Inside App State Softball: High Ceiling and Great Expectations for 2026

After a strong fall, the Mountaineers look ready to climb in the Sun Belt.

App State is on the Rise

If you are looking for a fun, competitive team that has a high ceiling, then the Appalachian State Mountaineers softball program is one to watch. After a strong fall that included a dominant win over the Duke Blue Devils, App State continues its trademark approach built on hard work and determination. Head coach Whitney Jones spoke with much positivity in our interview Monday about where this group stands.

“I can’t believe our fall is already over now and the team’s in a really good spot coming off our fall competitive season and just heading into five weeks of offseason development. I’m really excited where our group is and for what these next four weeks are going to entail before they head home for winter break,” said Jones.

Experience and Firepower Return

Jones talked about the team’s growth and how they have developed an expectation to win. The Mountaineers finished 2025 under .500 at 23–27 and made a quick exit in the Sun Belt Championship Tournament, but the team was far from bad and showed plenty of promise. App State finished the season with program records in home runs and doubles, and also led the nation with a 98 percent stolen base success rate. What’s even more encouraging is that the overwhelming majority of the roster returns this season.

The Mountaineers’ returning experience from last season alone should bode well for 2026. Five players including Makayla McClain, Macy Hamby, Grace Barrett, Leah Gore, and Julia Girk started all 50 games last season, and all return. Madison McIntyre also appeared in 46 games, starting 45. That kind of continuity gives App State a veteran core with hundreds of innings and at bats under their belt, which should pay off in close games this spring.

Makayla McClain was a perfect 11 for 11 in stolen bases last season, while Julia Girk went 17 for 18. Both will help make App State’s offense an opportunistic one. That could prove to be the difference in close games where runs may be tough to come by. This is an offense built to pressure opposing defenses, capable of not only hitting the long ball but also producing base hits and moving runners with consistency.

Makayla McClain continues to be the spark at the top of the lineup. Her combination of speed, contact ability, and competitive edge sets the tone for App State’s offense every game. She absolutely tore the cover off the ball last season, and seeing her build on that performance will be something to watch. In 2025 she slashed .381/.477/.744 with 14 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 55 runs scored on 61 hits, leading the team in every major offensive category. She even has a cycle in her résumé, as she accomplished that against Coastal Carolina on May 3rd.

With McClain setting the tone at the top, and other key returners like Grace Barrett, Macy Hamby, and Madison McIntyre adding steady experience, the Mountaineers’ lineup has the balance and depth to support breakout stars like Leah Gore.

“Leah Gore is a dog,” said Coach Jones. She has the competitive fire and is wired to do what it takes to succeed on the field and off it.

Leah Gore’s Growth Reflects App State’s Mindset

Gore stopped by for a quick conversation today and mentioned how last year’s experience translated into this fall.

“I felt really good. I feel like last season and last year in general, I had a lot of experience and I feel like it really translated into this fall. Being able to play as much as I did last year and face the high competition that we did really made me grow a lot as an athlete and learn the game more than I thought I already knew it. I really think that translated into the fall,” said Gore.

Gore’s play in the batter’s box and behind the plate will, in my eyes, make her the Mountaineers’ sophomore quarterback type player. Her competitive grit and unwillingness to lose easily make her one of the most important players in the Sun Belt Conference heading into 2026.

“For me personally, I don’t like to lose. I’ve always been the type who’s extremely competitive. No matter what I’m doing, I’m either trying to be the best at it or striving to get there. My parents and family have also pushed me a lot,” said Gore. “I wouldn’t be where I am without them. When I was younger, we were always playing fun games and being competitive at home, and that really helped shape who I am today. I think that early competitiveness has made me who I am and continues to help me now.”

That mindset runs throughout the Mountaineer program, and everyone on the outside can see it. Yes, it was a fall game, but I go back to that Duke win a few weeks ago. The way they won probably made some teams circle App State’s name on their calendar for the season. However, it’s about carrying that same approach every time out, which was a lesson the following game against Charlotte helped reinforce.

“When you do beat opponents like that, people circle your name and they’re like, App just beat Duke, let’s go beat them,” said Jones. “I think it was a good learning lesson for our team, and we’ll definitely take that into our offseason training. It’s a reminder even heading into the spring that we can’t take a game off and that everyone’s going to think App State’s a team to beat.”

Pitching Duo Sets the Tone

A big part of the Mountaineers’ success will come from the pitching staff. Coach Jones noted that Sophie Moshos and Camryn Fisher are expected to be a one two punch in the rotation in 2026. Fisher should start a good deal of games for the Mountaineers as well.

Moshos returns after carrying a heavy load for App State last season following her transfer from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. In 2025 she pitched 163.2 innings, posted a 16–10 record with 118 strikeouts, and held opponents to a .255 average, earning First Team All Sun Belt honors.

Her stuff looked sharp this fall, and her intent in the circle stands out. After a year in this program with more resources, she’s clearly capitalized on the move up to Division I. She’s also a true student of the game.

“She’s soaking it all in. She’s capitalizing on all her resources,” said Jones. “She’s watching other pitchers who are really high level and asking, what do they do and how can I get better.”

One area where Moshos has taken another step is her off speed game. She’s been developing her changeup this fall, something Jones says will be a big addition to her arsenal.

Freshman pitcher Camryn Fisher has also impressed since arriving in Boone. Her competitive nature in practices and scrimmages has already caught the attention of teammates and fans. She brings velocity, spin, and the kind of energy that fits App State’s identity.

Catcher Leah Gore, who works closely with both Moshos and Fisher, shared her thoughts on the duo.

“Cam throws so hard and has so much up spin, it’s amazing. And Sophie doesn’t throw as hard but has so much spin, so them two back to back are just a dynamic duo. Sometimes I’m going back and forth catching and thinking, my gosh, so I can’t imagine how hitters feel facing them. Sophie had an amazing year last year and I know she’s going to continue that this spring, and Cam has so much future potential. She did great this fall and I think she’ll continue to help us a lot this year.”

Gore also touched on what makes Fisher so tough to hit.

“She spins the crap out of the ball. You saw the game when you were there, her rise ball is disgusting. She has so much spin, and she throws it really well out of her hand where you can’t pick the difference. She’s just a dog. She spins it, she throws hard, it’s crazy.”

New Faces, Same Determination

Newcomer Taylor Schafer has brought energy and drive to Boone. She has played a lot at third base this fall, and her passion has already become contagious.

“She’s been a huge addition to our program. She plays the game with so much passion and energy, and it rubs off on everybody around her. She came up early for the summer and really got immersed in Boone, App State, and what everything here looks like,” said Coach Jones.

As a freshman, Schafer’s love for the process is evident and will make her an even more key piece come spring.

“She just loves softball. She loves the development piece, she loves practice, she loves competing, and she loves putting in extra work. Honestly, she’s so bought into what we’re building here and wants to leave a legacy at App State,” Jones said.

Another name to watch is sophomore transfer Emilie Ching from FAU. Ching appeared in just six games for the Owls last season, but Coach Jones is excited about what she brings.

“Whatever you put in front of her that’s competitive, she’s going to find a way to win,” said Jones. “I expect her to produce offensively for us significantly this year.”

Looking Ahead

The Mountaineers are no longer sneaking up on anyone. With returning leadership, rising talent, and a renewed confidence built from their fall success, this group has the tools to turn last year’s lessons into wins. If the fall was any indication, App State Softball could be one of the Sun Belt’s toughest outs in 2026.

“This team’s competitive, they’re fighting for each other, and they want to do something this program has never done before. They’re going to have a great opportunity to do that in 2026. So you definitely want to tune in,” said Coach Jones.

Bonus: Softball’s Rising Support

As the game of softball continues to grow and rise across the globe, I wanted to get Leah Gore’s thoughts on the support she has already witnessed from both the school and the community in Boone. She spoke about the atmosphere around App State Softball and the growing support from both the school and the community.

“It’s amazing,” said Gore. “Like I’ve told so many people I know, I’ve told family members there’s no better support than what we have. We have coaches for everything we could need, from fielding to hitting, catching, and pitching. Everything is covered, and the fans bring such a big family atmosphere.

“With the new field and our new hitting facility, it’s almost eye opening sometimes. I catch myself thinking, my gosh, I get to do this all the time. It’s such a great opportunity, and just seeing everyone there to support us is like, wow, we’re here, we get to do this every day, and it’s just amazing.”

Coach Whitney Jones also shared her appreciation for the support that surrounds App State Softball and the investment the university has made in the program.

“That was a huge sell with coming here and taking over the program. It was just the investment in softball and the desire to see softball be a competitive program in the Sun Belt. There is a hundred percent belief in us being able to do that with the proper resources, and it just speaks to our administration, it speaks to our university, and it speaks to our culture of athletics at App State. We are a small community, but it’s a big athletic town, and the energy here shows how much people want to see athletics win,” she said.

“When you go around the community, people support our athletes and they support our coaches. It’s a really special feeling. Having the resources that we have and the stands full of people and fans who show up also says a lot about our families. Our families are there at almost every single game, supporting our athletes and their daughters, and it has created a really great family atmosphere here at App State.”