With an excellent recent track record and talent returning, the Hillsdale College softball team has an exciting season ahead to look forward to.

The Chargers are also looking to the future beyond this spring, securing a talented class on signing day this November to help keep the program moving forward. 

Hillsdale adds six players who signed with the program on Wednesday, including talented prospects from the team's traditional Midwestern base, as well as another player from the program's burgeoning Texas pipeline and the Chargers' first two players from California since pitcher Kyra Rodi, who played with the team in the 2017 season.

"We're extremely excited about our signing day class for 2025, which is stocked with talent and also unique players who will help us continue to grow as a program," said Hillsdale College softball head coach Kyle Gross. "We have excellent players coming to us both from close to home and across the country, ready to make an impact on our softball team!"


Cayla Contreras -- Oceanside, CA / Coastal Academy

About: A hard-hitting outfielder from Coastal Academy in Southern California, roughly halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, Contreras has been a difference-maker for a Stingrays team that won back-to-back San Diego sectional titles and was the Division 5 SoCal Champion in 2024 with an 11-6 victory in the championship game. A three-time first team All-Coastal Conference selection, and a member of the 2024 All-San Diego and California All-State teams, Contreras has hit .581 for her high school career with 16 home runs and a 1.686 OPS, with her senior season still to go. Also a standout on the club softball circuit for Team San Diego, Contreras helped her 16u squad place third at the 2023 PGF Nationals. An excellent student, Contreras is on track to graduate with honors this spring and is a huddle leader for her area's chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.


Neely Grantham -- Arlington, TN / Tipton-Rosemark Academy

About: A gifted and experienced pitching prospect with two-way potential from Tipton-Rosemark Academy on the northeastern outskirts of the Memphis metro area in western Tennessee, Grantham helped pitch Tipton-Rosemark to back-to-back third place finishes in the TSSAA Division II Class AA State Tournament as a freshman and sophomore. Prior to moving to Tennessee and enrolling at Tipton, Grantham also got experience pitching in high level prep competition as an eighth grader on Mississippi Class 6A state champion Hernando, and also pitched as a sixth grader on Midsouth Association of Independent Schools softball champion Magnolia Heights in 2019 as well. During her time at Tipton-Rosemark, Grantham is 24-9 with a 2.75 ERA and 164 strikeouts to just 41 walks, while also hitting .361 with 12 home runs and 98 RBIs, earning West Tennessee All-State honors, as well as All-Region and All-Memphis Metro honors. Grantham also was a nominee for the Memphis Area HS Softball Player of the Year award, and plays travel ball at a high level with the Chattanooga Fury and the Blue Angels. A strong student, Grantham is on track to graduate with honors, is vice president of the student council and a member of the National Honor Society at Tipton-Rosemark, and has served an an intern for U.S. Senator from Tennessee Marsha Blackburn, among many other honors.


Maggie Hayward -- Montgomery, TX / Lake Creek

About: A power-hitting prospect who's the latest Charger recruit from the softball hotbed of Texas, Hayward has come up as part of a dynastic program from the area north of Houston. She was a part of back-to-back UIL 5A state championships as a freshman and sophomore on teams that finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation at the high school level, and reached the final eight in the state playoffs during her junior year in 2024. While injuries have kept her from playing a full season for Lake Creek to date, Hayward has shown flashes of star potential as a hitter when she's been on the field, and she's also played well in travel ball for Texas Bombers Gold National. A strong student who's on track to graduate with honors and is a member of her high school's National Honor Society, while also participating actively in the National Charity League.


Katie Jonas -- Springboro, OH / Springboro

About: A fast-rising pitching prospect from Springboro, Ohio just outside of Dayton, Jonas helped lead her team to a Greater Western Ohio Conference title as a sophomore in 2023 and earned Special Mention All-Conference honors for her play. In two seasons on the varsity for the Panthers, Jonas has 11 victories and 96 strikeouts in 119 innings pitched. She's also excelled for travel teams Ohio Hawks and the Miami Valley Express in the offseason. A standout student who's on track to graduate with honors, Jonas is a member of the National Honor Society and has excelled in college courses already as a dual-enrolled student.


Emily Miessner -- Placentia, CA / El Dorado

About: A versatile prospect and strong hitter from El Dorado High School, south of Los Angeles and near Anaheim in California. Miessner hit .458 with 25 RBIs as a sophomore in 2023 to help lead the Golden Hawks to the quarterfinals of the Division 4 SoCal Playoffs, and has been a plus hitter throughout her high school career. She's excelled for a variety of travel teams, most recently ZT Blaze DelCampo's 18u squad. Miessner is an excellent student on track to graduate with honors and a member of the California Scholarship Foundation. She's also an active volunteer who started her own high school club, Sending Sunshine, to help support the elderly in her community.


Ava Stripp -- Milan, MI / Saline

About: A Michigan prospect who will be making the trip of just over an hour southwest to the Hillsdale College campus from Saline High School for her college career, Stripp has been one of the Hornets' top hitters for the last three seasons, earning Outstanding Offensive Player honors for her team as both a freshman and sophomore, and helping lead Saline to an SEC Red title in 2024. Stripp has also helped lead the Hornets to back-to-back MHSAA Division 1 district titles, also played two years of volleyball for Saline, and has excelled on the travel ball circuit for Turnin2 softball. A strong student, Stripp is on track to graduate with honors, was named a NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete, and is the President of DECA and the High 5 Club at her school, as well as a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council.

Photos are courtesy of the athletes. From left: Contreras, Grantham, Hayward, Jonas, Miessner, and Stripp.