetic and a great communicator. One of the things I like the most about Brooklyn is how she never stops talking and leading the defense while she is catching. Along with future teammate Keren Leal, we see Brooklyn contributing behind the plate and at a corner infield spot. We strongly believe she has the ability to make an immediate impact both offensively and defensively as she grows in our system.
Keren Leal, C/3B, Lilburn, Ga. / Brookwood HS
Finished her high school career with a .455 batting average, .496 on-base percentage and .948 slugging percentage … Totaled 36 home runs, 35 doubles, 165 RBIs while scoring 129 runs at Brookwood High School … Coming off a senior season where she hit at a .442 clip with 14 homers and 48 RBIs … Named the Georgia 7A Co-Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and to the Gwinnett Daily Post Super Six … Finished career as the Brookwood High School career leader in home runs, RBIs and hits … Selected to the GHSA Senior All-Star Team … Named the 7A Offensive Player of the Year as a junior … All-state first team as a sophomore and second team as a junior … Four-time all-county first team … Led the Broncos to three region titles, a pair of top three state finishes and four Elite 8 finishes
Head Coach Eric Newell on Keren Leal
Keren is another incredibly high-level player from the state of Georgia who is touted by several third-party recruiting organizations as our top commitment. She is super versatile, playing shortstop for her high school team, but has played and excelled at several positions on her travel ball team, including catcher, first base and third base. She has a big bat and an impressive track record as one of the most accomplished and established hitters in Georgia high school softball. Her skills behind the plate and as a corner defender, as well as her offensive skill set, will be a valuable addition to our lineup.
Reagan Schmitz, UTL, Lebanon, Tenn. / Green Hill HS
Hit at a .535 clip with 82 runs scored, three home runs, 45 RBIs and 41 stolen bases in 45 games … Helped lead Green Hill High School to a 45-3 record plus a district and region title … Earned first team all-state, all-county and all-Middle Tennessee her junior season … played her first two seasons at Lebanon High School … Three-time all-district selection
Head Coach Eric Newell on Reagan Schmitz
Reagan "Peanut" Schmitz is a great fit for our program. She has attended several of our camps, and every time she has stepped on our field, she has found a way to stand out. She is a high-level versatile defender, an elite baserunner and an offensive player who brings a variety of weapons to the plate. She can slap or hit away from the left side, making her a difficult matchup for opposing defenses. Her speed, versatility to play both infield and outfield, and ability to create pressure will make her a tremendous addition to our program.
Lex Vazquez, OF, Cypress, Texas / Cypress Woods HS
Enters senior season with a .402 batting average, .500 on-base percentage, 17 home runs, 96 runs scored and 87 RBIs in her career at Cypress Woods HS … As a junior, hit at a .526 clip with 60 hits, 62 runs scored, 14 homers, 32 stolen bases and 52 RBIs … Texas Sports Writers Association 6A All-State Softball First Team and Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Softball First Team … All-VYPE Public School Softball Third Team … Named district MVP following her junior season … Three-time academic all-district pick … Holds school single-season records for runs scored, home runs and stolen bases
Head Coach Eric Newell on Lex Vazquez
We knew that we needed to add a true outfielder in this recruiting class, and Alexia caught our eye in one of our camps. She immediately got our attention with her ability to run, throw, cover ground in the outfield and ability to swing the bat. After seeing her perform at camp, we made the trip to watch her compete in a high-level travel tournament in Texas. In her first at-bat, she hit a home run off a Clemson commit. That performance certainly reinforced what we had already seen in her. We are excited about her athleticism and look forward to watching her game continue to grow within our program.
Troy Softball Signing Class
Milleigh Kate Byrd, INF, Fayetteville, Tenn. / Lincoln County HS
Avery Chaney, INF, Hoover, Ala. / Hoover HS
Jaidyn Griffeth, P/1B, Canton, Ga. / Creekview HS
Addison Holcomb, P/1B, Russellville, Ala. / Colbert Heights HS
Brooklyn Howard, C/3B, Fayetteville, Tenn. / Lincoln County HS
Keren Leal, C/3B, Lilburn, Ga. / Brookwood HS
Reagan Schmitz, UTL, Lebanon, Tenn. / Green Hill HS
Lex Vazquez, OF, Cypress, Texas / Cypress Woods HS
Wednesday, October 21
Friday, October 16
Sunday, October 11
Wednesday, October 07