FAYETTEVILLE – On Saturday, one of the standout recruits in Arkansas’ top five softball signing class was honored as Texas’ best player.
Katy pitcher Cameron Harrison was awarded the Gatorade Player of the Year for Texas after an impressive senior season where she achieved a 22-1 record, a 0.53 ERA, and 232 strikeouts in 119.1 innings pitched.
In addition to her pitching, Harrison excelled offensively, batting .500 with 10 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 28 runs for a team that finished the season 39-3-1.
“She embodies everything you want in a player,” retired Katy softball coach Kalum Haack told the Katy Times. “Her talent, pitching, and hitting are outstanding, but it’s her work ethic and leadership that really stand out. She’s like a second coach on the field with special qualities that will take her far.”
Harrison is part of an 8-player class that includes four of the nation’s top high school pitchers, earning a No. 5 national ranking from Extra Innings.
“Cameryn can throw hard, move the ball around, and hit her spots,” Paetow head coach Ryan Baker said in the Gatorade release. “She makes very few mistakes and is always eager to pitch. She’s versatile at the plate, able to hit for power or bunt when needed. She’s a team player dedicated to helping her team win.”
Harrison will be joined at Arkansas by Katy outfielder Ashtyn Reichardt, named the District 19-6A offensive player of the year, whose team scored 412 runs while allowing only 28.
“She’s the best pitcher I’ve ever played with,” Reichardt told the Katy Times about Harrison. “Her hard work on every pitch inspires her teammates to give their best. She elevates the entire team.”
Reichardt led her team with a .560 average, 11 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases, maintaining a No. 1 national ranking for most of the high school season.
Harrison will also join fellow All-American right-handers Lexi King from Windmere, Fla., and Payton Burnham from Eugene (OR) Sheldon.
King finished her senior year with a 15-2 record, a 0.88 ERA, 147 strikeouts in 133 innings, a .172 opposing batting average, and only 10 walks, earning Orlando Sentinel Player of the Year honors with a high school career record of 37 wins and 359 strikeouts.
Burnham was 29-0 with a 0.32 ERA, 328 strikeouts in 152 innings, and 17 home runs. She ended her high school career with a no-hitter to secure a back-to-back championship for Sheldon. The reigning Gatorade Player of the Year in Oregon, Burnham had a 30-1 record with a 0.19 ERA and 375 strikeouts in 186 innings as a junior.
Other position players in the signing class include Reichardt, Richmond (Texas) Foster infielder Ella McDowell, Green County Tech utility player Ava Carter, Fresno (Calif.) Central first baseman Jayden Ramos, and Shreveport (LA) Calvary Baptist outfielder Ramsey Walker.
McDowell, ranked as a top three overall player nationally and the best infielder in the 2024 class by Extra Innings Softball, hit .709 as a senior with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs.
Harrison, Reichardt, and McDowell played together on the Impact Gold Jackson summer team.
Walker hit .575 with 23 home runs and 68 RBIs, leading Calvary Baptist to its fourth consecutive state championship.
Six Razorbacks have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, including Omaha-born twins Hannah and Lauren Camenzind, who transferred to Nebraska, catcher Kylie Brockman, outfielders Kacie Hoffman and Nyah Fontenot, and pitcher Nikki McGaffin.
