LOGAN, Utah – Utah State head softball coach Kristen Zaleski announced the team's 2027 signing class on Thursday.
 
The class is made up of five signees hailing from three different states, with two apiece from California and Washington, and one from Utah. The signees are Addi Anderson (Stanwood, Washington), Emma Bero (Woodinville, Washington), Jaelyn Clark (Fresno, California), Peyton Poleki (South Jordan, Utah), and Nicole Specht (Saugus, California).
 
"Signing Day is always an incredible marker for the future of our program, and this 2027 class brings exactly the kind of grit, competitive fire, and elite athletic character we are building here at Utah State," said Zaleski. "Each of these student-athletes comes from high-level, winning programs and understands what it takes to perform under pressure. They fit our standards on and off the field, and we couldn't be more excited to officially welcome them and their families into the Aggie family!"

"In the circle, Addison Anderson brings dynamic energy, high-level confidence, and elite depth to our pitching staff. Emma Bero completes the battery, excelling behind the plate with exceptional defensive leadership and a powerful arm. Local Utah standout Peyton Poleki adds an incredible presence and power to our offensive lineup, while Jaelyn Clark and Nicole Specht bolster the outfield with game-changing speed, extensive defensive range, and relentless toughness on the base paths."
 
Addi Anderson | Right-Handed Pitcher/Outfield | Stanwood, Washington | Stanwood HS
Addi Anderson is a four-time letterwinner at Stanwood High School in Stanwood, Washington, where she helped the Spartans win the Western Conference (WESCO) 3A district championship in 2025 and place third in the state championships in 2026. She boasts a 1.26 career ERA and a 20-2 win-loss record, holding opponents to a .160 average and allowing only three extra-base hits among 54 total hits. She struck out 294 batters across 182.2 innings pitched and owns a .986 fielding percentage. At the plate, she holds a .412 batting average, contributing 47 runs and 50 RBIs on 49 hits. She has 15 doubles, 12 home runs, and a pair of triples in her career. She was named softball player of the year by The Herald in 2026 and earned the newspaper's pitcher of the year award in 2025. She also claimed first-team all-state and first-team WESCO honors.

Anderson plays club softball for the Washington Ladyhawks in Puyallup, Washington, under coach Ken Simpson. In the summer of 2026, she posted a 1.63 ERA through 50.2 innings pitched with 79 strikeouts.
 
Emma Bero | Catcher/First Base | Woodinville, Washington | Woodinville HS
Emma Bero is a three-time letterwinner at Woodinville High School in Woodinville, Washington. As a sophomore, she earned second-team all-King County Athletic Conference honors and was an honorable mention as a junior. In her first three seasons, she posted a .352 batting average, compiling 62 hits, 25 runs, and 59 RBIs. She tallied 30 extra-base hits, including 16 doubles and 14 home runs.

Bero plays club softball for the ai Bandits in Puyallup, Washington, under coach Joe Breer. After joining in the fall of 2025, she was named Northwest Fastpitch League Player of the Month for October. She was named to the all-tournament teams at the Arizona Last Blast and Alliance Super Cup tournaments, leading the Bandits to a third-place result at the Last Blast.

Jaelyn Clark | Outfield | Fresno, California | Clovis North HS
Jaelyn Clark is a four-time letterwinner at Clovis North High School in Fresno, California, where she helped the Broncos win three-straight California Interscholastic Federation Central Coast Section Championships. She is a two-time Tri-River Athletic Conference honorable mention and was named to the all-Central Valley second team by West Coast Preps in 2026. Her team reached the playoffs twice and was ranked as high as fifth in California. Through three seasons, Clark carries a .325 batting average, scoring 73 runs with 42 RBIs on 92 hits. She has swiped 17 bags and tallied as many extra-base hits. The outfielder fielded two seasons with no errors, posting a .981 career fielding percentage.

Clark has played club softball with the Grapettes in Woodland, California, under coach Bryan Merrida since 2024, logging a .441 average with 58 hits, 24 RBIs, 37 runs, and 13 stolen bases. She earned preseason All-American recognition by Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) in 2026 after helping the team to a top-16 appearance in the 2025 Louisville Slugger Independence Day Tournament.
 
Peyton Poleki | Infielder/Right-Handed Pitcher | South Jordan, Utah | Bingham HS
Peyton Poleki is a three-time letterwinner at Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah, where she helped the Miners advance to the Utah 6A State Championship in 2025. In 2026, she hit .425, accumulating 32 runs and 52 RBIs on 45 hits. She hit 11 home runs and nine doubles while recording a .969 fielding percentage. In back-to-back seasons, she collected first-team all-region and all-state honors. Before Bingham, Poleki played at Herriman High School, where she earned the team's freshman MVP award.

Poleki plays club softball for USA Explosion National in Idaho Falls, Idaho, led by coaches Bryce Bybee and Billy Butler. In the summer of 2026, she helped her team win the Triple Crown World Series, batting .446 with eight home runs on the season. In the fall of 2025, she produced a .552 average and launched 10 home runs.
 
Nicole Specht | Outfield | Saugus, California | Saugus HS
Nicole Specht is a four-time letterwinner at Saugus High School in Saugus, California, where she helped the Centurions to a Foothill League Championship in 2025. During her career, she has batted .304 with 31 runs and 18 RBIs. Of her 28 hits, she amassed 10 doubles, three triples, and three home runs. On defense, she has a flawless 1.000 fielding percentage and a pair of outfield assists.

Specht has played club softball with Athletics Mercado (AM) under coach Brian Tidd and the Briggs Softball Club (BSC) Bengals under coach Ken Briggs. She earned a bid to PGF Nationals with both teams, winning the tournament with AM in 2025, and was the runner-up with the Bengals in 2026.

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