Vaunted Arkansas softball rookies ready to pitch in

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – The first look at Arkansas freshman softball pitcher/utility player Cam Harrison and the rest of the Razorbacks’ vaunted recruiting class against another foe was clear evidence of what the fuss is all about.

Harrison pitched a pair of innings and fanned all six batters she faced in the Razorbacks’ 21-1 exhibition win over Seminole State College last Thursday.

Fellow high school All-American hurlers Payton Burnham and Lexi King added a trio of scoreless frames in a 10-inning scrimmage where Arkansas took a no-hitter into the seventh inning.

Those three and veterans Robyn Herron and Reis Beuerlein will likely be among those on the mound Sunday afternoon when Arkansas hosts Missouri State in an exhibition doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Bogle Park.

“These three were huge additions to our staff in adding to Robyn and Reis because we really feel that we have everything we need in this staff,” Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel said. “It was how knew we were going to round our staff where we had all the profiles that we need and how they are going to work together.

“I can say early that what we saw in the recruiting process is really exciting to see and work with every day. Cam and Lexi and Payton have been huge additions and each of them do a little something different and just add to Robyn and Reis and their profiles.”

Harrison was 22-1 as a high school senior at Katy, Texas, while compiling a 0.53  ERA and striking out 232 batters in 119 1/3 innings on the mound.

She also hit .500 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI and helped Katy to a 36-3 record along with teammate and fellow Razorback freshman Ashlyn Reichardt.

“Honestly, nervous going in there obviously, freshman, first outing, but I knew why girls had my back no matter what and it gave me the confidence to do what I know how to do,” Harrison said.

“My rise ball, I mean it was pumping in there pretty fast today. My change up, obviously, is good to throw batters off as well. But it was pretty good for the most part.”

Harrison has not had a break after finishing up her high school season, playing summer ball, heading to the USA Softball U-18 Women’s National team training camp

She then helped win the World Cup Group C stage event along with Razorback freshman shortstop Ella McDowell.

“I came straight from summer ball and went right to USA, we had training camp and then from training camp went straight to the World Cup, straight from the World Cup to here,” Harrison said. “So I haven’t really had that break, but I am in good hands here and they keep me physically in shape.

“They got me if I need a break. I haven’t really had that break, but I am on a roll and I hope it stays that way.”

The rest of the recruiting class that was ranked fifth nationally by Softball America includes position players  Ava Carter, Jayden Ramos, and Ramsey Walker.

Harrison was named the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, ranked as the No. 6 pitcher in the 2024 class and No. 8 overall player by Softball America and Extra Innings Softball.

Burnham was Oregon’s 2023 Gatorade Player of the year after a junior season in which she went 30-1 with a 0.19 ERA and 375 strikeouts in 186 innings while leading Sheldon to a state title.

She also hit .404 with 5 home runs and 30 RBIs and Burnham and Harrison will be swinging a a bat as well as pitching per Deifel.

Windmere (Fla.) standout King was 15-2 with a 0.68 ERA as a senior and had 37 wins and 364 strikeouts in her high school career

“I think it (the fall) is a little different for all three of them,” Deifel said. “So we are just kind of where are we at, how can we make that a little better, how can we create more outs against the top hitters in the game because that is what we are going to face weekend in and weekend out.”

Photo courtesy of Razorbacks Communications