Baldwin Announces Six Additions to 2026 Roster

ATHENS, Ga. – University of Georgia head softball coach Tony Baldwin has signed six student-athletes to the 2026 roster. The signing class includes outfielder Natalie Donaldson, pitchers Presley Harrison and Ada Little, and infielders Gabi Novickas, Brooke Smith, and Katelin Smith.

"We are excited to welcome this new group to Athens," Baldwin said. "This is a special group that offers everything you could look for in a class: talent, competitiveness, and high character. We can't wait to get them on campus and into the Red and Black.

"I am proud of our staff for the work that was put in to make this happen. JT does a great job of keeping us organized and identifying the right players for our program. It is a great time to be in Athens as the support here is second to none. With that, I want to thank all those people behind the scenes who play a role in making this day happen.

"The future is bright in Athens, and we look forward to this group arriving on campus and getting to work."

Natalie Donaldson | OF | L/R | DeWitt, Mich. | DeWitt HS
Outfielder Natalie Donaldson signs to Georgia from DeWitt High School in DeWitt, Michigan where she has been a three-time all-conference, all-district, all-region, all-state, and Mid-Michigan Dream Team performer for the Panthers. As a freshman, she hit .568 with a 1.468 OPS, 26 extra-base hits, 56 runs scored, and 36 stolen bases. She hit .588 with a 1.476 OPS as a sophomore, scattering 28 extra-base hits, scoring 64 runs, and stealing 32 bases. Last season she hit .623 with a 1.514 OPS, 26 extra-base hits, 56 runs, and 36 stolen bags. The Panthers won conference championships in 2022 and 2023 and have won the district championship each of the last three years with Donaldson roaming the outfield. She also played one season of volleyball at DeWitt. She is a member of the National Honors Society and was an academic all-state winner last year.

She's played five years for Tennessee Mojo Gregory, winning the 2021 Cajun Classic (tournament MVP), the 2022 USSSA Super Elite Invitational, the 2022 Mississippi Bombers Fall Invite, the 2023 Colorado Sparkler Supplemental Pool, the 2024 Colorado Sparkler Power Pool, the 2024 Mojo Invitational, and was named the 2024 tournament MVP for Alliance Nationals.

Natalie is the daughter of Holly and Bob Donaldson. Her father played football at Albion College and won a national championship in 1994. He went on to coach football at Walled Lake Western High School and won a state title in 1999. She has an older brother, Bo. She intends to major in Engineering.

Baldwin on Donaldson: "We just love the competitive spirit that Natalie plays with. She is feisty, fast, and makes things happen. She is a slapper that can apply a lot of pressure on a defense. I look forward to working with her on her swing away as well, as she has a lot of potential there. Nat reminds me a lot of current Bulldog, Dallis Goodnight. She is a good defender in the outfield and can play multiple positions out there. We are excited for Nat to be a Bulldog."

Presley Harrison | RHP | R/L | Baxley, Ga. | Appling County HS
Georgia native Presley Harrison comes to Athens by way of Appling County High School in Baxley. Harrison helped guide the Pirates to a 3A state championship as a freshman and was named the GADC and GACA region player of the year. She pitched 190 innings, striking out 300 batters with a 0.74 ERA en route to a 28-1 record in the circle while hitting .500 with 11 home runs as a freshman. As a sophomore, she was named a PGF futures sophomore All-American and region pitcher of the year, working 150 innings with a 0.38 ERA with 255 strikeouts with a 20-3 record. She was an All-American again as a junior along with being named the Georgia Dugout Club Player of the Year, first team all-state, GACA South Team Pitcher, and the 912 Sports Softball Player of the Year. In the circle, she pitched 112 innings with 190 strikeouts and a 0.75 ERA. She hit .514 with a .714 on-base clip, and .943 slugging percentage. As a senior, Harrison recorded a 0.34 ERA in 142 innings with 280 strikeouts, walking just 14 en route to a 24-3 record. She pitched nine no-hitters with 20 shutouts. She hit .456 with 45 RBI, eight home runs, and a 1.526 OPS. She concluded her prep career striking out 1,048 hitters.

Off the field, she's a huddle leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, member of Beta Club, Health Occupations Students of America, and the superintendent advisory board, and is expected to graduate top 10 in her class.

She played two seasons for Virginia Unity Johnson Ricks en route to being named a two-time PGF All-American.

Presley is the daughter of Gena and Cole Harrison. She has two younger brothers, Jude and Caleb. Her grandfather Calvin Harrison played football at Mississippi State. She intends to major in Biology.

Baldwin on Harrison: "Presley is a competitor! She has experienced tremendous success in the circle and is a workhorse there. She is one of the top pitchers in her class and is the type of competitor that her team wants to play hard for which is so important. She is competitive as a left-handed hitter and we look forward to utilizing her bat as well. We are excited to have Presley stay home and represent the Red and Black."

Ada Little | LHP | L/L | Georgetown, Ky. | Scott County HS
Left-handed pitcher Ada Little comes to Athens from Scott County High School in Georgetown, Kentucky. She played for the Cardinals as a freshman and sophomore. She worked 183 innings and recorded a 1.22 ERA with 248 strikeouts as a freshman en route to all-region and all-district honors. Her sophomore year, she recorded a 1.72 ERA with 224 strikeouts in 122 innings, picking up district MVP honors, all-region team, and second team all-state. In the classroom, she is a member of the National Honors Society and SCHS FCA and has been named academic all-state three times.

She played club for Tennessee Mojo Gregory, leading the Mojo to 14u and 16u Colorado Sparkler power pool championships and a 16u Colorado Sparkler supplemental championship.

Ada is the daughter of Jackie and Chris Little. She has one sister, Emma Gresham. She intends to major in Criminal Justice.

Baldwin on Little: "Ada Little is a bulldog! She is a big, strong lefty and can really compete. She has pitched well in big games and isn't afraid of competition. She is one of the top pitchers in her class and still has her best days ahead of her. We can't wait to get her to Athens and into the Red and Black."

Gabi Novickas | INF | R/R | Chicago, Ill. | Marist HS
Infielder Gabi Novickas signs to UGA from Marist High School in Chicago, Illinois where she's been a three-year varsity starter for the RedHawks. Her freshman year, Marist finished runner-up in the state championship. Her sophomore season, she hit .446 with 51 RBI, 18 home runs, and recorded a 1.495 OPS en route to a 4A state championship. She was named ESCC all-conference, and Extra Inning named her a high school All-American and its national player of the week on May 30, 2023. She topped her sophomore campaign with an even better junior year, hitting .471 with 61 RBI, 19 home runs, and a 1.644 OPS. She was named 2024 offensive player of the year, first team all-state, all-conference, Max Preps All-American, and Daily Southtown Player of the Year. She guided the RedHawks to another state runner-up. She also played a season of basketball for Marist.

Off the field, she is a member of National Honors Society, Spanish National Honor Society, is a Little RedHawk tutor, student ambassador, peer leader, and a member of the cooking club. She's a 2024 Illinois State Scholar and College Board National Recognition Program awardee, 2021-24 dean's list member, and was top of her class in 2021.

She's played seven years for the Beverly Bandits club team.

Gabi is the daughter of Delilah and Raymond Novickas. Her father played football at the College of DuPage. She has one brother, Danny, who plays football at Ohio University. Gabi intends to major in International Business and Management with a minor in Biology.

Baldwin on Novickas: "Gabi is a beast! She has a rare combination of size and athleticism that you don't see regularly. Her power with the bat is off the charts as evident with her 19 home runs in the high school season last spring. She can play either of the corner infield spots and runs well for her size. She comes from an athletic family and is a tremendous student. We can't wait to get Gabi in the Red and Black."

Brooke Smith | INF | R/R| Brandon, Miss. | Northwest Rankin HS
Infielder Brooke Smith signs to Georgia from Northwest Rankin High School in Flowood, Mississippi. Last season, Smith hit .450 with 30 stolen bases and a .980 fielding percentage. Smith helped guide the Cougars to back-to-back state titles and is a two-time MAC All-State performer. She played two seasons of basketball and won a state title her freshman season. In the classroom, she's a stalwart on the honor roll and has earned citizenship and Cougar awards.

She played club for D1vision 18u National for four years and has finished top five at PGF Nationals.

Brooke is the daughter of Jackie and Gregory Smith. Her mom played basketball at Jackson State where her dad played baseball. She has three older siblings: Quade, Braden, and Emi. Quade played baseball at Nicholls State and Braden played football at Louisville and Cincinnati. Emi played tennis at Benedict College. Brooke intends to major in Criminology.

Baldwin on Smith: "Brooke can pick it! As we evaluated infielders across the country, her glove on defense was as good as anyone we saw. She is athletic and has a smoothness to her game. She has a big arm and can make all the plays. She has pop in her bat that will only continue to develop as she gets stronger. She comes from an athletic family and is someone that has her best days as a player still ahead of her. We are excited for Brooke to get to Athens!"

Katelin Smith | INF | R/R | Glennville, Ga. | Pinewood Christian Academy
Georgia native Katelin Smith signs to UGA from Pinewood Christian Academy in Claxton where she was a four-time all-state and all-region performer. She hit .480 with a 1.399 OPS as a freshman. Her sophomore season, Smith hit .523 with a 1.769 OPS, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. After a .507, 1.736 OPS junior season, Smith concluded her prep career hitting .614 with a 2.151 OPS, blasting 20 home runs and drove in 48 runs while stealing 20 bases this season for the Patriots. Her stellar senior season concluded by being named GIAA AAA Player of the Year, a region championship, and an invitation to the GIAA All-Star Game. An all-around athlete, Smith played three seasons of basketball, being named a two-time all-region player. She also competed in track in 2022 and 2024, finishing top 10 in the state championship in the 200m (2022) and the 4x100 relay (2022, 2024). The track team won a region championship in 2024.

In the classroom, she is a member of BETA Club, FCA, 1160 Club, Interact Club, and National Honors Society. She's an honor roll student and has earned Maxima Cum Laude Latin Award, National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program, Georgia Certificate of Merit, Computer Application Academic Award, Honors Chemistry Academic Award, Advanced Weight Training Award, and Dual Enrollment US History Academic Award.

Katelin has played club for Atlanta Premier Elite Coleman (2021-23), Athletics Gold Tamborra/Long (2023-24), GA Fury Platinum Haines (2024).

Katelin is the daughter of Amanda and Jason Smith. She has a younger sister, Bree. She intends to major in Sport Management and Kinesiology.

Baldwin on Smith: "Katelin is an athlete! She is a multi-sport athlete who loves to compete. She is a shortstop by nature but can truly play anywhere on the field. She has a powerful bat as she shown with her 20 home runs during the high school season. She is a blue-collar worker and a tremendous student. She is another South Georgia player that we are excited to represent the Red and Black."

University of Georgia Athletics

Players Mentioned

Dallis Goodnight

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