Back-to-Back Brilliance: Rayelle Cooley Cements Legacy as NDSCS Softball Phenom
CHARLOTTE, NC - There are rare elite athletes who arrive on a college campus and immediately alter the trajectory of a program. Then there is Rayelle Cooley.
The North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) standout second baseman has put together one of the most decorated stretches in Wildcat softball history. A native of Oxbow, Saskatchewan, Cooley has spent her collegiate career rewriting the expectations for what a middle infielder can accomplish, culminating in major national recognition and the 2026 NJCAA Division III Softball Player of the Year.
As the anchor of a high-powered NDSCS lineup that powered its way through 58 games this season, Cooley proved to be a constant headache for opposing pitchers. Blending consistent contact with remarkable extra-base power, she served as a lethal run-producer from the middle infield. She finished the year with a blistering .403 batting average, an impressive .495 on-base percentage, and a commanding .643 slugging percentage. Over the course of the season, Cooley crossed home plate for 49 runs and drove in another 49 RBIs, matching her run production perfectly with her ability to drive her teammates home.
Cooley turned her 62 total hits into constant extra-base threats, racking up an impressive 20 doubles, four triples, and three home runs. Once on base, she remained highly aggressive, utilizing her speed to disrupt opponents on the basepaths by successfully swiping 22 stolen bases on 23 attempts.
The Wildcats took home back-to-back titles and three championships in four years, and have become a Division III Softball powerhouse in the NJCAA.
