Softball announces 2019 recruiting class

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi head softball coach Blake Miller has announced the additions of seven student-athletes to the 2020 Islander roster. This year's signing class includes Texas natives Samantha Gaona from Corpus Christi, Sydney Hoyt from Beach City, Alyssa Miller from Magnolia, Haley Morse from Mansfield, MaKaylah Scott from Sealy, Alexandria Torres from San Antonio and Gabriella Torres from San Antonio.

Gaona was a 2018 TGCA First Team All-State Selection at Mary Carroll High School in Corpus Christi. She was the district's Newcomer of the Year in 2016, the Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 and earned first team honors as a catcher in 2018. She helped lead her team to a 5A District title in 2017 and a 5-A Tri District title in 2018. She was a first team All-South Texas performer in 2017 as a catcher and earned second team All-South Texas honors as a utility player in 2016. The two-time all-academic selection will major in Kinesiology on the Island. She played club for the Aces Express Jacoby for two years with coach Kelli Jacoby.

"Sam has a strong bat with good power," said Miller. "She's a talented catcher that will work well to complement our battery."

Hoyt was a four-time first team all-district performer at Barbers Hill High School with coach Aaron Fuller. She was the league's Offensive Player of the Year three times and was named to the All-State Tournament First Team. She helped lead her team to four district titles. Hoyt plans to major in Mechanical Engineering at A&M-Corpus Christi.

"Sydney is a very talented pitcher that pitches with purpose when she's in the circle," Miller said. "We're excited to have her join our team. She is a strong power pitcher that moves the ball around well."

Miller was a first team all-district performer at Magnolia High School. She also earned all-league and first team academic all-district honors. She played club for the Intruders and plans to major in Finance on the Island.

"Alyssa is a fiery competitor," said Miller. "She is a great athlete that brings good defense and a good stick to our team."

Morse has earned all-district honors in each of first three seasons at Mansfield High School. She helped lead her team to three district titles and was the team's offensive MVP as a junior, hitting .580 with 50 RBIs, nine home runs, 17 walks and a 1.723 on base percentage. She was named to the All-Area team and was nominated for the Star-Telegram's Tomlinson Honors Award. She has played club for Team Mizuno and plans to major in business at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

"Haley is a strong multi-tooled player," said Miller. "She will help us behind the plate, at third base and has very good power in her bat."

Scott was a league and district MVP at Sealy High School, leading her team to a pair of district titles during her sophomore and junior seasons. In 2018, Scott hit .412 with 42 hits, 42 runs scored, 24 RBIs, 10 triples and four doubles. Defensively she had a .919 fielding percentage with 97 putouts. She played clb for the American Freedom Express South and plans to major in Kinesiology at A&M-Corpus Christi.

"MaKaylah brings pure athleticism to the Island," Miller said. "She has great speed and a good stick with power."

Alexandria Torres was a TSWA All-State performer at William J. Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas. She earned league Offensive Player of the Year honors twice and was a unanimous first team all-district performer as a sophomore and again as a junior. She led her team to a 2016 district title and her team was a state semi-finalist in 2017. She is a first team academic all-district honoree and plans to major in Psychology. She played club for American Freedom.

"Alex brings very good speed to our team," said Miller. "This speed shows in her play as she ranges the outfield and causes havoc with defenses from the offensive side."

Gabriella Torres was a unanimous first team all-district performer at William J. Brennan High School and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. She was a unanimous first team all-district performer and was also named to the all-academic first team. Her team won the 2017 district title and in 2017 she led her team to a state semifinal appearance. She played club for American Freedom for six years and plans to major in Kinesiology at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

"Gabby will help with her bat," Miller said. "Her solid defensive play will push our defense to higher levels."

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