SAN FRANCISCO – Continuing to build a bright future for the program, Academy of Art softball Head Coach Nikki Gentile and her staff have officially announced the first six signees for the 2023-24 recruiting class. Donning the ART U red and black next year will be catcher/infielder Liberty Herrera (Magnolia, Texas/Alvin Community College), pitcher/outfielder Bella Jimenez (Sacramento, Calif./Inderkum), pitcher/utility Kayla Vaughan (San Diego/Rancho Bernardo), pitcher Alyssa Fullmer (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail), outfielder Lida Wos (Penn Hills, Pa./Serra Catholic), and pitcher/infielder Talyn Fordham (Longmont, Colo./Silver Creek).

Liberty Herrera (Magnolia, Texas / Alvin Community College)
Soon to be a junior transfer from Alvin Community College next year, Herrera led the Dolphins in batting average in the most recent season, swinging at a .346 clip in 107 at-bats with 14 doubles, 16 runs batted in, and 24 runs scored. She had 12 multi-hit games highlighted by back-to-back 4-for-4 efforts with three RBIs and three runs scored versus Lamar State-Port Arthur.

While competing for four years on the varsity softball team at Magnolia West High School, Herrera earned Second Team All-District in addition to being selected to the Honor Roll. She was also a member of multiple club teams including Hotshots and Blaze

As she works toward a career in the fashion industry, Herrera will enter the Academy of Art School of Fashion Design next fall.

"Liberty will be an impact player for us right away," Gentile said. "She has command behind the plate and is an offensive hassle for other teams with power to all fields."

Bella Jimenez (Sacramento, Calif. / Inderkum)
Currently approaching her third year of varsity softball at Inderkum High School, Jimenez has already put together quite a resume of accomplishments. She was First Team All-League in both 2021 and 2022, adding Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team in 2021 then Inderkum Offensive Player of the Year and stint as team captain in 2022.

Jimenez hit .362 with five doubles, two triples, and 16 runs scored in 2021 before upping nearly all of those totals with a breakout 2022 season that saw her post a .397 batting average with six doubles, 15 runs batted in, and 18 runs scored. A two-way talent, she has added a 3.33 earned run average, four wins, and 29 strikeouts in 63.0 innings pitched. Since she was 10 years old, Jimenez has also played for multiple club teams including Foothill Gold 18G Stinson and California Breeze.

The Academy of Art School of Fashion Styling will be Jimenez's destination next fall as she pursues a future goal of becoming a fashion stylist.

"I have known Bella since she was 10 years old, starting her travel ball experience," Gentile said. "It is amazing how the game comes full circle sometimes. She has tremendous work ethic and energy on the mound while also giving us some depth in the outfield."

Kayla Vaughan (San Diego/Rancho Bernardo)
The 2023 season will represent Vaughan's third year of varsity softball at Rancho Bernardo High School. She comes off a strong 2022 campaign in which her 3.08 earned run average, two wins, and 29 strikeouts in 25 innings of work helped the Broncos go 20-9-1 overall.

Along with her high school success, Vaughan has helped her various club teams with first-place finishes at USSSA Far West (12u), Border Madness (14u), and the TCS Red White Blue Tournament (14u) all prior to joining her most recent club, SoCal Breaks Beddow/Wright 18u. One of her most memorable performances saw her toss 8.0 innings with 12 strikeouts in the 2022 Premier Girls Fastpitch bracket game, guiding her squad to a 3-2 victory in extras.

Aspiring to become a concept artist/comic book illustrator, Vaughan, an Honor Roll student-athlete, begins her collegiate career in the Academy of Art School of Illustration in the fall.

"Kayla is an athletic pitcher with a fiery passion for her craft," Gentile said. "We love her stoic presence and her command and spin on the mound are so fun to watch."

Alyssa Fullmer (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail)
Three exciting years on the Cherokee Trail High School varsity softball team have taken Fullmer to quite a few postseasons. 5A regional qualifiers in 2019, 2020, and 2021, the Cougars were state runners-up in 2020 and repeated that appearance the next two years with a 5A regional championship highlighting 2022. Second Team All-State twice, Academic All-State on four occasions, and having appeared at the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports All-State Senior Showcase Game, Fullmer has thus far compiled a .256 batting average with 14 runs batted in, seven doubles, and 19 runs scored while adding three wins as a pitcher and 64 strikeouts in 85.1 innings in the circle.

When she wasn't helping her high school team collect 51 wins over the last three seasons, Fullmer was competing for her club teams, the Colorado Angels, who were Premiere Girl Fastpitch qualifiers in 2021, Colorado Recruits, who were Zoom Into June 2020 Champions, and Top Gun, who were Swing Into Spring Champions.

When she finishes her collegiate career in the Academy of Art School of Architecture, Fullmer will pursue her goal of becoming an architect.

"Alyssa attended our invite-only camp in November and we were instantly impressed by her swing and talent on the mound," Gentile said. "She is a great person who works incredibly hard at her craft and in the classroom. We are thrilled to welcome this talented class to ART U this fall."

Lida Wos (Penn Hills, Pa./Serra Catholic)
A multi-sport student-athlete for Serra Catholic High School, Wos has tirelessly spent the last three years competing in softball (all on varsity), soccer (all on varsity), and basketball. Captaining the Eagles' softball team for three seasons, Wos has been a two-year All-Selection shortstop while helping the Serra Catholic go 33-17 in that span. After hitting .386 with six extra-base hits, 15 runs batted in, 10 stolen bases, and 13 runs scored as a sophomore, Wos broke out the very next year to the tune of a .500 batting average in 50 at-bats, seven extra-base hits, 21 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and 24 runs scored.

On the soccer field, Wos has served as a team captain for two years while adding a pair of Defensive Player All-Selections. She also competed for her softball club team, Pittsburgh Nitro Fastpitch, in that time.

As she endeavors to work in cinematography in the future, Wos starts in the Academy of Art School of Motion Pictures & Television next fall.

"Lida is a multi-sport student-athlete who offers a ton of speed in the outfield," Gentile said. "Her work ethic and passion in the weight room set her apart. In her free time, she creates short films supporting the LGBTQ+ youth community."

Talyn Fordham (Longmont, Colo./Silver Creek)
A three-year contributor to the varsity softball team at Silver Creek High School, Fordham began that stint as Honorable Mention All-Conference as a freshman. She was 5-1 as a pitcher that season (a 22-6 Raptors' campaign that included a deep postseason run), logging a 1.44 earned run average with 33 strikeouts in 24.1 innings of work while adding a .295 batting average with 22 runs batted in, eight home runs, and 24 runs scored on the offensive side of the ball.

A limited sophomore season still saw Fordham post a 0.48 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 14.2 innings to go with a .357 batting average plus nine RBIs and 12 runs scored before she struck out 75 in 66.1 innings as a junior meanwhile hitting .393 with 20 RBIs, six homers, five doubles, and 18 runs scored. Fordham opted out of her senior year to play competitively in Arizona and California, continuing with a three-year stint with her club team, Firecrackers 18 Gold Colorado, after spending time with Triple Crown Colorado from 2019-21.

A three-year All-Academic honoree, Fordham enters the Academy of Art School of Architecture with plans to become an architect in her next life chapter.

"Talyn is a two-way player who has awesome power both on the mound and at the plate," Gentile said. "We knew instantly after meeting her that she was meant to be at ART U."