Completed Event: Softball at Utah State on March 27, 2026 , Win , 15, to, 3
Softball
at Utah State
W 15-3
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Trierweiler takes her talents to pro ball
6/12/2024 9:30:00 AM | Softball
GCU softball produces its 1st American pro league player
History is being made again for Grand Canyon softball, as GCU's Ashley Trierweiler will take her talents to the Association of Fastpitch Professionals, making her the first player in program history to play in a U.S. professional league.
Trierweiler will call Long Island, New York, home as the newest member of the New York Rise, a team preparing to begin its inaugural season in the AFP.
"Super excited for Tree," GCU head coach Shanon Hays said of Trierweiler. "It's a great opportunity for her and shows what a great player she is. She has earned this opportunity for sure."
Coming off a final collegiate season in which she led the nation in hits, had the highest batting average in the nation (minimum 160 at bats) and won WAC Player of the Year; it was no question she had earned this opportunity. The Santa Clara transfer's career .445 batting average led all active Division I players this season and ties for the 28th-best career batting average in D-I history.
"I'm super excited for this opportunity to continue playing the game I love and to meet some amazing new players along the way," Trierweiler said. "It's a chance to continue to grow the game and play a little longer, and I'm just so thankful to God for putting me in a position to glorify Him on this stage."
Rodney McCray, a former MLB player, manages the Rise and has a daughter, Sydney McCray, who will don the Grand Canyon purple next season.
"This is a fairly new team in New York," Trierweiler said. "I am so excited to be a part of its inaugural season. There are so many big things ahead for the world of softball with professional teams like this continuing to grow, so to be a part of that is an absolute honor."
Trierweiler will also get the opportunity to play against a familiar face in former GCU assistant coach and college softball legend, Sydney Sherrill, who is playing her second professional season for the Oklahoma City Spark. The pair will meet up in the Scenic City Pro Cup on June 19 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The cup will kick off the season for the AFP.
Trierweiler, a center fielder who converted to first base for the Lopes, attributed her next steps to the GCU coaching staff, her family and the Lord.
"I want to thank God for placing me here for such a time as this," Trierweiler said. "Without Him, I'm nothing, so to have this chance to glorify Him using the talent He has given me is just the best thing that could come out of this. I want to thank Coach Hays and the rest of the staff for taking a chance on me and bringing me on at GCU this last season, as well as connecting me with the Rise. And then my parents, I wouldn't be where I am now without their support and guidance along the way."
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Trierweiler will call Long Island, New York, home as the newest member of the New York Rise, a team preparing to begin its inaugural season in the AFP."Super excited for Tree," GCU head coach Shanon Hays said of Trierweiler. "It's a great opportunity for her and shows what a great player she is. She has earned this opportunity for sure."
Coming off a final collegiate season in which she led the nation in hits, had the highest batting average in the nation (minimum 160 at bats) and won WAC Player of the Year; it was no question she had earned this opportunity. The Santa Clara transfer's career .445 batting average led all active Division I players this season and ties for the 28th-best career batting average in D-I history.
"I'm super excited for this opportunity to continue playing the game I love and to meet some amazing new players along the way," Trierweiler said. "It's a chance to continue to grow the game and play a little longer, and I'm just so thankful to God for putting me in a position to glorify Him on this stage."
Rodney McCray, a former MLB player, manages the Rise and has a daughter, Sydney McCray, who will don the Grand Canyon purple next season.
"This is a fairly new team in New York," Trierweiler said. "I am so excited to be a part of its inaugural season. There are so many big things ahead for the world of softball with professional teams like this continuing to grow, so to be a part of that is an absolute honor."
Trierweiler will also get the opportunity to play against a familiar face in former GCU assistant coach and college softball legend, Sydney Sherrill, who is playing her second professional season for the Oklahoma City Spark. The pair will meet up in the Scenic City Pro Cup on June 19 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The cup will kick off the season for the AFP.
Trierweiler, a center fielder who converted to first base for the Lopes, attributed her next steps to the GCU coaching staff, her family and the Lord.
"I want to thank God for placing me here for such a time as this," Trierweiler said. "Without Him, I'm nothing, so to have this chance to glorify Him using the talent He has given me is just the best thing that could come out of this. I want to thank Coach Hays and the rest of the staff for taking a chance on me and bringing me on at GCU this last season, as well as connecting me with the Rise. And then my parents, I wouldn't be where I am now without their support and guidance along the way."
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Players Mentioned
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