Ole Miss sophomore first baseman Persy Llamas set the softball world on fire during the 2025 season, putting together a rookie-of-the-year type season in leading the Rebels to their first-ever Women’s College World Series appearance. All Llamas did was hit .354 with 10 home runs, 55 RBI and 20 walks, adding a team-high 67 hits. She was recognized with All-SEC second team honors for her efforts. Softball America tabbed her as the No. 7 first baseman in the nation heading into this season.
Llamas and the Rebels take the lid off their 2026 campaign on Feb. 5 with a doubleheader at Cal State Fullerton.
“I’m so excited,” said Llamas, who is a native of Eastvale, Calif. “I get to go home. I’m going to have so many family and friends there.”
Is Llamas worried at all about the proverbial sophomore jinx as she uncaps her second season in Rebel Red and Blue?
“I’m not worried at all,” Llamas responded. “I really have been practicing, and I’ve just like been focusing more on my mental game. One thing I’ve been doing for that is I’ve been reading The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant. That’s really helped me a lot. I’m just focused more and have confidence in my game.”
Llamas talent will be mixed in with a lot of new faces on a squad that captured Rebel Nation’s attention last year when they posted a record of 41-22 and advanced all the way to Oklahoma City. The Rebels’ pitching staff is practically brand new.
“I think all of our pitchers did really good,” related Llamas when asked about the staff’s preseason performance. “They were good for us in the fall, and they’ve been throwing live to us almost every day since we came back form January practice.”
In this NIL era, Llamas could have easily found a spot on another Power 4 conference roster, if she had desired. But she didn’t want to leave Ole Miss and Oxford.
“I just love (hitting coach) Bobby (Buchanan) and (head coach) Jamie (Trachsel). They are great coaches. I love how they teach and I love Ole Miss. Honestly, after the season, I couldn’t see myself anywhere else, because I know this team that we have…and also the transfers and coaches…we have a championship mindset. We only have one goal, and it’s to go back to the World Series.”
Ole Miss will also play Cal State Northridge twice and Boise State once while in Fullerton, Calif.
The Rebels open the season ranked No. 22 in the ESPN/USA Softball preseason top 25.