The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Signs Eight to 2021 Class
11/13/2020 10:25:00 AM | Softball
This is the first class signed under head coach Joe Guthrie
BIRMINGHAM - UAB softball head coach Joe Guthrie and his staff inked eight members to the Blazer 2021 signing class on Wednesday afternoon.
The members of this year’s class all hail from the South, with four from Alabama, two from Louisiana and one from each Florida and Georgia.
Lauren Brock, Makenna Cortez, Makenzie Droddy, Sophie Page, Lindsey Smith, Bella Wiggins, Ja'nae Wray and Taylor Yeager will join UAB Softball for the 2021-22 academic year.
“We have had really good classes every year,” Guthrie said. “Our job is to try to make each class better than the one before and feel like this as good as it gets. We were really fortunate.”
Lauren Brock | Infield | Marianna, Fla. | Marianna
Lauren “Lulu” Brock will arrive on campus from the Sunshine State. She brings her experience from both Marianna High School and her club team, the Birmingham Thunderbolts.
Brock is already familiar with two other UAB signees in the 2021 class. Bella Wiggins Makenzie Drody, and her are club teammates.
Guthrie on Brock: “In my opinion, one of the best athletes in the country. She can do a lot of things with the bat for us. I think she is going to have a chance to step in and help us right away.”
It’s official! Lauren Brock is a Blazer ????
— UAB Softball (@UAB_SB) November 12, 2020
Welcome to the UAB family! ?? pic.twitter.com/oMmWr2SN9k
Makenna Cortez | Utility | Baton Rouge, La. | Hahnville
Cortez arrives to the Magic City via the Bayou State. The 5-foot-4 Louisiana native pitched and played infield for Hahnville High School and played club ball for the Marucci Patriots.
Guthrie on Cortez: “She’s another kid who can play in the dirt and play in the grass. She is a versatile athlete that can do many things for us. We’re excited about Cortez.”
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— UAB Softball (@UAB_SB) November 12, 2020
Welcome home, Makenna! ?? pic.twitter.com/6uGmAG8R49
Makenzie Droddy | Catcher/Infield | Iota, La. | North Side Christian
Droddy is the second UAB signee from Louisiana in the 2021 class. The Blazers are looking to utilize her primarily at catcher. She played club softball for the Birmingham Thunderbolts with classmates Lauren Brock and Bella Wiggins.
Guthrie on Droddy: “She has tremendous power, a big-time arm and can catch. She is a real force. A very physical kid with a ton of power.’
Our second signee from the Bayou State ??
— UAB Softball (@UAB_SB) November 13, 2020
Welcome home, Makenzie! ???? pic.twitter.com/29KPHgattn
Sophie Page | Utility | Decatur, Ala. | Satsuma
Page won’t be far from home when she dons her new gold and green uniform. The 5-foot-7 utility played softball and volleyball at Satsuma, in addition to travel ball with the Florida Impact team in Alabama.
Guthrie on Page: “She is a good infielder. She is what we call a high-ceiling kid, we’re excited to see where she goes. She’s a really good athlete.”
Welcome to the Magic City??
— UAB Softball (@UAB_SB) November 12, 2020
We are so excited to have you Sophie ???? pic.twitter.com/egFIrk5MLL
Lindsey Smith | Infield | Hayden, Ala. | Hayden
Smith will be just 30 miles from home when she steps on to UAB’s campus. The Alabama native helped Hayden High School to a Class 5A State Championship in 2019. She played club ball for the Tennessee Fury.
Smith is high school teammates with fellow 2021 Blazer signee Taylor Yeager.
Guthrie on Smith: “Lindsey Smith is one of the best players in the country. She is an exceptional athlete and can play just about any position on the field.”
?? SIG NED ??
— UAB Softball (@UAB_SB) November 13, 2020
Welcome to the squad, Lindsey! pic.twitter.com/oGnjltsuGS
Bella Wiggins | Outfield | Fairhope, Ala. | Fairhope
Wiggins inks her NLI for the Blazers from Fairhope High School. She was a 2019 Alabama Class 7A Second Team, All-State selection in the outfield and played club ball for the Birmingham Thunderbolts.
Guthrie on Wiggins: “She’s a really good athlete. Strong, physical and fast. She can hit, slap and do a lot of things for us. I’d put her up against anyone in the country with what she does in the outfield.”
You're officially a Blazer, Bella ??
— UAB Softball (@UAB_SB) November 13, 2020
Welcome to UAB Softball ?? pic.twitter.com/0huJETGo0w
Ja'nae Wray | Utility | Douglasville, Ga. | Robert S. Alexander
Wray, who has played first base and outfield, is the sole member of the 2021 class from Georgia. She played for Robert S. Alexander High School and club softball for the Atlanta Vipers-Palazzo.
Wray comes from an athletic family. Her brother, Ga’von Wray was part of the University of Tennessee baseball program.
Guthrie on Wray: “She has a powerful left-handed swing and is a good athlete. She is a very bright kid and a hard worker.”
?? JA'NAE WRAY IS OFFICAL??
— UAB Softball (@UAB_SB) November 13, 2020
We're so happy you're a Blazer! ?? pic.twitter.com/n8nK3axSvr
Taylor Yeager | Outfield | Hayden, Ala. | Hayden
Yeager is a center fielder and utility player who was also on the Hayden High School squad that won the Class 5A State Championship in 2019. She played club softball for the Tennessee Fury.
Yeager is high school teammates with fellow 2021 Blazer signee Lindsey Smith.
Guthrie on Yeager: “She is an exceptional base runner who is very fast kid. She will help us with outfield depth-wise. She knows what it takes to win.”
???????????? ?
— UAB Softball (@UAB_SB) November 12, 2020
Taylor Yeager is the newest UAB Blazer! Welcome to the team ???? pic.twitter.com/2b0VzLqTSV
Softball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2020-21 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all UAB men's and women's soccer, volleyball, women's basketball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB softball team, follow @UAB_SB on Twitter and Instagram.
