Arkansas Softball Signs Five for Class of 2026

Hunter Corneliusen November 12, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas softball head coach Courtney Deifel announced the signing of five new Razorbacks on National Signing Day as Macie Dever Boaz, Ava Hodo, Mia Johnson, Katie King, and Skylar Sterritt all signed their national letters of intent on Wednesday morning.

The five-member recruiting class of 2026 is currently ranked in the top 15 nationally by both D1 Softball and Softball America. The Razorbacks checked in at No. 13 on the D1 Softball team recruiting rankings and is ranked No. 15 by Softball America.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be adding five outstanding individuals to our Razorback Softball family,” said Deifel. “Our 2026 class is extremely versatile and dynamic. Each signee represents exactly the kind of person that we want in our program. I have no doubt this class will continue to elevate Arkansas Softball while also serving as tremendous representatives for our program, athletic department and state. Our signees come from elite travel ball and high school programs and bring a winning pedigree to The Hill. We are ecstatic about their futures as Razorbacks.”

No. 1 Ranked Catcher in the Extra Innings Softball Extra Elite 100 for the class of 2026 … Preps at Hernando High School in Hernando, Miss. … Dever Boaz registered a .534 batting average with 32 home runs, 98 RBI, 101 stolen bases, and 103 runs scored during her high school career while earning All-State and all-district honors three times … Named a finalist for Mississippi State Softball Player of the Year and Memphis Area Player of the Year while earning District MVP and First-Team All-Metro honors in 2025 … Batted .521 with 49 hits, including 10 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs, 38 RBI, and 53 runs scored as a junior in 2025 while leading Hernando to a 33-4 record and state runner-up finish … Her eight home runs in 2025 were a Hernando single-season record … Was named a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) All-Star and won the 2025 MSHAA Home Run Derby … Spent her freshman and sophomore seasons at Northpoint Christian School … Hit .590 with 15 homers and 47 RBIs and 40 stolen bases as a sophomore in 2024 … Plays travel ball for Impact Gold Jackson … Earned Team 1 Elite All-Tournament honors in 2025 while playing for Impact Gold … Also played basketball for two of her four years in high school … Excels academically where she is a two-time principal’s honor list selection … Her Mom, Carie Dever Boaz was a three-time All-American at Fresno State from 1988-1990 before being the first head coach in Arkansas Softball history in 1997, leading the Razorbacks to two NCAA appearances in her eight seasons at the helm and earning SEC Coach of the Year honors in 1999 … Daughter of Bruce and Carie Dever Boaz.

Coach Deifel on Dever Boaz…
“Macie Dever Boaz is a competitor who knows how to win and makes everyone around her better. Her versatility really stands out. She can help us in a lot of different ways and brings a strong presence both behind the plate and in the box. Macie’s energy, toughness, and love for the game fit perfectly with what Arkansas Softball is all about.”

Why Macie Chose Arkansas…
“I chose Arkansas because I want to be great. The Razorbacks and the coaching staff want me to be great in all aspects of life. I am coming to a place that loves greatness and doing it with people that feel like family.”

Four-star recruit … Ranked as the No. 38 prospect and No. 5 catcher in the nation while being ranked as the No. 1 overall player in her state according to Softball America … Preps at Orange Beach High School in Orange Beach, Ala. where she has led the Makos to five-straight state championships and a MaxPreps National Championship in 2024 … Teammate of fellow Arkansas signee Katie King … Finished the 2025 season with a .571 batting average, 80 hits, 15 doubles, 15 home runs, 77 RBI and a stolen base … Helped lead Orange Beach to a 46-2 record and their fifth straight state title while earning Max Preps First-Team All-American and Prep Softball First-Team All-America honors in 2025… Named the Class 4A Player of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 2025 … As a sophomore in 2024, Hodo hit .486 with 53 hits, 11 doubles, four triples and 12 round trippers while driving in 63 runs and scoring 22 … Led Orange Beach to a 46-1 record while capturing its fourth consecutive Class 4A state title and a MaxPreps National Championship … Earned MaxPreps First-Team Underclass All-America honors as a freshman in 2023 after batting .461 with 70 hits including 15 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs, 77 RBI and 37 runs scored … Started on varsity as a seventh and eighth grader at Orange Beach … Registered a .517 batting average with 60 hits, 16 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 51 RBI and 30 runs scored as an eighth grader … Hit .521 with 63 hits, two doubles, four triples and nine round trippers as a seventh grader in 2020 … Played travel ball with the Birmingham Thunderbolts 18 Premier, leading them to three PGF National Championships … Also played varsity volleyball … Daughter of Jody and Alycia Hodo … Father Jody serves as an assistant softball coach at Orange Beach.

Coach Deifel on Hodo…
“We are thrilled to welcome Ava Hodo to our 2026 Signing Class. Ava is a three-time national champion and four-time state champ, which speaks volumes about her competitive fire and elite skill set. With her leadership behind the plate and offensive power, we believe Ava will make an immediate impact on and off the field, driving the standard for excellence in the program.”

Why Ava Chose Arkansas…
“I chose Arkansas because I felt the love that the coaches have for their players. As people and as athletes. It is also a place where I know that I can compete and become the best version of myself.”

Four-star recruit according to Softball America … Prepped at Archer High School where she holds the program career home run record … Three-time first-team all-region selection and, three-time first-team all-county nominee … While at Archer, Johnson led the Tigers to two GHSA Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight appearance … Helped lead Archer to a 24-6 overall record including a 17-1 mark in regional play as a senior this fall … Batted 689 with 12 doubles, six homers and 37 RBIs heading into the state playoffs as a senior … Hit .671 with 49 hits, 17 doubles, 12 home runs, 61 RBI and 30 walks as a junior while posting a .769 on-base percentage, a 1.397 slugging percentage and a 2.166 OPS … Named the 2024 4-AAAAAA Region Player of the year, 2024 Gwinnett County Offensive player of the year and 2024 6A State Player of the Year by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association … 11 home runs in her freshman season. . A 2024 PGF All-American and the 2024 6A GHSA Player of the Year. . .2024 Gwinnett Diamond Club Offensive Player of the Year. . . Played Travel Ball for Georgia Impact Taylor, helping them reach the 2024 PGF Championship … While playing with Impact Taylor, Johnson helped lead her team to two PGF Show Me the Money Championships and top-five finishes in the IDT, Sparker, Atlanta Legacy and Kansas City Invitationals … Before joining Impact Taylor, she led the Atlanta Vipers 08 to a PGF National Championship runner-up finish in 2023 … Daughter of Mario and Shina Johnson.

Coach Deifel on Johnson…
“We are pumped to bring Mia Johnson into the 2026 Class. Coming in from Archer (GA), Mia plays with quiet confidence and delivers when it counts, and we believe her bat and attitude will make an immediate difference in our lineup. Mia fits our culture of doing the work, staying composed, and elevating the standard every day.”

Why Mia Chose Arkansas…
“Arkansas felt like home to me. The coaches and players were so welcoming. The University of Arkansas instills a strong support system for its athletes. The continuous belief in my future expressed by the coaches really made it an easy decision.”

Katie King | INF | L/R | 5-8 | Orange Beach High School | Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier-18U | Orange Beach, Ala.

Four-star recruit according to Softball America … Spent the 2024-2026 seasons at Orange Beach High School in Orange Beach, Ala. where she is a two-time AHSAA All-State selection … Led Orange Beach to state championships in 2024 and 2025 … Teammate of fellow Razorback signee Ava Hodo … Batted .586 with 85 hits, 22 doubles, eight home runs, eight triples, 77 runs scored and 27 stolen bases while posting a .627 on-base percentage as a junior in 2025 … Named the MaxPreps Alabama Player of the Year while earning MaxPreps All-America honors in 2025 … Registered a .482 batting average with 55 hits including 12 doubles, five triples, and three home runs while driving in 46 runs and scoring 67 in addition to stealing 24 bases as a sophomore in 2024 … Led Orange Beach to a MaxPreps National Championship in 2024 … Prepped at Wayne Christian School from 2021-2023 where she played varsity as a seventh grader … Helped lead Wayne Christian to state championships in 2022 and 2023 in addition to a runner-up finish in 2021 … Earned North Carolina All-State honors in 2021, 2022 and 2023 … Batted .455 with 35 hits, seven doubles, nine triples, two home runs, 33 RBI and 48 runs scored, while stealing 26 bases as a freshman in 2023 … Batted .494 as an eighth grader in 2022 with 41 hits, seven doubles, six triples and two round trippers while tallying 11 RBI, 21 stolen bases and 45 runs scored … Broke onto the scene as a seventh grader, posting a .606 batting average with 40 hits, seven doubles, eight triples, 29 RBI, 19 stolen bases and 46 runs scored … Plays Travel Ball for the Birmingham Thunderbolts … Led the Thunderbolts to a PGF National Championship in 2024 … Named to the Line Drive 18U All-Summer Team in 2025 … Posted a .429 batting average with 45 hits, four home runs and 37 runs scored during the 2025 summer ball circuit … Slashed .500/.556/.688 during the 2024 fall season … Bowls in addition to playing softball at Orange Beach … Led Orange Beach to a state runner-up finish in bowling in 2024 … Also participated in volleyball during her time at Wayne Christian, earning all-conference honors … Daughter of Chuck and Belinda King.

Coach Deifel on King…
“Katie King is a competitor with a great game sense and a smooth presence in the middle infield. She is the kind of shortstop who makes everything look easy. She has a dynamic bat that consistently finds ways to create offense and pressure defenses. Katie brings toughness, leadership, and a winning mindset that’s going to fit perfectly with the Razorback standard.”

Why Katie Chose Arkansas…
“I chose Arkansas because it felt like home away from home. The connections I have made with the coaches and players make them feel like a second family. I am so blessed to be joining a program that sets the standard high.”

Skylar Sterritt | UTL | L/R | 5-11 | Sheridan High School | Prime Softball Academy | Sheridan, Ark.

Preps at Sheridan High School in Sheridan, Ark. where she has earned 11 varsity letters across three sports … Named the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Female Athlete of the Year in 2025 … Enters her senior season with 151 career steals which is just 36 shy of the Arkansas high school career state record of 187 … As a junior, she registered a .518 batting average, .571 on-base percentage, 1.133 slugging percentage and 1.714 OPS while tallying 43 hits, including eight triples, nine home runs, 43 RBI, 52 runs scored and 65 stolen bases … Sterritt helped lead Sheridan to a 23-7 overall record and state runner-up finish in 2025 while earning first-team all-state honors and 5A South-All Conference accolades … Batted .558 with 43 hits, 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 51 runs scored and 46 stolen bases as a sophomore, helping lead Sheridan to a 29-2 record and state championship in 2024 … Also registered a career best .657 on-base percentage in 2024 … Batted .473 with 44 hits, including six home runs, 21 RBI, 44 runs scored and 40 stolen bases as a Freshman in 2023 … Plays travel ball for Prime Softball Academy … Batted .588 with 50 hits, six home runs, 32 RBI, 52 runs scored and 40 stolen bases while posting a .643 OBP during the 2025 summer travel ball circuit … Totaled 21 hits during the 2024 Alliance National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., batting .583 with three homers and 23 runs… Also ran outdoor and indoor track, where she was an 12-time state champion, competing in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes in addition to the high jump and long jump … Named to the 2024 Arkansas All-State track team … Ran a 11.96 100-meter dash as a sophomore in 2024, which was the fastest time in the state of Arkansas … Also played Volleyball while at Sheridan High School earning all-state honors and being named to two all-state tournament teams … Owns a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo … Academically, Sterritt is a National Honor Society member … Daughter of Doug and Erin Sterritt … Brother Peyton Sterritt plays baseball at Ouachita Baptist.

Coach Deifel on Sterritt…
“Skylar Sterritt is a game-changer. From the moment she committed, we saw the kind of athleticism, versatility, and mindset that thrive here at Arkansas. From her dominant season at Sheridan to her multi-sport background, she brings speed, power, defense, and a drive that will lift the whole program.”

Why Skylar Chose Arkansas…
“The coaching staff not only sees you as a player to win games, but also who you are as a person. It was a winning family culture, and everything about Arkansas Softball felt like home.

For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.