Softball Signs Four on National Signing Day
11/13/2024 3:35:00 PM | Softball
Cougars add significant talent with incoming freshman class
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team welcomed four new commitments to the team as the signing period for the Class of 2025 opened Wednesday.
Houston added an infielder, an outfielder and two utility players to its roster for the 2026 season. Two of the signees are from the greater Houston area while one arrives from Louisiana and one is from Ohio.
HAILEY GORE | UTILITY | KATY, TEXAS
Gore stays home to join the Cougars following a prep career at Katy High School under Coach Meghan Burrell and a club career with Impact Gold Jackson under Coach KC Jackson.
Gore hit 16 home runs during her high school career while adding 75 RBIs. A two-sport athlete, she also played volleyball for Katy. In club softball, she added 14 homers.
"Hailey has an ability to play multiple positions for us," Head Coach Kristin Vesely said. "She has a high skill set and a great growth mindset and should be able to come in and compete for a starting spot. She possesses the mentality we have been recruiting and will be a key contributor to our program culture coming from her winning pedigree. We are excited to keep her home and wearing red!"
The Katy, Texas, native was a 2024 6A THSCA Super Elite Team selection as well as a three-time All-District First Team honoree.
Gore was ranked as the 22nd best outfielder nationally in the Extra Inning Softball Extra Elite 100 Rankings for the Class of 2025 as well as the ninth best outfielder in the Southwest Region.
SHELBY TAYLOR | OUTFIELDER | BATON ROUGE, LA.
Taylor arrives in Houston after playing high school softball for Doyle High School under Coach Kyle Wieck and club softball for Hotshots National Nelson 18U under Coach Nathan Nelson.
"Shelby has high potential with her athleticism, her speed and her dynamic ability at the plate as a left-handed hitter," Vesely said. "With her work ethic, competitiveness and level of toughness, we have an expectation that she will get some playing time early in her collegiate career."
Across three high school seasons, Taylor recorded a .480 batting average with 146 hits, including a mark of .531 in her junior year. She's also amassed 86 stolen bases. She helped Doyle High School reach the LHSAA State Semifinals in 2022 and 2023 before leading the team to a State Runner-Up title in 2024. The multi-sport athlete also lettered in basketball, volleyball and track while at Doyle.
While also collecting 2024 All-District First Team accolades, Taylor was also named the District MVP as Doyle's Offensive Player of the Year. She was also named The Advocate's 2024 Outstanding Player for Class 3A and below after tallying 42 runs, 30 stolen bases and 20 RBIs.
Taylor was ranked at #50 in Extra Inning Softball's Extra Elite 100 Class of 2025 Outfielder Rankings and at #15 in the Southwest Region.
KAITLYNN TORRES | UTILITY | SPRING, TX
Torres joins the Cougars after a prep career with Grand Oaks High School under Coach Paula Miller and club career with Texas Riptide 18U Campbell under Coach Sam Campbell.
"Kaitlynn is a multi-tool player with the ability to hit for power and average," Vesely said. "She separates herself from others with her offensive skill set and she will be able to come in as a freshman with opportunity to add some pop to our lineup. We are excited to see how she develops over the next year to add to our strong offensive lineup in 2026."
Torres was ranked as the 11th best infielder in the Class of 2025 by Extra Inning Softball and as the #5 infielder in the Southwest Region. She was also named the #49 recruit in the Class of 2025 by Perfect Game Softball.
MALEYA THOMPSON | INFIELDER | ETNA, OHIO
Thompson arrives on Cullen Boulevard after playing high school softball for Watkins Memorial High School under Coach Mike Jellison and club softball for Thunder Elite under Coach Jeff Steiner.
"Maleya is a strong, agile player that has elite exit velocity off her bat," Vesely said. "She will be able to add to our dynamic lineup with both power and average. We have an expectation that if she continues to develop, she could hit in the middle of our Big 12-caliber lineup."
Across 89 high school varsity games, Thompson has 81 hits and 80 RBIs with 23 homers, including two grand slams, and 73 runs. She helped the team to the 2022 and 2023 OSHAA Division I State Semifinals before leading the team to a 2024 State Runner Up title.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Softball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective – and by joining the Diamond Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Softball for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Softball. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarSB.
− UHCougars.com −
Houston added an infielder, an outfielder and two utility players to its roster for the 2026 season. Two of the signees are from the greater Houston area while one arrives from Louisiana and one is from Ohio.
HAILEY GORE | UTILITY | KATY, TEXAS
Gore stays home to join the Cougars following a prep career at Katy High School under Coach Meghan Burrell and a club career with Impact Gold Jackson under Coach KC Jackson.
Gore hit 16 home runs during her high school career while adding 75 RBIs. A two-sport athlete, she also played volleyball for Katy. In club softball, she added 14 homers.
"Hailey has an ability to play multiple positions for us," Head Coach Kristin Vesely said. "She has a high skill set and a great growth mindset and should be able to come in and compete for a starting spot. She possesses the mentality we have been recruiting and will be a key contributor to our program culture coming from her winning pedigree. We are excited to keep her home and wearing red!"
The Katy, Texas, native was a 2024 6A THSCA Super Elite Team selection as well as a three-time All-District First Team honoree.
Gore was ranked as the 22nd best outfielder nationally in the Extra Inning Softball Extra Elite 100 Rankings for the Class of 2025 as well as the ninth best outfielder in the Southwest Region.
SHELBY TAYLOR | OUTFIELDER | BATON ROUGE, LA.
Taylor arrives in Houston after playing high school softball for Doyle High School under Coach Kyle Wieck and club softball for Hotshots National Nelson 18U under Coach Nathan Nelson.
"Shelby has high potential with her athleticism, her speed and her dynamic ability at the plate as a left-handed hitter," Vesely said. "With her work ethic, competitiveness and level of toughness, we have an expectation that she will get some playing time early in her collegiate career."
Across three high school seasons, Taylor recorded a .480 batting average with 146 hits, including a mark of .531 in her junior year. She's also amassed 86 stolen bases. She helped Doyle High School reach the LHSAA State Semifinals in 2022 and 2023 before leading the team to a State Runner-Up title in 2024. The multi-sport athlete also lettered in basketball, volleyball and track while at Doyle.
While also collecting 2024 All-District First Team accolades, Taylor was also named the District MVP as Doyle's Offensive Player of the Year. She was also named The Advocate's 2024 Outstanding Player for Class 3A and below after tallying 42 runs, 30 stolen bases and 20 RBIs.
Taylor was ranked at #50 in Extra Inning Softball's Extra Elite 100 Class of 2025 Outfielder Rankings and at #15 in the Southwest Region.
KAITLYNN TORRES | UTILITY | SPRING, TX
Torres joins the Cougars after a prep career with Grand Oaks High School under Coach Paula Miller and club career with Texas Riptide 18U Campbell under Coach Sam Campbell.
"Kaitlynn is a multi-tool player with the ability to hit for power and average," Vesely said. "She separates herself from others with her offensive skill set and she will be able to come in as a freshman with opportunity to add some pop to our lineup. We are excited to see how she develops over the next year to add to our strong offensive lineup in 2026."
Torres was ranked as the 11th best infielder in the Class of 2025 by Extra Inning Softball and as the #5 infielder in the Southwest Region. She was also named the #49 recruit in the Class of 2025 by Perfect Game Softball.
MALEYA THOMPSON | INFIELDER | ETNA, OHIO
Thompson arrives on Cullen Boulevard after playing high school softball for Watkins Memorial High School under Coach Mike Jellison and club softball for Thunder Elite under Coach Jeff Steiner.
"Maleya is a strong, agile player that has elite exit velocity off her bat," Vesely said. "She will be able to add to our dynamic lineup with both power and average. We have an expectation that if she continues to develop, she could hit in the middle of our Big 12-caliber lineup."
Across 89 high school varsity games, Thompson has 81 hits and 80 RBIs with 23 homers, including two grand slams, and 73 runs. She helped the team to the 2022 and 2023 OSHAA Division I State Semifinals before leading the team to a 2024 State Runner Up title.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Softball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective – and by joining the Diamond Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Softball for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Softball. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarSB.
− UHCougars.com −
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