Toledo Softball announced its 2024-25 signing day class on Wednesday.
Softball Inks Eight in 2024-25 Recruiting Class
11/8/2023 7:55:00 PM | Softball
Toledo adding high-profile players to program
TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo softball head coach Jessica Bracamonte announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the Rockets' 2024-25 recruiting class on Wednesday.
Payton Abiley, Samantha Bolding, Audrey Miller, Reese Poston, Payton Pudlowski, Alexis Shepherd, Jayleigh Thomas, and Marissa Warren will begin their collegiate career with the Rockets next fall and take the field for the 2025 season.
Second-year head coach Jessica Bracamonte is excited to welcome this group of student-athletes into the program next fall.
"This class is exceptional, and we couldn't be more excited to call them Rockets," Bracamonte said. "As a group, they offer an elite level of versatility that is going to open new doors for us as a program. Watching them compete on the field and getting to know them off the field has made recruiting this class so much fun. We believe in their ability to help continue moving our vision for the program forward in new and exciting ways."
The following is a look at the Toledo's incoming eight signees for 2024:
Payton Abiley
A 5'7" infielder from Sherwood, Ore., Payton Abiley has earned a varsity letter and all-conference honors every year at Sherwood High School. Her sister Mackenzie runs cross country and plays softball at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and her brother Dawson played baseball at Coe College (2018-19).
Why Toledo? "I was allowed to form relationships with the softball coaching staff here at Toledo. The second that I stepped onto campus, I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere, the culture, and the sense of family that the coaches portrayed."
Samantha Bolding
A 5'5" utility player at Eastern Hancock High School in Greenfield, Ind., Samantha Bolding lettered in both softball and basketball. She owns the single-season home run (17) and career home run records (46) and is the EHHS leader in RBIs (130), runs scored (148), steals, batting average (.556), and on-base percentage (.643). Bolding is six home runs away from breaking the Indiana state record. She has earned three all-state, all-conference, and all-county honors and was named an Underclassman All-American in 2022. Her sister Emma plays softball at Saginaw Valley State University.
Why Toledo? "I chose the University of Toledo because of the great exercise science program that will prepare me to become a physician assistant in orthopedics. UT also provides a smaller and safer campus where I can easily walk to and from my classes. The location is also great being just three hours from home. The softball program has great facilities and flexibility to allow me to pursue my academic goals, while also playing in the Mid-American Conference."
Audrey Miller
A 5'2" outfielder from Hartville, Ohio, Audrey Miller has lettered three times in softball at Marlington High School. She was a three-time first-team all-state, first-team all-district, and first-team all-conference honoree while helping her team to two district championships in 2021 and 2023.
Why Toledo? "I decided to attend the University of Toledo because the coaches and team are great, and I felt so welcomed and at home the second I stepped on campus."
Reese Poston
A 5'5" right-handed pitcher from Lancaster, Ohio, Reese Poston is a three-time letterwinner in softball from Lancaster High School. A first-team all-state and two-time all-state honorable-mention selection, Poston also was a three-time first-team All-OCC and all-district honoree. Poston was named 2023 OCC Player of the Year. Aside from softball, Poston also lettered in field hockey for the Lady Gales. Her brother Riley plays baseball at Thomas More University (Ky.).
Why Toledo? "I chose the University of Toledo because my mom [Cathy] went here and I loved the campus and the atmosphere of the team."
Payton Pudlowski
A 5'6" shortstop from Temperance, Mich., Payton Pudlowski has earned varsity letters in softball and basketball from Bedford High School. Pudlowski's accolades include all-state and all-region selections as well as a pair of all-league and all-district honors.
Why Toledo? "I chose to further my academic and athletic career at the University of Toledo mainly because the coaches and players are amazing. I immediately felt like I had found my future home. I love the culture the coaches are building and the feeling of family I get when I am around the team."
Alexis Shepherd
An infielder from Gaylord, Mich. Alexis Shepherd lettered in softball and basketball at Gaylord High School and earned Academic All-State status for the past three years. Standing 5'5", Shepherd earned BNC Honorable Mention and second-team all-district honors as a freshman. As a sophomore, she was named first-team All-BNC, first-team all-district, and first-team all-region. Last season, Shepherd collected first-team all-BNC, second-team all-district, and regional honorable mention honors.
Why Toledo? "I chose to attend the University of Toledo because of the academic and athletic opportunities."
Jayleigh Thomas
A 5'5 outfielder, Jayleigh Thomas earned four varsity letters in softball and one in soccer at Miamisburg High School. Thomas earned first-team and second-team all-conference honors, the Golden Glove Award in 2022, and led the Greater Western Ohio Conference (GWOC) with 21 stolen bases in 2022.
Why Toledo? "I chose to attend the University of Toledo because of the accredited medical program as well as continuing my softball career with an amazing coaching staff."
Marissa Warren
A 5'8 utility player in Big Rapids, Mich., Marissa Warren earned four varsity letters in softball, volleyball, and basketball at Big Rapids High School. Over the last three softball seasons, Warren led the Cardinals in runs, hits, RBIs, batting average, and on-base percentage. Warren broke the school record and career record for batting average (.568) and home runs in a single season (15). She has also collected all-conference, all-district, all-regional, and silver slugger honors each year at BRHS, while also earning all-state and honorable-mention honors.
Why Toledo? "I think the University of Toledo has a beautiful campus. I love the coaches and their coaching style, especially how they are turning the program around."
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Payton Abiley, Samantha Bolding, Audrey Miller, Reese Poston, Payton Pudlowski, Alexis Shepherd, Jayleigh Thomas, and Marissa Warren will begin their collegiate career with the Rockets next fall and take the field for the 2025 season.
Second-year head coach Jessica Bracamonte is excited to welcome this group of student-athletes into the program next fall.
"This class is exceptional, and we couldn't be more excited to call them Rockets," Bracamonte said. "As a group, they offer an elite level of versatility that is going to open new doors for us as a program. Watching them compete on the field and getting to know them off the field has made recruiting this class so much fun. We believe in their ability to help continue moving our vision for the program forward in new and exciting ways."
The following is a look at the Toledo's incoming eight signees for 2024:
Payton Abiley
A 5'7" infielder from Sherwood, Ore., Payton Abiley has earned a varsity letter and all-conference honors every year at Sherwood High School. Her sister Mackenzie runs cross country and plays softball at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and her brother Dawson played baseball at Coe College (2018-19).
Why Toledo? "I was allowed to form relationships with the softball coaching staff here at Toledo. The second that I stepped onto campus, I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere, the culture, and the sense of family that the coaches portrayed."
Samantha Bolding
A 5'5" utility player at Eastern Hancock High School in Greenfield, Ind., Samantha Bolding lettered in both softball and basketball. She owns the single-season home run (17) and career home run records (46) and is the EHHS leader in RBIs (130), runs scored (148), steals, batting average (.556), and on-base percentage (.643). Bolding is six home runs away from breaking the Indiana state record. She has earned three all-state, all-conference, and all-county honors and was named an Underclassman All-American in 2022. Her sister Emma plays softball at Saginaw Valley State University.
Why Toledo? "I chose the University of Toledo because of the great exercise science program that will prepare me to become a physician assistant in orthopedics. UT also provides a smaller and safer campus where I can easily walk to and from my classes. The location is also great being just three hours from home. The softball program has great facilities and flexibility to allow me to pursue my academic goals, while also playing in the Mid-American Conference."
Audrey Miller
A 5'2" outfielder from Hartville, Ohio, Audrey Miller has lettered three times in softball at Marlington High School. She was a three-time first-team all-state, first-team all-district, and first-team all-conference honoree while helping her team to two district championships in 2021 and 2023.
Why Toledo? "I decided to attend the University of Toledo because the coaches and team are great, and I felt so welcomed and at home the second I stepped on campus."
Reese Poston
A 5'5" right-handed pitcher from Lancaster, Ohio, Reese Poston is a three-time letterwinner in softball from Lancaster High School. A first-team all-state and two-time all-state honorable-mention selection, Poston also was a three-time first-team All-OCC and all-district honoree. Poston was named 2023 OCC Player of the Year. Aside from softball, Poston also lettered in field hockey for the Lady Gales. Her brother Riley plays baseball at Thomas More University (Ky.).
Why Toledo? "I chose the University of Toledo because my mom [Cathy] went here and I loved the campus and the atmosphere of the team."
Payton Pudlowski
A 5'6" shortstop from Temperance, Mich., Payton Pudlowski has earned varsity letters in softball and basketball from Bedford High School. Pudlowski's accolades include all-state and all-region selections as well as a pair of all-league and all-district honors.
Why Toledo? "I chose to further my academic and athletic career at the University of Toledo mainly because the coaches and players are amazing. I immediately felt like I had found my future home. I love the culture the coaches are building and the feeling of family I get when I am around the team."
Alexis Shepherd
An infielder from Gaylord, Mich. Alexis Shepherd lettered in softball and basketball at Gaylord High School and earned Academic All-State status for the past three years. Standing 5'5", Shepherd earned BNC Honorable Mention and second-team all-district honors as a freshman. As a sophomore, she was named first-team All-BNC, first-team all-district, and first-team all-region. Last season, Shepherd collected first-team all-BNC, second-team all-district, and regional honorable mention honors.
Why Toledo? "I chose to attend the University of Toledo because of the academic and athletic opportunities."
Jayleigh Thomas
A 5'5 outfielder, Jayleigh Thomas earned four varsity letters in softball and one in soccer at Miamisburg High School. Thomas earned first-team and second-team all-conference honors, the Golden Glove Award in 2022, and led the Greater Western Ohio Conference (GWOC) with 21 stolen bases in 2022.
Why Toledo? "I chose to attend the University of Toledo because of the accredited medical program as well as continuing my softball career with an amazing coaching staff."
Marissa Warren
A 5'8 utility player in Big Rapids, Mich., Marissa Warren earned four varsity letters in softball, volleyball, and basketball at Big Rapids High School. Over the last three softball seasons, Warren led the Cardinals in runs, hits, RBIs, batting average, and on-base percentage. Warren broke the school record and career record for batting average (.568) and home runs in a single season (15). She has also collected all-conference, all-district, all-regional, and silver slugger honors each year at BRHS, while also earning all-state and honorable-mention honors.
Why Toledo? "I think the University of Toledo has a beautiful campus. I love the coaches and their coaching style, especially how they are turning the program around."
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Toledo Softball - 2025 Season Highlights
Monday, May 05
Toledo Softball vs BGSU - Battle of I-75
Thursday, May 01
Jessica Bracamonte Press Conference
Thursday, July 07
Game 2 Highlights vs. Akron (May 15)
Saturday, May 15
