Reunited: Former travel ball teammates together again with South Carolina softball
Growing up, Aspen Boulware and Olivia Miller were teammates on the travel softball circuit. Now they’ll be reunited as they begin their college careers with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Boulware and Miller, as well as other incoming freshmen athletes, moved in this week as they get a start on their collegiate career.
“I played with Olivia when we were 10 and under. So, it is really fun to be teammates again,” Boulware said. “And recently, we had orientation together so it has been fun to reconnect and come back together after high school. She is fun and amazing.”
The two will be roommates together along with two other USC incoming freshmen Audrina “Boo” Herber and Alex Williams. The Gamecocks’ incoming freshman class was ranked No. 9 in the nation by both Softball America and D1Softball.com.
“This group loves being Gamecocks and will be impactful here at Carolina to help us continue to move the program forward and ultimately compete for championships on the biggest stage,” USC coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said in November when the signings were announced.
Miller and Boulware first met each other when they were teammates on the Generation Seahawks travel team, coached by Aspen’s mother, Jessica, a former All-American at Florida State and the 2004 USA Softball Player of the Year.
The two went their separate ways in high school with Boulware playing at Gray Collegiate in West Columbia and Miller at Indian Land in Lancaster County. But they never lost touch.
“(Aspen) was my first-ever catcher,” Miller said after Indian Land won the Class 5A Division II championship last month. “I know it was a little weird with her being a middle infielder now. But just knowing I am always going to have a best friend in her.
“And seeing how far she has come as a player and development, it is going to be fun being her teammate again and playing for the Gamecocks.”
Boulware and Miller enter USC after impressive high school careers, and each helped their teams to state championships this season. Now, they hope to help the Gamecocks get back on track. South Carolina made it to an NCAA super regional in coach Chastain Woodard’s first year. The Gamecocks didn’t make it out of the regionals this year.
Boulware was a two-time S.C. Gatorade Softball Player of the Year and helped the War Eagles to three straight state championships. This season, Boulware hit .554 with 12 home runs, 43 RBIs, 58 stolen bases and 72 runs scored. She had a .694 on-base percentage, 1.169 slugging percentage, walked 28 times and was hit by a pitch 10 times.
Boulware committed to USC in early October and announced her decision to reclassify from Class of 2027 to 2026 a few weeks later, something she doesn’t regret. By skipping her senior year, she was able to graduate this year with her brother Michael, who signed to play football with The Citadel.
“She is ready, and it is time for her to move on,” Gray Collegiate coach Doug Frye said of Boulware.
Boulware said she spent the season and offseason “fine-tuning” her game to get ready to play in the Southeastern Conference. She is the No. 7-ranked player in the country and the No. 1 middle infielder.
Boulware played shortstop at Gray but is used in the outfield while playing for Team USA softball. She will play for Team USA this summer after her first semester wraps up at USC.
What position will she play with the Gamecocks?
“We will see,” Boulware said. “I am excited to go learn and help contribute to the team wherever coach Ashley needs me.
“SEC is a different level. Coming from high school, it is going to be a big jump. I am excited to get into a good routine. I feel like I haven’t peaked yet, so I am excited to see the rest of my potential.”
Miller was a pitcher and first baseman for Indian Land, which defeated St. James for the Warriors’ first state championship since 2006. She was the winning pitcher in the clinching game and also had a pair of doubles.
For the year, Miller was 18-7 with a 1.16 ERA and 190 strikeouts. At the plate, she hit .430 with 12 doubles, 6 triples, 7 home runs and 33 RBIs.
Miller is likely to pitch for the Gamecocks and is looking forward to her career at USC.
“All of us are really strong players,” Miller said of the incoming freshmen. “And getting in there and getting to work, it is going to help with the program. We all trust coach Ashley, and she has our best interest at heart.”
