DURHAM, N.C. – Duke softball head coach Marissa Young announced Tuesday redshirt junior Jada Baker, graduate transfer Thessa Malau’ulu and junior Aminah Vega were selected as captains for the upcoming 2025 campaign, following a vote from the team. Baker was one of six players to earn a spot in the starting lineup in all 61 […]
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke softball head coach Marissa Young announced Tuesday redshirt junior Jada Baker, graduate transfer Thessa Malau’ulu and junior Aminah Vega were selected as captains for the upcoming 2025 campaign, following a vote from the team.
Baker was one of six players to earn a spot in the starting lineup in all 61 games last season, primarily at shortstop. She posted a .241 batting average, while tallying career-highs in hits (38), runs scored (29), doubles (5) and RBI (23). A product of Longwood, Fla., Baker blasted four home runs on the year, including one against No. 16 Florida State to help guide the Blue Devils to their first road victory over the Seminoles. She was also honored for her hard work in the classroom, garnering Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, All-ACC Academic and ACC Honor Roll recognition. A leader both on and off the field, Baker was named captain for the second straight year and served on the team’s leadership council in 2023.
A native of Long Beach, California, Malau’ulu enters her first season with the Blue Devils, after graduating from UCLA in May with a degree in psychology. In her four years with the Bruins, Malau’ulu appeared in 133 career games and earned 103 starts, primarily at third base. She left her mark on the Bruins’ program in her final season, tallying career-highs in batting average (.294), on-base percentage (.377), hits (35), RBI (15) and runs scored (28), while helping lead UCLA to its 32nd Women’s College World Series appearance. Malau’ulu also drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning against rival No. 19 Arizona on UCLA’s senior day to help guide the Bruins to their largest comeback victory in program history.
A 2024 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-American, Vega is coming off a standout sophomore season. Last year, Vega helped power the Blue Devil offense, closing out the year with a .369 batting average and 20 multi-hit games. The DeBary, Fla., native saw action in 59-of-61 games and finished second on the team in home runs (12), doubles (18) and RBI (52). The starting second baseman earned NFCA All-Region honors for the second time in her career, after being named to the first team in 2024 and second team in 2023. Vega was also voted the 2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and named to the ACC All-Tournament team.
Duke opens the 2025 season in Clearwater, Fla., playing in the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic Feb. 6-9 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. The Blue Devils highlight the field as the lone 2024 Women’s College World Series participant with Missouri and Tennessee making Super Regional appearances. Duke will face Penn State (Feb. 7), Texas Tech (Feb. 7), Northwestern (Feb. 8), Mississippi State (Feb. 8) and Missouri (Feb. 10) during the four-day showcase.
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