French announces Class of 2026
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Head coach Nick French of the Bryant University softball team announced the seven members of the Class of 2026 this afternoon. Coach French is excited to add this class, which brings a lot to the team.
"I am really proud of these kids, who unfortunately took the brunt of the Covid recruiting period. Their perseverance to find the right home for them speaks a lot to who they are as people, and I expect they'll bring that desire to achieve their goals to the softball field and classroom at Bryant", said French. "I'm really excited about this class. They bring a lot of versatility in the field and power at the plate, and I am looking forward to watching them grow and realize their potential within our program and beyond."
Grace Bishop - C/3B | Fayetteville, N.Y. | Fayetteville- Manlius High School | (Original TC Tremors)
Before Bryant: Four-year letter winner for the Hornets at Fayetteville- Manlius High School... Named to the second-team all-league during the 2018 season... Played on the Original TC Tremors club team from 2019-2022... Member of the National Honor's Society.
Personal: Daughter of Karin and Joseph Bishop... Has one sister.
Hannah Cochran - 1B/3B | Littleton, Mass. | Littleton High School | (Polar Crush)
Before Bryant: Four-year varsity starter in the infield at Littleton High School... Led her team to two league championships... Was named an All-Star during her freshman and junior year... Helped her team produce a 20-1 record in 2019, and a 15-1 record in 2020... Member of the Polar Crush club team (2016-2021)... National Honor's Society member.
Personal: Daughter of Ron and Katie Cochran... Has one sister.
Ashley Kaiser - Outfield | North Kingstown, R.I. | The Prout School
Before Bryant: Played four years of varsity softball... Named to the third-team All-Division team her junior year... Hit three home runs as a junior.
Personal: Daughter of Meghan and Ames Kaiser... Has one brother and one sister
Ava Paganis - SS/3B | La Grange, Ill. | Lyons Township | (Extreme Elite National)
Before Bryant: Four-year letter winner... Helped her team achieve a 13-9 record her junior year... Hit .400 with seven home runs, 25 RBIs, .514 OBP, 1.347 OPS, and an SLG% of .833 as a junior... All-Conference honorable mention, and named team captain... Member of the National Honors Society... Played for the Extreme Elite National club team in 2021.
Personal: Daughter of Frank and Jessica Paganis... Has four brothers.
Ashley Pierce - SS/3B/1B | Hicksville, N.Y. | Hicksville High School | (New Jersey Intensity)
Before Bryant: Four-year varsity player at Hicksville High School... From 2018-2019 she hit .579 with 29 RBIs, and 45 runs... As a junior, Pierce recorded a batting average of .476 with five home runs... A two-time All-County honoree... Was named a top-100 player on Long Island twice... Earned the award of team MVP and was named seventh-team All-State in 2021... Competed for the New Jersey Intensity club team (2019-2022).
Personal: Daughter of Dawn and Randy Pierce... Has one brother.
Alexa Powell - Pitcher | Murrieta, Cali. | Vista Murrieta High School | (Athletics Mercado)
Before Bryant: Fout-year letter winner... Was a starting pitcher when her team won the league championship... A three-time student-athlete award recipient... Honor-roll student... Played for the Athletics Mercado club team... Won the triple crown, the Colorado IDT, and the Alliance Birth in Arizona as a member of her club team.
Personal: Daughter of Sara and Walter Powell... Sister of Bryant Softball alumna Morgan Powell.
Brooke Tracy - Pitcher | Glastonbury, Conn.| Glastonbury High School | (Rhode Island Thunder)
Before Bryant: Four-year varsity starter at Glastonbury High School... Helped her team to a career record of 27-15... During the 2020 season, she produced an ERA of 1.6... Named to the all-conference and all-state team as a junior... Member of the National Honor Society... Played for the Rhode Island Thunder club team in 2021.
Personal: Daughter of Tiffany and Jefferey Tracy... Has one sister.