Earlier this month, outstanding pitcher Zoie Griffin committed to Texas A&M and her Tahlequah (Okla.) High head coach Chris Ray remembers the first time he saw her pitch.

“It was our first summer league game that she pitched for me, he recalls. “She faced 15 batters and struck out 15 batters with only one of those 15 actually fouling off a pitch.  I knew then that she was a special talent.”

So special, that in her first three years of high school ball in the Sooner State, Zoie has 861 strikeouts in 454.3 innings pitched—an average of 1.9 K’s per inning.

And this season as of last week, opponents are hitting just .076 against her with a 0.336 WHIP.

Coach Ray has worked with the prodigious pitcher for less than a year after she transferred to Tahleguah High for her junior campaign–she was previously at Wagoner High about a half hour away.

What, we asked the coach, makes the 2027 hurler so good?

“Zoie spins the ball very effectively to all quadrants of the zone,” Ray continues. “Combined with her velocity—in the mid to upper 60’s—Zoie is hard for opposing hitters to barrel up.”

“With that being said, what I believe makes her ‘A&M caliber’ are her intangibles.  She is very confident in her abilities and remains calm and poised in stressful situations. Furthermore, the confidence she exudes resonates with her teammates and provides a calming influence for our team in high leverage moments throughout the course of a game.”

The coach remembers another incident that impressed him showing how the high school hurler reacts to adversity.

“It was a scrimmage against Bartlesville (High) and the first batter of the game tripled off the right field wall on the first pitch.  Zoie’s mannerisms and body language never changed as then proceeded to retire the next three batters via the strikeout.”

Playing for the Oklahoma A’s – Madden/Davis team in travel ball, Zoie’s list of accomplishments and honors are a mile long and include being named to:

• the Alliance National Championship All-Tournament Team,
• the Alliance Player of the Month list twice,
• the Top Gun 2025 16U All-Tournament Team,
• the 1^st Team All-Tournament list for the Triple Crown 2025 Colorado Sparkler 16U team.

She shined in club play too with 173 strikeouts in 118 innings, a 1.10 ERA and a .147 batting average against. Zoie also helped her own cause by batting .345.

Her prep plaudits are similar and include Zoie being named to the All-Tulsa World 1^st Team and as the Oklahoma 4A District 7 Pitcher of the Year.

Another key to Zoie’s makeup that has impressed college, high school and club coaches alike is her outstanding leadership.

“We are a very young team this season with four or vie very talented freshmen typically in the starting lineup,” Ray says.

“On the field, Zoie is a vocal leader who is very supportive and encouraging to her teammates.  Her leadership attributes help provide a calming influence as those young players develop and adjust to the speed and rigors of high-level high school softball.”

That leadership, her prep coach concludes, extends to her support of others when she’s not in uniform.

“Off the field, Zoie gives back to the game,” Coach Ray adds. “When our high school team is not playing, Zoie can be found in the stands supporting our middle school softball program or providing pitching lessons to younger kids throughout Eastern Oklahoma.”

*****

Here’s is a closer look at the future SEC pitcher after we connected with her following her verbal to A&M…

Player Name: ZOIE GRIFFIN
Grad Year: 2027
Position(S): RHP
Club Team: Oklahoma Athletics 18U National – Madden/Davis
High School (with City/ST): Tahlequah (Okla.) High
Committed To: Texas A&M

When did you officially commit?
September 6, 2025.

How did you do it & where (in-person, phone call, email, Zoom, etc.)?
In person at (Head) Coach (Trisha) Ford’s house.

What factors were key in your choice?
The resources on and off the field, the coaching staff and the players—current and committed.

Did you take official visits (if so, to where & when)?
Texas A&M on September 6^th.

What did the Aggie coaches say they liked about your game enough to offer you?
That I am a really good teammate, my energy, grittiness, and toughness.

Who wouldn’t want to call this place home??
Gig em!🤠👍🏻 @Trisha_Ford @RussHeffley @jeffharger @CoachELeyba @HalleHarger @08AthleticsNat pic.twitter.com/JHDdDQw97v

— Zoie Griffin (@zgriffin_32) September 9, 2025

Have they (college coaches) said how they see using you once you on campus?
As a pitching unit with other committed players.

What, in your opinion, are some of your biggest softball accomplishments?

1. Winning the Little League Softball World Series.
2. All-Tournament team for Alliance back-to-back years and Colorado Sparkler this year.
3. For my high school, I currently sit at 835 strikeouts as a junior.

Anything else you’d like to add about your exciting verbal to play at the next level?
Gig em Aggies!

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball