Arkansas softball inks top 4 nationally-ranked recruiting class of five standouts

By Dudley E. Dawson
on 2024-11-15 14:14 PM

By HUNTER CORNELIUSEN

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas softball head coach Courtney Deifel announced the signing of five new Razorbacks on National Signing Day as Brinli Bain, Kyler Del Duca, Khamari Hall, Lillie-Faye McWhorter and Saylor Timmerman all signed their national letters of intent on Wednesday morning.

The five-member recruiting class is currently ranked fourth nationally, according to Softball America.

“We are excited to be bringing in an elite signing class,” Deifel said. “We have exceptional pitching, speed and athleticism coming in. Our 2025 signing class is dynamic and versatile and they each embody who we want as people in our program. Our signees come from top-notch travel ball organizations and bring a championship mentality to Fayetteville.”

Rated as the No. 9 prospect nationally in the 2025 class by Perfect Game … Two-time PGF champion and Tennessee state champion … Preps at Eagleville High School in Eagleville, Tenn., where she has earned district MVP honors in addition to earning all-region, all-mid state and all-state recognition … Posted a .503 batting average and .611 on-base percentage with 29 home runs, 48 doubles, nine triples, 121 RBI and 103 walks while striking out just 12 times during her high school career … Batted .543 with 12 doubles, six triples, 10 homers, 46 RBIs and 42 runs helping Eagleville advance to its third-straight state title game as a sophomore in 2023 while earning all-area honors … Hit .406 with a .749 slugging percentage while playing catcher and second base as a freshman in 2022 helping Eagleville win its first state championship … Played up on varsity as an eighth grader … Also played basketball, scoring over 1000 career points while earning all-district and all-region honors … Posted the highest class average at Eagleville high school in science, math, history and English throughout the duration of her high school academic career while making the principals list all four years with a 4.0 grade point average … Father Tommy played baseball at Volunteer State Community College from 1992-1994 while her mother Tifini played softball there form 1993-1995.

Chose Arkansas because… “I feel so confident that this is the program, and this coaching staff will develop my skills as a player on the field and lead me to be a strong woman off the field – all while helping me grow my faith and love towards the Lord. Arkansas has shown me love continuously and I can’t wait to call Arkansas home.”

Coach Deifel on Bain…  “Her versatility and athleticism are off the charts. She has the ability to play anywhere. She has a skillset in which she can play 7-8 defensive positions. Brinli is a tough competitor who makes her presence known on the diamond and will continue to make her presence known in her college career.”

Preps at Chino Hills in Chino, Calif., playing middle infield and outfield for the Huskies … Played under head coaches Kim Ensey and Richard Gaither during Chino Hills career … Helped lead Chino Hills to three Baseline League Championships … Four-year letterwinner in softball and two-time second-team all-league selection … Batted .429 as a junior in 2024 with 33 hits, eight doubles, five home runs, 20 RBI, 21 runs scored and nine stolen bases in addition to a .727 slugging percentage … Hit .379 and posted a slugging percentage of .576 with 25 hits four doubles, three home runs, 15 RBI and 22 runs scored in 2023 … As a freshman, batted .381 with eight hits, two doubles, a triple and four RBI … Plays travel ball for OC Batbusters-Stith … Posted a .427 on-base percentage while batting .382 with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, 34 runs scored and 11 RBI on the travel ball circuit in the fall of 2023 … Also participates in flag football … Plans to major in business.

Chose Arkansas because… “I chose Arkansas not only because of the opportunities academically and athletically but also the immediate connection I felt with the coaches and the team! I can’t wait to be a Razorback!”

Coach Deifel on Del Duca… “Kyler is crazy athletic and also can play anywhere on the field. The way she moves and competes, in addition to her athleticism and versatility, is next level. Our staff is thrilled that Kyler is a Razorback.”

Rated as the No. 14 prospect in her class according to Perfect Game … Preps at Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas … Batted .438 with 32 hits, four walks, three home runs, nine RBI, 14 stolen bases while striking out just four times and posting a .461 on-base percentage … Has earned first-team all-district honors twice in addition to being named first-team All-Galveston County while at Clear Creek … Was selected as a Perfect Game Futures All-American after a sophomore season in which she hit .571 with a home run, 12 RBIs and 22 runs scored.… Plays Travel Ball for Impact Gold Jackson 18U, helping lead them to a TFL Championship … Batted .414 with 41 hits, 11 walks, five home runs, 14 RBI, 25 stolen bases while striking out just 11 times and posting a .477 on-base percentage in travel ball … Previously played travel ball for the Texas Riptide leading them to a first-place finish at the Hot Corner World Series and TC Bombers shootout in 2021 … Also participated in track, where she was a 100-meter Area finalist; 4×100 meter area qualifier; 100-meter district finalist and 100-meter regional finalist … In the classroom, she is a three-time superintendent scholar in addition to earning academic all-district honors … Plans to major in Biology.

Chose Arkansas because… “I chose Arkansas because it felt like home. I loved it from my first step on campus. The coaches, players and atmosphere are everything I want.”

Coach Deifel on Hall…  “Khamari is incredibly dynamic. She can fly and has all three tools offensively. Khamari has the ability to be really electric at the plate and also has exceptional range defensively. We are looking forward to seeing Khamari on The Hill.”

McWhorter comes to the Razorbacks from Woodlawn High School in Rison, Ark., where she has had a standout career under head coach Matt Huitt … Posted a 1.00 earned run average with an astounding 164 strikeouts in 82.2 innings of work in the circle as a junior in 2024 … Fanned 205 batters in 120.1 innings pitched while compiling a 1.69 earned run average as a sophomore in 2023 … As a freshman, she was one of two in her class to be named to the SBLive All-State softball first team after compiling a 0.45 earned run average and striking out 230 batters in 107 innings while holding opponents to a .098 batting average … Plays travel ball for Birmingham Thunderbolts 18 Premier-Thompson which she helped lead to a PGF Platinum National Championship in 2021 in addition to a PGF Premier National Championship in 2024 … Also plays basketball, having earned all-conference honors as a junior and lettering four times.

Chose Arkansas because… “I chose Arkansas because of the atmosphere. It is a family environment while making their athletes the best.”

Coach Deifel on McWhorter…  “Lillie-Faye is really deceptive in the circle and has flown under the radar in the 2025 class. She is incredibly talented and a Razorback through and through. She is very competitive and we are glad she is staying home in Arkansas.”

Rated as a five-star prospect while being ranked as the No. 8 overall player and No. 3 pitcher in country for the class of 2025 by Softball America … Member of the U-18 USA Women’s Junior National Team … At the 2024 WBSC U-18 World Cup Stage 1 event she threw four scoreless innings and struck out nine while leading the United States to a first-place finish … Preps at Lakeland Union High School, where she has posted a 0.756 ERA with 345 strikeouts during her high school career … Named Great Northern Conference Player of the Year honors as a junior in 2024 in addition to Wisconsin DII Player of the Year … Was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection in 2023 and 2024 … Threw a perfect game, striking out all 15 of her batters faced in while also homering in a 16-0 non-conference win over Crandon in May of 2024 … During her sophomore season she placed fourth in the Great Northern Conference with a .441 batting average and tossed a conference leading 159 strikeouts in just 76 innings … Plays travel ball for OC Batbusters Stith … Posted 161 strikeouts in 85.9 innings with a 0.89 ERA and a 0.987 WHIP during travel ball in the summer of 2023 … Earned Alliance Super Cup all-tournament honors after throwing a six-inning complete game in which she allowed just one earned run and issued no walks while limiting opposing hitters to a .190 batting average …Also participated in basketball and swimming … Three-time all-conference selection in swimming competing in the 200-Meter Freestyle Relay and 50-Meter Freestyle Relay … Four-time all-conference selection in basketball … Averaged 9.2 points per game and 9.4 rebounds a contest, playing primarily at power forward … Helped lead Lakeland Union a 24-3 record highlighted by a perfect 12-0 mark in league play on the hardwood.

Chose Arkansas because… “I chose Arkansas because of the team culture, coaching staff, and amazing atmosphere. No other school compares to Arkansas.”

Coach Deifel on Timmerman… “Saylor is a difference maker in the circle and one of the most sought-after pitchers in the 2025 class. She has an exceptional ability to change planes and speed. Her spin and break of her pitches are some of the best nationally in her class. We are excited for Saylor to be a Razorback.”

Arkansas is coming off its seventh-consecutive NCAA Tournament berth in 2024 and fifth national seed, all of which have come under Deifel’s guidance.

Photo courtesy of Razorbacks Communications

(Last updated: 2024-11-15 14:14 PM)

Arkansas softball inks top 4 nationally-ranked recruiting class of five standouts

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