11/12/2026 3:17:00 PM | Softball
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Jax State head softball coach Julie Boland announced the signing of seven players in Jax State's 2027-28 recruiting class.
Â
The class includes athletes from six different states, including a trio of in-state pickups for the Gamecocks. The 2028 recruiting class brings significant prep level championship experience, along with a slew of accolades for each player.
Â
REESE HILL
Middle-Infielder | Montgomery City, Mo. | Montgomery County High School
Hill joins the Gamecocks after a decorated four-year career at Montgomery County High School in Missouri. In all four years of her prep campaign, Hill was named First Team All-State, First Team All-Region, First Team All-District and First Team All-Conference. Additionally, Hill was named a NEMO Press Box All-Star in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons, along with being named the 2026 Class 2 Player of the Year in her senior season.
Â
KENNEDY HOCKMAN
Utility | Moody, Ala. | Moody High School
A local product from Moody, Ala., Kennedy Hockman comes to Jacksonville after spending four years at Moody High School. Hockman brings championship experience to Jax State, being a part of a 5A AHSAA State Championship with the Blue Devils and won a PGF National Championship with her travel ball team, Tennessee MOJO.
Â
HANNA KIMBRELL
Infield | Fayette, Ala. | Winfield City High School
Another in-state signee for Jax State, Hanna Kimbrell joins the Gamecocks from the west side of the state in Fayette, Ala. Kimbrell brings a decorated high school resume, including being named the 2026 Tuscaloosa News Player of the Year, along with being an All-State, All-Area, All-Region, All-County and All-WAC selection. Kimbrell also made the AHSAA All-Star North team after earning the AHSAA Highest Batting Average Award. The young talent also owns multiple single-season school records in hits, home runs, RBIs and doubles.
Â
AUDREY PENERA
Pitcher | Huntington Beach, Calif. | Mater Dei High School
Joining the Gamecocks from the west coast, Audrey Penera hails from Huntington Beach, Calif. with an impressive resume. Penera was named a California Interscholastic Federation Division II Finalist in 2025 and a semifinalist in 2024 out of Mater Dei High School. Additionally, she was named a Principal's Scholar Athlete three times in her career. In her travel ball career, Penera earned a Pacific Coast Fastpitch League Player of the Month in 2023 and was a part of a pair of two third-place teams in 2024, with the PGF 16U league and the Alliance 14U league.
Â
KLOE QUIGLE
Infield | Smyrna, Tenn. | Stewart's Creek High School
A young talent out of Smyrna, Tenn. Quigle joins Jax State after most recently winning a state championship with Stewart's Creek High School in the spring. As a senior, Quigle was named District MVP and state tournament MVP, along with earning an All-State honor as well. Additionally, Quigle was a nominee for the Middle Tennessee High School Sports Awards Softball Player of the Year. The middle infielder is a three-time All-Area selection and was named to the Scenic City Top-25 list with her travel ball squad.
Â
MALLORIE ROSE
Utility | Demotte, Ind. | Kankakee Valley High School
Rose comes to Jacksonville as a talented multi-sport athlete out of Demotte, Indiana. On the softball field, Rose was a part of the 2024 Sectional Championship team with Kankakee Valley High School and was named First Team All-Conference three times in her prep career. On the hardwood, Rose was a two-time First Team All-Conference selection in basketball, along with winning the Northwest Crossroads Conference Championship and sectional championship in 2026.
Â
PAIGE WELCH
Utility | Abbeville, Ala. | Houston Academy
Welch arrives in Jacksonville with a plethora of winning experience at the prep level. Welch was a part of three state championship teams with Abbeville Christian Academy and two state runner-up teams with Houston Academy. The young player was an All-State honoree as a junior and senior, and was an All-State honorable mention three years prior.
Â
Â
The class includes athletes from six different states, including a trio of in-state pickups for the Gamecocks. The 2028 recruiting class brings significant prep level championship experience, along with a slew of accolades for each player.
Â
REESE HILL
Middle-Infielder | Montgomery City, Mo. | Montgomery County High School
Hill joins the Gamecocks after a decorated four-year career at Montgomery County High School in Missouri. In all four years of her prep campaign, Hill was named First Team All-State, First Team All-Region, First Team All-District and First Team All-Conference. Additionally, Hill was named a NEMO Press Box All-Star in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons, along with being named the 2026 Class 2 Player of the Year in her senior season.
Â
KENNEDY HOCKMAN
Utility | Moody, Ala. | Moody High School
A local product from Moody, Ala., Kennedy Hockman comes to Jacksonville after spending four years at Moody High School. Hockman brings championship experience to Jax State, being a part of a 5A AHSAA State Championship with the Blue Devils and won a PGF National Championship with her travel ball team, Tennessee MOJO.
Â
HANNA KIMBRELL
Infield | Fayette, Ala. | Winfield City High School
Another in-state signee for Jax State, Hanna Kimbrell joins the Gamecocks from the west side of the state in Fayette, Ala. Kimbrell brings a decorated high school resume, including being named the 2026 Tuscaloosa News Player of the Year, along with being an All-State, All-Area, All-Region, All-County and All-WAC selection. Kimbrell also made the AHSAA All-Star North team after earning the AHSAA Highest Batting Average Award. The young talent also owns multiple single-season school records in hits, home runs, RBIs and doubles.
Â
AUDREY PENERA
Pitcher | Huntington Beach, Calif. | Mater Dei High School
Joining the Gamecocks from the west coast, Audrey Penera hails from Huntington Beach, Calif. with an impressive resume. Penera was named a California Interscholastic Federation Division II Finalist in 2025 and a semifinalist in 2024 out of Mater Dei High School. Additionally, she was named a Principal's Scholar Athlete three times in her career. In her travel ball career, Penera earned a Pacific Coast Fastpitch League Player of the Month in 2023 and was a part of a pair of two third-place teams in 2024, with the PGF 16U league and the Alliance 14U league.
Â
KLOE QUIGLE
Infield | Smyrna, Tenn. | Stewart's Creek High School
A young talent out of Smyrna, Tenn. Quigle joins Jax State after most recently winning a state championship with Stewart's Creek High School in the spring. As a senior, Quigle was named District MVP and state tournament MVP, along with earning an All-State honor as well. Additionally, Quigle was a nominee for the Middle Tennessee High School Sports Awards Softball Player of the Year. The middle infielder is a three-time All-Area selection and was named to the Scenic City Top-25 list with her travel ball squad.
Â
MALLORIE ROSE
Utility | Demotte, Ind. | Kankakee Valley High School
Rose comes to Jacksonville as a talented multi-sport athlete out of Demotte, Indiana. On the softball field, Rose was a part of the 2024 Sectional Championship team with Kankakee Valley High School and was named First Team All-Conference three times in her prep career. On the hardwood, Rose was a two-time First Team All-Conference selection in basketball, along with winning the Northwest Crossroads Conference Championship and sectional championship in 2026.
Â
PAIGE WELCH
Utility | Abbeville, Ala. | Houston Academy
Welch arrives in Jacksonville with a plethora of winning experience at the prep level. Welch was a part of three state championship teams with Abbeville Christian Academy and two state runner-up teams with Houston Academy. The young player was an All-State honoree as a junior and senior, and was an All-State honorable mention three years prior.
Â
Saturday, March 14
Saturday, March 14
Wednesday, March 11
Thursday, February 19
