GRAND FORKS, N.D. - – The University of North Dakota's softball head coach
Jordan Stevens announced the additions of Josie Barden, Kennedy Drummond, Samantha Graves. Emily Johnson, Cate Medvitz and Taryn Walker to the 2027 team during National Signing Day on Wednesday, November 12.
"Today is an exciting day for not only our program but also for our new Fighting Hawks and their families who have seen a softball goal come to life," said Stevens. We once again set out to find great people, athletes, families and teammates to bring into our dugout and I'm confident that we did that with this group. The expectation for this class is high and it's to help us keep building in a direction that all of our stakeholders can be proud of and bring a Summit League championship to UND. I look forward to finally getting them all here on campus to compete in the green and white."
Class Breakdown:
By Position: LHP (2), Catcher (1), First Basemen (1), Middle Infielders (1), Outfielders (1)
By State: Arizona (2), California (2), Nebraska (1), Wisconsin (1)
Meet the Signees
Names are listed in alphabetical order:
Josie Barden | 5-4 | Middle Infielder | Chandler, Ariz. | Horizon HS
Four-year letter winner at Horizon High School… Three-time First Team All-Region for softball and basketball, along with first team All-Region for flag football… Has played in 74 career high school games and has cumulated a .676 batting average with 160 runs, 165 hits, 123 RBIs, 49 doubles, 12 triples, eight home runs and a 1.798 OPS… Holds school career records in hits, triples and batting average… Owns school record for triple jump in track and field… Won the 2023 (AIA) Arizona State Championship, while finishing as a runner-up in 2024 and semi-finalist in 2025… A member of the National Honor Society and leader of Fellowship of Christian Athletes… Played travel ball with the Arizona Storm… Plans to major in Elementary Education
Kennedy Drummond | 5-4 | LHP/Utility | Omaha, Neb. | Omaha Westview HS
Two-year letter winner at Omaha Westview High School… Top velocity on the mound of 64 mph… 2023 top 5 OKC Challenge pitcher… Academic All-State honoree as a freshman… Honorable Mention Ambassador and two-time student of the month… Apart of the National Junior Honor Society Honor Roll… Also does dance and track & field… Plays travel ball with PRIMETIME Eadus… Plans to go into Pre-Dentistry.
Samantha Graves | 5-10 | Outfielder | Phoenix, Ariz. | Mountain Pointe HS
Four-year letter winner at Mountain Pointe High School… Was named Second Team All-Region as a junior and sophomore… All-City selection her junior year… All-Academic Team Honor Roll… Played travel ball for the Arizona Stom Walding… Currently undecided with her major.
Emily Johnson | 5-10 | LHP | Cedarburg, Wis. | Cedarburg HS
Three-year letter winner at Cedarburg High School… Can throw a 64-mph fastball and 67-mph walk-through… Tallied nine home runs during the 2025 season… First Team All-Conference as a junior… All-District First Team and All-State Honorable Mention as a junior… Three-time Regional Champion, two-time Sectional Champion and two-time State Qualifier… High Honor Roll all four years with a 3.8 GPA… plans to major in Political Science on a Pre-Law track.
Cate Medvitz | 5-7 | Catcher/Utility | Villa Park, Calif. | Orange Lutheran HS
Four-year letter winner at Orange Lutheran High School… Two-time Second Team All-league selection and one-time First Team All-league honoree… Three-time Trinity League Champions… Three-time High Honor Roll selection from 2022-25… Played travel ball for BSC Bengals Briggs… Plans to major in Engineering.
Taryn Walker | 5-11 | First Baseman | El Segundo, Calif. | El Segundo HS
Extra Innings West Region 17th ranked infielder and ranked 43rd overall… 2022 Alliance Stars of Tomorrow Offensive MVP… Extra Innings Top 10 overall first basemen… Extra Innings Extra Elite Scholar in 2024… Played travel ball for Firecrackers Vines… Intends to major in Psychology.
For more information on North Dakota Softball, follow on social media @UNDsoftball or visit FightingHawks.com.
