Clemson Softball currently has no record. No wins, no losses, no NCAA Tournament appearances. In fact, Clemson will not start playing softball until 2020. 

So why is Clemson suddenly the talk of college softball?

First, after announcing the addition of softball to their athletics department earlier this year, Clemson hired legendary softball coach John Rittman as their first manager.

Then, Rittman received three commitments from premiere club-level softball players, including two from the FloSoftball Hot 100 list.

The three players are Logan Caymol, Arielle Oda, and Hannah-Jo Hyatt. What do they have in common? All three went to Buford High School in Georgia and played on the EC Bullets Gold Biele travel squad. 

They will be the foundation of a brand-new college softball program.

Who Are The Clemson Trio?

The first big splash was pitcher Logan Caymol, who originally committed to Tennessee. However, after her brother died in a tragic car accident in late 2015, she decided to stay closer to home playing for Clemson in South Carolina. 

Clemson was also important to Logan because her parents met at the university and her grandfather played quarterback for Clemson in the 1960s. Caymol is the first Clemson signee.

Next were classmates Arielle Oda and Hannah-Jo Hyatt. Arielle is one of the premier hitters and shortstops in the country, while Hannah was an award-winning catcher in high school.

Together, the trio was selected for these 2016-2017 Georgia state softball awards: pitcher of the year (Logan), player of the year (Arielle), and first-team catcher (Hannah-Jo). That is an impressive collection of talent.

The Clemson Trio Carries Championship Pedigree

When looking to build a program, Rittman needed his bedrock talent. But, it was challenging trying to convince three star players to join a program that will not compete in softball for two more seasons.

It came down to Rittman having the vision to compete at the highest level in college sports. The folks at Clemson understand that since their football team is the defending national champions. According to Rittman, the same is possible for Clemson softball.

“John Rittman is a proven winner and nationally respected coach, and the right person to lead our new softball program at Clemson," director of athletics Dan Radakovich said earlier in November. “We have 27 months until first pitch, and John has the vision and experience to build a strong foundation and culture for years to come."

“I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to build the Clemson softball program,” Rittman added. “We want to recruit the best student-athletes in the country, and we’ll embrace the Clemson culture and passionate fan base. I can’t wait to get started.”

Realistically, competing for a national title might not happen right away. But the Clemson trio will at the very least build a foundation for future signing classes to stand on their shoulders competing against top programs in the country.

Just look at the championship pedigree of Logan, Arielle, and Hannah-Jo. In their four years at Buford High School, the trio was part of teams that won three state championships, four region titles, and amassed an impressive 127-15 overall record.

Heading to Clemson, the trio has a unique opportunity to prepare for a Division I college softball season two years from now.

Are JUCO Transfers Next?

Throughout 2017, we profiled elite softball players such as Regan Mergele who took the JUCO route to begin their college career. For Regan, it was the right fit heading to Butler for two years before signing with Nebraska.

Similarly, the Clemson trio is heading to college with two years to prepare for the balancing act of full-time academics and college softball. It's an opportunity to get acclimated to college, focus on school, decide on a major, and spend two years working with Rittman and his coaching staff.

The best part is not having to worry about completing the transfer process from a JUCO school to a major university. Instead, the players get to stay put and hit the ground running when the 2020 season is finally here.

Along the way, these players and their future teammates will get to watch Clemson softball start from nothing into something special, including construction of their own softball field.

Is the trade-off not playing college softball for two years worth the potential benefit of being part of a major new program? For Logan Caymol, Arielle Oda, and Hannah-Jo Hyatt, the opportunity to make history was too much to pass up.

We can't wait to see whether the vision for the 2020 season plays out as well as it looks here at the end of 2017.

Written by James Caldwell