University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Photo by: Lillie Yazdi
Softball Announces 2026 Signing Class
November 12, 2025 | Softball
LOS ANGELES โ The UCLA softball program has received seven signed National Letters of Intent from Sydney Hatch, Kiya James, Josephine Marsh, Monse Matute, Ryan McIntosh, Aubrey McLaughlin and Ava Tapia, it was announced Wednesday by Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach.
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Inouye-Perez's 2026 signing class was ranked No. 19 and 22 by news outlets Softball America and D1Softball, respectively. The group is headlined by outfielder/first baseman Aubrey McLaughlin, who was ranked as the No. 10 overall recruit and top player in California by Softball America.
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Aubrey McLaughlin
Outfielder/First Base
Eastvale, Calif. (Roosevelt HS)
B/T: L/L
Club: Athletics Mercado Smith 18U
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Ranked as the No. 10 recruit in nation and top in California, according to Softball America โฆ five star recruit, according to Softball America โฆ 2025 WBSC U-18 World Cup Finals Gold Medalist โฆc2023 U-15 WBSC World Cup Gold Medalistโฆ helped Roosevelt High School finish with a 19-9-1 record and a second round appearance in the CIF playoffs.
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Kiya James
Utility
Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines East HS)
B/T: R/R
Club: Iowa Premier 18U National
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Three-sport athlete at Des Moines East High School, playing softball, track and field and volleyball โฆ holds the school record for the long jump at 18'6".
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Josephine Marsh
Pitcher
Huntington Beach, Calif. (Orange Lutheran HS)
B/T: R/R
Club: Wildcats Weil Premier 18U
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Led Orange Lutheran High School to a 22-6 record and first-place finish in the Trinity League in 2025.
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Ava Tapia
Catcher
Upland, Calif. (Upland HS)
B/T: R/R
Club: Arizona Rising Appel 18U
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Ranked No. 86 nationally and 17 in the California, according to Softball America โฆ played internationally for the U18 Mexico National Team โฆ helped Upland High School finish with a 16-8 record and first round appearance in the CIF playoffs.
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Ryan McIntosh
Infielder
Fulshear, Texas (Jordan HS)
B/T: R/R
Club: New Jersey Intensity 18U
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Named the District 19-6A Defensive Player of the Year and Jordan High School MVP in 2025 โฆ selected to the Texas High School Coaches Association All State Team โฆ has posted a .392 batting average, 96 runs batted in and 22 home runs in the first three years of her high school career โฆ helped lead her school to a 25-7 record in 2025 and reached the regional semifinal for the UIL Texas Softball Championships.
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Sydney Hatch
Outfielder
Sugar Land, Texas (Kempner HS)
B/T: L/R
Club: Impact Gold Jackson 18U
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Monse Matute
Infielder
Highland, Calif. (Citrus Valley HS)
B/T: R/R
Club: Athletics Mercado Neil Price 18U
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Inouye-Perez's 2026 signing class was ranked No. 19 and 22 by news outlets Softball America and D1Softball, respectively. The group is headlined by outfielder/first baseman Aubrey McLaughlin, who was ranked as the No. 10 overall recruit and top player in California by Softball America.
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Aubrey McLaughlin
Outfielder/First Base
Eastvale, Calif. (Roosevelt HS)
B/T: L/L
Club: Athletics Mercado Smith 18U
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Ranked as the No. 10 recruit in nation and top in California, according to Softball America โฆ five star recruit, according to Softball America โฆ 2025 WBSC U-18 World Cup Finals Gold Medalist โฆc2023 U-15 WBSC World Cup Gold Medalistโฆ helped Roosevelt High School finish with a 19-9-1 record and a second round appearance in the CIF playoffs.
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Kiya James
Utility
Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines East HS)
B/T: R/R
Club: Iowa Premier 18U National
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Three-sport athlete at Des Moines East High School, playing softball, track and field and volleyball โฆ holds the school record for the long jump at 18'6".
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Josephine Marsh
Pitcher
Huntington Beach, Calif. (Orange Lutheran HS)
B/T: R/R
Club: Wildcats Weil Premier 18U
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Led Orange Lutheran High School to a 22-6 record and first-place finish in the Trinity League in 2025.
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Ava Tapia
Catcher
Upland, Calif. (Upland HS)
B/T: R/R
Club: Arizona Rising Appel 18U
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Ranked No. 86 nationally and 17 in the California, according to Softball America โฆ played internationally for the U18 Mexico National Team โฆ helped Upland High School finish with a 16-8 record and first round appearance in the CIF playoffs.
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Ryan McIntosh
Infielder
Fulshear, Texas (Jordan HS)
B/T: R/R
Club: New Jersey Intensity 18U
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Named the District 19-6A Defensive Player of the Year and Jordan High School MVP in 2025 โฆ selected to the Texas High School Coaches Association All State Team โฆ has posted a .392 batting average, 96 runs batted in and 22 home runs in the first three years of her high school career โฆ helped lead her school to a 25-7 record in 2025 and reached the regional semifinal for the UIL Texas Softball Championships.
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Sydney Hatch
Outfielder
Sugar Land, Texas (Kempner HS)
B/T: L/R
Club: Impact Gold Jackson 18U
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Monse Matute
Infielder
Highland, Calif. (Citrus Valley HS)
B/T: R/R
Club: Athletics Mercado Neil Price 18U
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