SB | Sam Buckley Checks in at #98 in the Inaugural D1Softabll Mid-Major D100 Player Rankings

MORAGA, Calif. — Due to an increasing interest in Division I Mid-Major Softball, D1Softball.com has released their first ever "D100" Mid-Major Softball player rankings following the 2025 season. Checking in on the list at #98 is a familiar face to Gael fans, sophomore third baseman Sam Buckley. Buckley was one of just two WCC Players to make the list, joining reigning WCC Player of the Year Cairah Curran of Santa Clara, who checked in at #94.

After arguably one of the best freshmen seasons in program history in 2024, Sam Buckley's encore performance in 2025 was all the more spectacular. The Burbank, California native set new single season records for home runs (14), runs scored (47) and RBI (41), and became just the fourth Gael in program history to finish a season with a batting average better than 0.400. Buckley led the WCC in on-base percentage (0.523), slugging percentage (0.818) and OPS (1.341), and committed just two errors at the hot corner all season.

The Gaels faced off with many players on this list, including Aaliyah Jenkins (Nevada, #4), Sophia Knight (Boise State, #12), and Makenzie Butt (Boise State, #18). There's no question that the level of softball continues to grow at the mid-major level, and the Gaels are no exception, now back-to-back WCC champs, and looking for more in 2026, charged by Sam Buckley and company.

#GaelsRise

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SB | Sam Buckley Checks in at #98 in the Inaugural D1Softabll Mid-Major D100 Player Rankings

Players Mentioned

Sam Buckley

GAELS IN THE PROS

CHAMPIONS

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