Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Breeden and staff sign top class in C-USA
11/13/2019 11:30:00 AM | Softball
Middle Tennessee Softball welcomes six signees
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee softball is continuing to build on its recent success, as Head Coach Jeff Breeden announced Wednesday the six signees that make up the best 2020 recruiting class in Conference USA.
The Blue Raiders' recruiting class ranked 58th nationally and ninth among non-Power 5 teams. Breeden, alongside recruiting coordinator Tony Foti and assistant coach Chelsea Hawkins, continued to mine their two main recruiting bases — Tennessee and California — while also signing a pair from Georgia.
Building chemistry within this incoming group will be easy to come by, as Murfreesboro natives Ashlee Jacoway and Shelby Sargent are teammates at Oakland High School, and Amaya Harris previously teamed up with Danielle Taitt on the Tennessee Mojo travel team.
"This class has been three years in the making," Breeden said of the 2020 signing class. "They've been on campus a lot. The parents know each other, the kids know each other, and they've played with and against each other year after year after year.
"Each of these kids are looking forward to getting here and playing together. It's going to be like they've known each other forever."
Amaya Harris | SS | 5-foot-5 | Stockbridge, Ga./Dutchtown HS
With Summer Burgess approaching her senior season, the Blue Raiders needed to look for a replacement at shortstop. Harris was listed as the No. 74 recruit in the country by the Extra Elite 100 player rankings and was the top signee in C-USA. The Georgia native is also the No. 51 infielder according to the Extra Inning Softball Position Rankings.
"Some recruiters are hard to talk to, but it was really easy to talk to Coach Foti and the staff," Harris said. "It feels great to play with [Taitt] again because I'll have someone with me in this new world."
"Amaya has really big shoes to fill because Summer has been awesome for us since she's been here," Breeden said of the incoming shortstop. "I think Amaya might have better skills than Summer had when she first entered here, but whether or not she continues to work hard and get better like Summer did remains to be seen."
Jaya Herring | OF | 5-foot-4 | Cedar Hill, Tenn./Jo Byrns HS
A speed threat on the base paths with the ability to cover a lot of ground defensively in the outfield grass, Jaya Herring was listed as the No. 54 outfielder in the nation according to the Extra Inning Softball Position Rankings. A two-time All-District performer in softball, Herring also led the Jo Byrns High School basketball team to a district championship in 2019. MT softball fans that appreciated Precious Birdsong's playstyle will quickly grow fond of Herring.
"The coaches were really nice to me right off the bat, and I had no doubt they wanted me on their team," Herring said.
"She's going to steal a lot of bases and beat out a lot of infield singles," Breeden said, drawing similarities to Birdsong. "She'll be a slapper from the left side, and she has raw speed."
Makenzie Hutchinson | C/1B | 5-foot-10 | Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood HS
Makenzie Hutchinson is the lone Californian in this year's signing class, but she'll be welcomed by a host of other Blue Raiders from the West Coast when she arrives on campus in Murfreesboro for her freshman season. A team captain on her travel team, Hutchinson will be expected to become a leader in the MT locker room. She was named CIF First Team and Offensive Player of the Year at Lakewood High School.
"The coaches made it really comfortable to get to know them and the school," Hutchinson said. "I like that Murfreesboro is a small town, and I feel like I fit in here."
"We think [Hutchinson] is somebody that will be a leader for us behind the plate," Breeden added. "She's a big, strong, powerful kid. She'll be a right-handed power hitter for us. Defensively, she's got good skills receiving the ball and a good arm. Hopefully her leadership will continue to grow once she gets here."
Ashlee Jacoway | 1B/OF | 5-foot-9 | Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland HS
A born and bred Blue Raider fan, Jacoway will be expected to provide power from the batter's box and be one of the team's RBI leaders. In addition to TSCA All-State recognition last year, Jacoway has been named All-County by the Murfreesboro Post and All-Area by the Daily News Journal in her high school career.
"I love being close to home, and this is a great school," Jacoway said. "I'm looking forward to bringing base hits and speed as a Blue Raider."
"We're looking for Ashlee to drive some runs in and be an RBI-producer," Breeden said of the newest Blue Raider utility player. "She'll hit the ball in the gaps and will be an athletic first baseman for us. That's how she'll start off with us, and we'll let that evolve along the way."
Shelby Sargent | OF | 5-foot-3 | Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland HS
Like Jacoway, Sargent played on the Fury '02 travel team while also being an Oakland Patriot. Sargent will patrol the Blue Raider Softball Stadium outfield when she wears the blue and white beginning in the 2020-21 school year. Sargent has been an All-District performer twice and was named to the All-Tournament team in 2018. Jacoway and Sargent's Fury '02 travel team won the 2015 ASA National Championship.
"I committed freshman year, and I always knew I wanted to be a Blue Raider. As soon as I got on campus, it felt like a family, and I knew this was the place for me," Sargent said.
"Two years from now, we'll have one of the best outfields in the country because of our speed and what they're going to be able to do offensively, and Shelby will be a contributor in that outfield. She committed to us a long time ago, and her parents are MT alumni. I'm really pleased with the outfielders we have in this class, and she's going to be a good one," Breeden said.
Danielle Taitt | P/1B | 5-foot-11 | Snellville, Ga./Brookwood HS
A highly-touted two-way player in the Greater Atlanta Area, Taitt will compete for playing time in the circle while also being a threat in the batter's box for opposing pitchers. Taitt was named to the Gwinnett County Softball Super 6, All-State Senior Team and All-County First Team in 2019 and played in the GACA All-Star State Classic. Additionally, Taitt teamed up with fellow signee Harris to help travel team Tennessee Mojo finish ninth at Premier Girls Fastpitch this year.
"I really loved the team, and I knew Amaya, so it felt like home whenever I first stepped on campus," Taitt said. "She's been my sister, so it's awesome to get to play together again."
"[Taitt] will pitch and play first base for us. She's a right-handed power hitter and will come in here ready to go and compete for the starting job in the circle. I hope she'll replace some of Lexi [Cushing]'s home runs, and maybe she'll be the one to challenge those records," Breeden said of the final signee.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
The Blue Raiders' recruiting class ranked 58th nationally and ninth among non-Power 5 teams. Breeden, alongside recruiting coordinator Tony Foti and assistant coach Chelsea Hawkins, continued to mine their two main recruiting bases — Tennessee and California — while also signing a pair from Georgia.
Building chemistry within this incoming group will be easy to come by, as Murfreesboro natives Ashlee Jacoway and Shelby Sargent are teammates at Oakland High School, and Amaya Harris previously teamed up with Danielle Taitt on the Tennessee Mojo travel team.
"This class has been three years in the making," Breeden said of the 2020 signing class. "They've been on campus a lot. The parents know each other, the kids know each other, and they've played with and against each other year after year after year.
"Each of these kids are looking forward to getting here and playing together. It's going to be like they've known each other forever."
Amaya Harris | SS | 5-foot-5 | Stockbridge, Ga./Dutchtown HS
With Summer Burgess approaching her senior season, the Blue Raiders needed to look for a replacement at shortstop. Harris was listed as the No. 74 recruit in the country by the Extra Elite 100 player rankings and was the top signee in C-USA. The Georgia native is also the No. 51 infielder according to the Extra Inning Softball Position Rankings.
"Some recruiters are hard to talk to, but it was really easy to talk to Coach Foti and the staff," Harris said. "It feels great to play with [Taitt] again because I'll have someone with me in this new world."
"Amaya has really big shoes to fill because Summer has been awesome for us since she's been here," Breeden said of the incoming shortstop. "I think Amaya might have better skills than Summer had when she first entered here, but whether or not she continues to work hard and get better like Summer did remains to be seen."
Jaya Herring | OF | 5-foot-4 | Cedar Hill, Tenn./Jo Byrns HS
A speed threat on the base paths with the ability to cover a lot of ground defensively in the outfield grass, Jaya Herring was listed as the No. 54 outfielder in the nation according to the Extra Inning Softball Position Rankings. A two-time All-District performer in softball, Herring also led the Jo Byrns High School basketball team to a district championship in 2019. MT softball fans that appreciated Precious Birdsong's playstyle will quickly grow fond of Herring.
"The coaches were really nice to me right off the bat, and I had no doubt they wanted me on their team," Herring said.
"She's going to steal a lot of bases and beat out a lot of infield singles," Breeden said, drawing similarities to Birdsong. "She'll be a slapper from the left side, and she has raw speed."
Makenzie Hutchinson | C/1B | 5-foot-10 | Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood HS
Makenzie Hutchinson is the lone Californian in this year's signing class, but she'll be welcomed by a host of other Blue Raiders from the West Coast when she arrives on campus in Murfreesboro for her freshman season. A team captain on her travel team, Hutchinson will be expected to become a leader in the MT locker room. She was named CIF First Team and Offensive Player of the Year at Lakewood High School.
"The coaches made it really comfortable to get to know them and the school," Hutchinson said. "I like that Murfreesboro is a small town, and I feel like I fit in here."
"We think [Hutchinson] is somebody that will be a leader for us behind the plate," Breeden added. "She's a big, strong, powerful kid. She'll be a right-handed power hitter for us. Defensively, she's got good skills receiving the ball and a good arm. Hopefully her leadership will continue to grow once she gets here."
Ashlee Jacoway | 1B/OF | 5-foot-9 | Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland HS
A born and bred Blue Raider fan, Jacoway will be expected to provide power from the batter's box and be one of the team's RBI leaders. In addition to TSCA All-State recognition last year, Jacoway has been named All-County by the Murfreesboro Post and All-Area by the Daily News Journal in her high school career.
"I love being close to home, and this is a great school," Jacoway said. "I'm looking forward to bringing base hits and speed as a Blue Raider."
"We're looking for Ashlee to drive some runs in and be an RBI-producer," Breeden said of the newest Blue Raider utility player. "She'll hit the ball in the gaps and will be an athletic first baseman for us. That's how she'll start off with us, and we'll let that evolve along the way."
Shelby Sargent | OF | 5-foot-3 | Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland HS
Like Jacoway, Sargent played on the Fury '02 travel team while also being an Oakland Patriot. Sargent will patrol the Blue Raider Softball Stadium outfield when she wears the blue and white beginning in the 2020-21 school year. Sargent has been an All-District performer twice and was named to the All-Tournament team in 2018. Jacoway and Sargent's Fury '02 travel team won the 2015 ASA National Championship.
"I committed freshman year, and I always knew I wanted to be a Blue Raider. As soon as I got on campus, it felt like a family, and I knew this was the place for me," Sargent said.
"Two years from now, we'll have one of the best outfields in the country because of our speed and what they're going to be able to do offensively, and Shelby will be a contributor in that outfield. She committed to us a long time ago, and her parents are MT alumni. I'm really pleased with the outfielders we have in this class, and she's going to be a good one," Breeden said.
Danielle Taitt | P/1B | 5-foot-11 | Snellville, Ga./Brookwood HS
A highly-touted two-way player in the Greater Atlanta Area, Taitt will compete for playing time in the circle while also being a threat in the batter's box for opposing pitchers. Taitt was named to the Gwinnett County Softball Super 6, All-State Senior Team and All-County First Team in 2019 and played in the GACA All-Star State Classic. Additionally, Taitt teamed up with fellow signee Harris to help travel team Tennessee Mojo finish ninth at Premier Girls Fastpitch this year.
"I really loved the team, and I knew Amaya, so it felt like home whenever I first stepped on campus," Taitt said. "She's been my sister, so it's awesome to get to play together again."
"[Taitt] will pitch and play first base for us. She's a right-handed power hitter and will come in here ready to go and compete for the starting job in the circle. I hope she'll replace some of Lexi [Cushing]'s home runs, and maybe she'll be the one to challenge those records," Breeden said of the final signee.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
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