Future Razorback Hall aims to lead Clear Creek to Texas softball state playoff success

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

While the Arkansas softball program looks to continue its push toward an NCAA Tournament national seed at Texas A&M this weekend, one future Razorback is getting her postseason underway.

League City (Texas) Clerk Creek outfielder and Arkansas signee Khamari Hall and her Wildcats (16-6, 0-4) will host C.E. King (19-11-1) Friday at 6 p.m. in high school softball playoff action.

It’s a winner-take-all game between the Division II top seed, who had a nine-game winning streak ended in its regular season finale, and King, the fourth seed from district 23-6A.

“It’s gone great for us this season,” Hall said of the District 24-6A tri-champs. “We were tied for first with two other schools, but we do big school-small school (in regular season), so we were first in small school.

“We all very excited about getting the playoffs going.”

As Clear Creek’s lead-off hitter this season, Hall has powered up this season with a career-high 8 home runs this season for a school located in the Houston suburbs.

“It’s been great,” Hall said. “I have eight home runs this season. I am slapping and hitting and we’re doing great.

“I play center field, but our pitchers have done so great that I am not getting much hit out to me.”

Hall hit .429 her junior season with ,eight doubles, five home runs, 20 RBI, 21 runs scored and nine stolen bases in addition to a .727 slugging percentage.

She’s also been a star on the summer softball scene.

“My coach Casey Jackson and I use play for Sam Campbell, they help me so much from my hitting to my fielding and hey have progressed me into the player I am today and to get me to these all-star games,” Hall said.

“It’s just been awesome. I’ve met new people and I’ve been able to perfect my skill.”

She chose Arkansas over LSU, Texas A&M, Syracuse and others

“I went to many different places, but Arkansas felt like home,” Hall said. “The coaches, the girls, they really make it seem like family and I just really love that.”

She hasn’t been able to see Arkansas in person this season, but has been able to catch them on television.

“I haven’t made it up there this year, but I have watched almost every one of their games,” Hall said.

“They are doing great this year. The pitching is on and I love the younger girls, all the freshman. I love that they are playing and making an impact and that will carry on when I am there on the team and into the later years.”

Hall is part of a loaded 2025 Arkansas signing class that is ranked No. 4 nationally by Softball America.

The other signees included a pair of pitchers in Lillie-Faye McWhorter of Woodlawn and Saylor Timmerman of Minocqua, Wisconsin, catcher/infielder Brinli Bain of Eagleville, Tenn., and utility player Kyler Del Duca of Chino, Calif.

“I have met all of them, but we all live in different states so I haven’t really been around them, a lot too much, but have played against them, I’ve played with them and they look great.

“I am just excited for us all to get up there and play together.”

She is happy that Texas has joined Texas A&M in the 16-team SEC and will allow her to return her home state to play.

“That is going to be awesome, to know like my family is there,” Hall said. “Adding Texas to the SEC is just wonderful.”

Photo courtesy of Kamari Hall