BOONE, N.C. – The App State softball team and head coach
Whitney Jones announced the signing of six prep talents to the 2026-27 roster on Wednesday.
It's a great day to be a Mountaineer," Jones said. "We are pleased to welcome our 2026 signees and their families to the App State family. This class is composed of exceptional student-athletes who have consistently demonstrated excellence, leadership and a commitment to growth both on and off the field.
"Over the course of their junior years in high school, each individual in this class has shown notable development and a continued dedication to elevating their level of play. We are confident that this group of competitors will make an immediate and meaningful impact upon their arrival to campus. We look forward to welcoming them to Boone and seeing them represent the Black and Gold with pride."
Cheyenne Burge | Infield | Blue Springs, Mo. | Blue Springs South
From Blue Springs, Mo., Burge joins the Mountaineers after excelling both athletically and academically at Blue Springs South High School. In the 2024-25 season, Burge batted .416 in 89 at-bats, tallying 37 hits, seven doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs. Burge also hit. .385 and recorded three extra-base hits in just 14 plate appearances in her junior season. A sure-handed infielder, she posted 56 putouts and 22 assists in 90 chances across her last two seasons. Burge also competes for one of the top club teams in the country, Unity 18U coached by Ashley Van Boxmeer and Josh Johnson. Academically, Burge is an Honor Roll student.
"It is with great pleasure that we officially welcome Cheyenne and her family to App State," Jones said. "Cheyenne is an exceptional competitor who demonstrates a deep passion for the game and a constant commitment to improving her craft.
"She currently plays for one of the top programs in the country, and we look forward to following along with her continued success on the field this summer. Cheyenne will make an immediate impact within our infield and will undoubtedly contribute to elevating our program in all facets."
Emily "Slim" King | Right-Handed Pitcher | Freeman, Va. | Brunswick Academy
A right-handed pitcher from Virginia, King – better known as Slim – joins App State after an illustrious career both on the softball field and the basketball court at Brunswick Academy. Entering her senior season, she is a two-time softball state champion, a two-time Virginia State Player of the Year, a two-time conference player of the year, a basketball state champion, a first-team all-state basketball player and a volleyball state champion. In the circle, King has dominated for Brunswick Academy, posting a 0.89 ERA through her first three seasons, with a 25-3 record and 366 strikeouts. King's freshman season in 2022-23 saw her punch out 188 batters in just 99 innings pitched, giving her a 13.29 strikeouts per seven innings average. As of her senior season, she boasts a .135 opponent batting average. En route to her second consecutive state championship in 2023-24, King was a first-team all-conference player, her conference's MVP, a first-team all-state player and the Player of the Year. On the basketball court, King is a 1,000-point scorer, a two-time state champion and a first-team all-state player. In addition to her prowess on the field and hardwood, King is a member of the National Honor Society and an honor roll student.
"It's felt like a long time coming, and I'm thrilled to officially welcome Emily and her family to the App State family," Jones said. "I've been following Emily for years, and I couldn't be prouder of her growth and relentless drive to be great.
"Slim brings incredible passion, composure and competitiveness to the mound. It's been a joy watching her rise to big moments for her team, and I can't wait to see the legacy she builds within our program."
Blair McClain | Outfield | Dacula, Ga. | Mill Creek
A Dacula, Ga., native, McClain joins the Mountaineers from Mill Creek High School, where she has impressed over the last four seasons while competing in Georgia's largest classification (6A). McClain is a career .465 hitter with the ability to hit for both power and contact. In 2025-26, she led her team in nearly every major offensive category, including batting average (.485), on-base percentage (.532), OPS (1.305) and slugging percentage (.773). Her junior year featured a career-best 10 home runs, while also posting a .492 batting average, 14 doubles and three triples in 118 at-bats. A threat on the basepaths, McClain stole 34 bases over the past three years, with 16 of those coming this past season. The infielder's success on the field translated to her becoming a first-team all-region player twice and a first-team all-state player. In addition to her prep career, McClain also shined for her travel team, Impact Caymol, as she batted .424 in the fall of 2024 with a .656 slugging percentage.
"It is with great excitement that we welcome Blair and her family to App State," Jones said. "Blair has demonstrated exceptional success at the highest levels of competition. Her speed and athleticism in the outfield and her power at the plate will help provide an immediate impact to our outfield unit and our offense.
"She brings the diversity and versatility that we value within our program, and her competitive spirit aligns with our commitment to pursuing championships. We look forward to the many ways Blair will contribute to the continued success of our program and the App State community."
Avery Ramey | Right-Handed Pitcher | Kingsport, Tenn. | Lakeway Christian Academy
From just 73 miles east in Kingsport, Tenn., Ramey will bring poise and explosiveness to the Mountaineer pitching unit in 2026-27. At Lakeway Christian Academy, Ramey has earned numerous accolades, including two all-district selections, two all-region selections, the Lakeway area Softball Player of the Year, a Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State selection and a PGF All-American Regional Finalist. In her high school career, Ramey totaled 503 strikeouts in 334.1 innings pitched while walking just 85 hitters, good for a 5.92 strikeout/walk ratio. This past season, Ramey was the No. 24 player on the Line Drive Hot 100 list. Ramey also plays with fellow 2026 signee Blair McClain on Team North Carolina Hinde, coached by Kevin Hinde. Academically, Ramey is a member of the National Honor Society and is a two-time honor roll student.
"We are thrilled to officially welcome Avery and her family to App State," Jones said. "Avery is an outstanding addition to our program and pitching unit. Her recruiting journey has been unique, but we could not be more excited for her to officially join this class and our program.
"With her home located nearby, it has been special to see Avery make frequent visits to App State – whether to watch the team compete or to spend time with family in Boone. When I think about what defines App State – our close-knit community, our family-oriented culture and our commitment to competitive excellence – Avery exemplifies each of these qualities and more."
Tavia Robinson | Infield | Snellville, Ga. | Brookwood
From Snellville, Ga., Robinson joins the Mountaineers with an impressive list of individual accolades from Brookwood High School. Robinson is a Georgia 6A Region 7 Player of the Year, a four-time all-region player, a two-time all-county player and an all-state player. Additionally, she is her school's career record holder in stolen bases, home runs, triples and runs scored, while also being the single-season record holder in home runs, stolen bases and runs scored. Robinson batted .500 in her junior season and bashed two home runs, two triples and four doubles in 68 at-bats. On the basepaths, she tallied 18 stolen bases in 2024-25 and stands at 73 in her senior season. Along with her softball prowess, Robinson is an accomplished track runner, as she is a two-time All-American and an Adidas All-American in track. She is her school's record holder in the 800-meter relay. On the travel circuit, Robinson plays for the country's sixth-ranked team, Georgia Impact Taylor 08, and the team won back-to-back Show Me The Money tournaments, while finishing fifth at PGF Nationals. She batted .320 with 30 stolen bases for her travel team this past year.
"We are thrilled to welcome Tavia and her family to Boone," Jones said. "Tavia embodies the App State Softball way in all that she does, both on and off the field. Throughout her high school career, Tavia has set multiple records in softball and track, while also competing for one of the premier travel ball teams in the country.
"Her achievements reflect a proven commitment to excellence and a relentless work ethic. On the field, Tavia's versatility on defense and ability to diversify the offense makes her a dynamic contributor, while her joyful spirit inspires those around her. Her presence will undoubtedly have a positive impact on her teammates and our training environment daily. We are excited for the contributions Tavia will make to our program, the sport and the App State community."
Kendall Rumans | Utility | Franklin, N.C. | Franklin
An in-state product, Rumans joins the Mountaineers out of Franklin High School where she was an all-conference, all-district and all-state player. Rumans owns an astounding .510 career batting average through her first three seasons, with 107 hits in 210 at-bats, 119 career RBIs and 30 home runs. Her sophomore year at Franklin saw her bat .561, while slugging 12 home runs, 11 doubles, two triples and 41 RBI. In her junior season, she recorded 26 extra-base hits (11 home runs, 14 doubles and one triple) and batted .478. Rumans is her school's career record holder in both RBIs and home runs, while also being the single-season record holder in RBIs and the single-game record holder in runs scored. She is a two-time conference player of the year, taking home that award in 2024 and 2025. Academically, Rumans is a member of the National Honor Society and a Scholar Athlete.
"We are pleased to officially welcome Kendall and her family to the App State family," Jones said. "From the moment she arrived on campus, it was evident that she was an excellent fit for our program. Following an outstanding junior year, Kendall has already established herself as a record-breaking athlete, holding her high school's career records in home runs and RBI.
"We are proud of her achievements and look forward to the contributions that her talent and competitive drive will have on our team and the development of those around her."
The Mountaineers are excited to welcome the class of 2026 to the mountain.
