Signee Spotlight: Sydney Carroll

STARKVILLE – Sydney Carroll, a utility player from Chelsea, Alabama, signed with Mississippi State in November.

Carroll boasts a family lineage rooted in softball. Her mother, Natalie Montgomery-Carroll played at Troy alongside her mother's identical twin, Adria, from 1994-96. Her mother is still fifth in Trojan career history with 13 triples, and the pair led Troy to its first conference title and NCAA Regional.

"Sydney is another powerful bat in this class, and she is only going to continue to get better," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She is explosive in the box and has a natural swing to drive balls out of Nusz Park. She has grown up around softball, watching her mom play, and is always studying the game. I can't wait to see her reach her potential during her time in Starkville."

Carroll attended Chelsea High School where her team won the regular-season title three times from 2022-24. She began playing with the varsity team in eighth grade and was called up when the program reached the 6A and 7A area championships in 2021.

Her power has been notable. Carroll led Chelsea in home runs in 2022, 2023 and 2024. On the travel ball circuit, her 21 home runs in 2023 ranked second nationally in Alliance Fastpitch at the 16U level, and she placed second at The Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series home run derby in both 2023 and 2024.

Carroll was named AHSSA All-Metro First Team in 2024 and Second Team in 2023. She hit .401 with a .787 slugging percentage and 1.272 OPS as a sophomore before batting .303 with a .707 slugging percentage and 11 homers in her junior season.

"I chose Mississippi State because ever since I was a little girl, I've always dreamed of being a Bulldog," Carroll said. "When I first went to Mississippi State's softball camp and hit a home run out of center field at Nusz Park, I knew from that day on that it was meant to be. On top of that, the coaching staff and managers and players are such and incredible foundation that it made me fall in love with it even more. Being able to see such an environment on the campus side was such a gamechanger. I'm so thankful to all my coaches, family and friends as they help me get to my dream."

Carroll played travel ball with the Mississippi Bombers and helped the team complete an undefeated season in 2023-24 while reaching a No. 2 national ranking. She recorded a 1.018 OPS on the travel circuit in the fall of 2023 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs in 29 games. She also saw time in the circle and pitched to a 2.59 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 21.2 innings that fall.

She was named the Southeastern Fastpitch League's Player of the Month in June 2023 after posting a .500 average with 28 extra-base hits, including 16 home runs. Carroll finished that summer with a .490 batting average, 1.792 OPS and 21 homers while collecting 56 RBIs. She pitched 37.0 innings with a 1.95 WHIP.

Mississippi State softball signed six student-athletes on National Signing Day on Nov. 13. State's class included three players that were ranked by Extra Inning Softball as a top 15 player at their position nationally.

For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Signee Spotlight: Sydney Carroll

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