Deifel Adds Nine with 2016 Recruiting Class Ladybacks Softball

[kevinagee]

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Head coach Courtney Deifel and the University of Arkansas softball team has announced its nine-player recruiting class for the November signing period that is set to join the program for the 2016-17 season. The newest Razorbacks are Macy Brotherton, Madelyn Brotherton, Keely Edwards, Caroline Hedgcock, Hailey MacKay, Aly Manzo, Jade Miller, Sydney Parr and Autumn Storms. The latest class represents four states with future Razorbacks from Arkansas, California, Illinois and Texas.

"We are really excited about the versatility of our 2016 recruiting class," Deifel said. "We add a lot of depth to our program, including two pitchers who have the potential to make an immediate impact. We are looking forward to seeing how these student-athletes grow and develop when they arrive on campus, as we can see this class competing for some key positions. More importantly, they are a group of high character and academically focused student-athletes. They have shown a strong commitment to the University of Arkansas through the coaching transition and will continue to move this program forward."

Macy Brotherton
5-9 | UTL | R/R
Mena, Ark. (Mena)

About Brotherton...
Following a standout junior campaign in which she helped Mena High School to the 4A state title, Brotherton earned a spot on the all-state tournament team and was an all-district performer. She finished the 2015 season with a .364 batting average with 28 hits—including seven home runs—and 28 RBI. Her seven home runs tied the Mena single-season record, a mark shared by twin sister Madelyn. Through the first three years of her prep career, Brotherton carries a .395 batting average with 72 RBI to her credit.

Macy is the daughter of Jeff and Lori Brotherton with siblings Madelyn (also an Arkansas signee) and Rhett. As a three-sport letter winner at Mena, she also helped the Ladycats to the 2014 4A state title in volleyball and was named to the all-district basketball team as a sophomore. Brotherton's travel ball team is Mena Heat.

Madelyn Brotheron
5-9 | UTL | R/R
Mena, Ark. (Mena)

About Brotherton...
Brotherton is a two-time all-district performer at Mena High School where she was part of a 4A state title during her junior season in 2015. As a freshman, she set the school's single-season record with seven home run, a mark she now shares with her twin sister Macy. After hitting .443 with seven home runs and 30 RBI as a freshman, she earned her first all-district accolade. Entering her senior season, Brotherton has 68 hits—including 31 extra-base hits—and 63 RBI.

Madelyn is the daughter of Jeff and Lori Brotherton with siblings Macy (also an Arkansas signee) and Rhett. A three-sport standout at Mena, she was named to the all-conference first team in volleyball while helping lead the team to the 4A state title in 2014. She was also a two-time all-conference selection for the Ladycats' basketball team. Brotherton's travel ball team is Mena Heat.

Keely Edwards
5-6 | INF | R/R
Harrisburg, Ark. (Harrisburg)

About Edwards...
Edwards is a three-time all-state performer for Harrisburg High School where she helped guide the team to the regional round of the state playoffs in 2015. She has also earned team MVP honors in each of her first three prep seasons and was named to the all-state tournament team as a sophomore. Edwards was selected to the Junior/Senior All-Star Showcase and has registered a .654 batting average and .980 fielding percentage through three seasons as a Harrisburg infielder.

Keely is the daughter of Todd and Kim Edwards with siblings Jerrad and Abby. Along with her prowess on the softball field, Edwards was a three-time all-state performer in tennis and three-time all-conference selection and MVP with the Harrisburg basketball team. Edwards' travel ball team is Arkansas Angels 18U Gold.

Caroline Hedgcock
5-8 | LHP | L/L
Downers Grove, Ill. (South HS)

About Hedgcock...
Hedgcock, a standout left-handed pitcher for South High School in Downers Grove, Ill., is ranked No. 26 in the 2016 class by FloSoftball. Following her junior campaign in which she was 15-1 with a 1.12 ERA in the circle, she was named to the all-state first team and earned her third all-conference honor. She also posted a .543 batting average with 57 hits, 10 home runs and a school-record 68 RBI in 2015. Hedgcock was also a 2015 Gatorade State Player of the Year nominee. She goes into her senior season with 48 career wins and 367 strikeouts. As a dual threat for South, Hedgcock has a .448 career batting average with 111 hits—49 for extra bases—and 116 RBI. She has also helped the Mustangs to three conference and regional championships.

Caroline is the daughter of Dwight and Elizabeth Hedgcock and plans to major in international business at Arkansas. Her travel ball team is the Illinois Chill Gold in Northbrook, Ill.

Hailey MacKay
5-8 | INF | R/R
Leander, Texas (Leander)

About MacKay...
MacKay is a three-time selection to the All-District 25-4A/5A First Team after tallying a .531 batting average with 10 home runs and 99 RBI through the first three seasons of her prep career. In a show of her versatility, she has earned both offensive and defensive team MVP honors over the past two years. After hitting .461 with five home runs and 41 RBI in 2013, MacKay was named a Freshman Fab 5 and Dazzling Dozen performer by the Austin American Statesman. She has helped Leander to three area and bi-district championships while guiding the Lions to the regional round of the state tournament.

MacKay is the daughter of Ron and Shannon MacKay and plans to be a business and marketing major at Arkansas. Her travel ball team is the Texas Blaze 18U Gold in Austin.

Aly Manzo
5-7 | INF | R/R
Roseville, Calif. (Roseville)

About Manzo...
Manzo capped her junior season by being named to the Capital Valley Conference (CVC) All-Conference First Team after helping lead Roseville High School to a fourth-place league finish. She posted a career-high .449 batting average and led the team in hits and doubles during the 2015 campaign in which she was the runner-up for CVC MVP honors. Manzo was a two-time selection to the All-Sierra Foothill League (SFL) First Team as a freshman and sophomore. She and the Tigers were SFL champions in 2014. Through the first three years of her prep career, Manzo has a .420 batting average with 109 hits, 23 of which have gone for extra bases.

Aly is the daughter of Mario Manzo and Kim Sulivan with younger sister Hailey. She plans to be a kinesiology major at the University of Arkansas. Manzo's travel ball team is Firecrackers North in Sacramento.

Jade Miller
5-2 | OF | R/R
Plano, Texas (Plano)

About Miller...
On the heels of a standout junior season at Plano Senior High School, Miller was named the District 6-6A Outfielder of the Year and earned a spot on the all-state team. She helped the Wildcats to a place in the 6-6A bi-district finals in 2015 and has twice helped the team to the regional round of the state tournament. She is a three-time all-district selection and was twice named to the all-area team. Miller enters her senior season as a top-100 nationally ranked player by FloSoftball. Through the end of her junior season, she carries a .478 batting average and has amassed 156 hits and 57 RBI

Jade is the daughter of Mike Miller and plans to major in elementary education at the University of Arkansas. Miller's travel ball team is Texas Glory in McKinney, Texas.

Sydney Parr
5-7 | OF | R/L
North Little Rock, Ark. (North Little Rock)

About Parr...
Parr is a three-time 7A state and conference champion with North Little Rock High School. Individually, she has been named to three all-state and all-conference teams including placement after her junior campaign in which she hit .556 with 38 runs scored and 41 stolen bases. Parr is also a three-time member of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette All-Prep First Team. As a freshman, she broke the state championship game record with three triples in helping the Wildcats to the title. Entering her senior season, Parr has prep career totals of 138 runs scored and 119 stolen bases.

Sydney is the daughter of Perry and Rebecca Parr with younger brother Tyler. She plans to major in broadcast journalism at Arkansas. Parr most recently played travel ball with Team Power in Kansas City.

Autumn Storms
5-10 | RHP | R/R
Temecula, Calif. (Great Oak HS)

About Storms...
Storms enters her senior season as three-time CIF all-league performer for Great Oaks High School, earning first-team honors the last two seasons as a sophomore and junior. During her freshman season, she helped the team to its first-ever CIF league title. Storms has also been recognized as a two-time selection to the Michelle Carew All-Tournament Team and added Stu Penter All-Tournament accolades as a junior.

Autumn is the daughter of Brian and Heather Storms with an older brother, Aaron. Storms' travel ball team is So Cal Athletics in Upland, Calif.

[nwahogfan1]

Wow,  signed a complete Soft ball team.     

Where does the softball experts rate this class?

Who will contribute right away?   I would guess maybe the pitchers?

[flippinhogmana]

outstanding, looks like some impact players as well as some quality depth...thanks for the report! 1+

[kevinagee]

These assistant coach's was working hard during the fall. after the fist home DH. There was always an asst. missing from the games. My guess out recruiting. I have heard it many many times is why there are no to little State of Arkansas players on the roster. This staff went and worked Arkansas it seemed to sign 4, TX 2 and then others. The current rooster has like 5 Arkansas. I think one has left so 4 and I believe maybe 8 from TX. So you going to see the numbers even up.

Being this 2016 signing class will not play until fall 2016/season 2017 as they are still in high school. Its hard to tell the impact. As we will loose 2 senors after 2016. Then you never know how the season will play out with the others. But the current rooster is still half FR/Soph. for 2016 season.

You also never know after the first year with a new coach there is still the possibility of transferring out as the year will not play out with a player as they are hoping from a new coach.

Softball teams only have 12 scholarships to offer. and probably 90% of them is split up to the players in semesters.  So its rare you get but a few players on full rides all year long or career.

[psycHOGlogist]

I know that coltseaver has said that the pitcher from California -- Storms -- is legit. I hope he chimes in here with an opinion of the overall class!

[budweiser35]

Pretty much all of these kids are Larabee recruits.  By the time this new staff was hired virtually all the 2016 class would have been verballed somewhere.  If not there would have to be a reason and most of the time (not always) it's they weren't highly recruited.  Softball just makes no sense as it's not uncommon for a kid to give a verbal commitment by  the 9th  or 10th grade.  Almost always before her senior year.  The scholarship money will most likely be long gone by 11th grade year; however, many coaches always have a little left for something that happens (coaching change, etc)

This staff did honor all of the verbal commitments that had been made when Larabee was the coach.  Hedgcock was originally committed to Maryland and made the switch to Arkansas when Deifel did.  The only other one I am not familiar with is Manzo so she must be a Deifel selection which would make sense with the California connection.  All of the other 7 were Larabee commits.

Next year will be interesting.  There are currently 26 kids on the roster with only 3 seniors.  Add these 9 recruits and you have a roster of 32 for next season, but I'm sure there will be some change after this year.  There are currently 6 pitchers on the roster; none of which are seniors  and adding two more; wow, that will be 8 on staff.  There will most likely be some changes for the pitchers and likely the entire roster the next couple years.

 

[coltseaver]

I know that coltseaver has said that the pitcher from California -- Storms -- is legit. I hope he chimes in here with an opinion of the overall class!

Still stand by this. Hedgcock is also legit.

Pretty much all of these kids are Larabee recruits.  By the time this new staff was hired virtually all the 2016 class would have been verballed somewhere.  If not there would have to be a reason and most of the time (not always) it's they weren't highly recruited.  Softball just makes no sense as it's not uncommon for a kid to give a verbal commitment by  the 9th  or 10th grade.  Almost always before her senior year.  The scholarship money will most likely be long gone by 11th grade year; however, many coaches always have a little left for something that happens (coaching change, etc)

This staff did honor all of the verbal commitments that had been made when Larabee was the coach.  Hedgcock was originally committed to Maryland and made the switch to Arkansas when Deifel did.  The only other one I am not familiar with is Manzo so she must be a Deifel selection which would make sense with the California connection.  All of the other 7 were Larabee commits.

Next year will be interesting.  There are currently 26 kids on the roster with only 3 seniors.  Add these 9 recruits and you have a roster of 32 for next season, but I'm sure there will be some change after this year.  There are currently 6 pitchers on the roster; none of which are seniors  and adding two more; wow, that will be 8 on staff.  There will most likely be some changes for the pitchers and likely the entire roster the next couple years.

All pretty much true and accurate.

[pccmizuno24]

none of the arkansas girls are SEC caliber..None of them.
Parr is fast and a good slapper.
Edwards good defender but couldnt hit 200 in D2