SHERIDAN, Ark. – Courtney Deifel and the Arkansas Razorbacks softball program had a big time on the recruiting trail Monday.
Of the three new commitments on the day for the Hogs, one was 2026 Sheridan superstar Skylar Sterritt, a lighting-fast, six-foot, middle infielder with a big bat and rocket arm. Sterritt selected the Razorbacks over multiple Power 4 offers.
“Being excited is probably an understatement,” Sterritt said in an exclusive interview with The Natural State Sports Network. “It is a dream come true and everything I have worked for since I could pick up a ball, through all of the tears and hours of work. Arkansas is a family-like culture and full of love.
“The recruiting process was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work, so it is just nice to move forward, put one foot in front of the other and work hard to be ready to step on the SEC field.”
There was an immediate connection from the time Sterritt first got in touch with Deifel and her assistants.
“The first 20 minutes we were on the call we didn’t even talk about softball,” Sterritt said. “We talked about volleyball, track, life. It is the same way with the rest of the coaching staff; Coach (DJ) Gasso, Coach (Danielle) Gibson, and Coach Matt (Meuchel). They see you as another person, not just to win games.”
Along with Sterritt, the Razorbacks picked up Archer (Ga.) utility player Mia Johnson and Orange Beach (Ala.) middle infielder Katie King. Sterritt’s pledge will make it four consecutive classes that Deifel has inked an in-state prospect, joining Jayden Wells (Paris) and Kasey Wood (Bentonville) from 2023, then Ava Carter (Greene County Tech) in 2024, while Lillie-Faye McWhorter (Woodlawn) is committed for 2025.
Balancing a Full Plate
Sheridan is one of Arkansas’ most established softball programs, particularly in the past decade. The Lady ‘Jackets won four consecutive state championships under Tamara Howard (Tamara Strawn, at the time) from 2016-19 and climbed back to the top of the mountain last spring by defeating Beebe for the 5A crown and finishing 28-2.
“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Sterritt said. “Our team faced a lot of adversity that we went through to get to that point, so it was more about how we came together and finished as a team to not let all of the adversity get to us. Being on the field with all the people who were there watching us, it was just amazing.”
Batting leadoff, Sterritt was a near guarantee to get on first base – or in many cases even more. Of Sterritt’s 43 hits on the year, 6 of them were doubles, 5 triples and she smacked 10 home runs. She slashed .558/.657/.1.813, stole 46 bases and was a vacuum at shortstop, finishing with a .924 fielding percentage on 79 total chances that included 45 putouts, 28 assists, and 5 double plays.
“I mean, she is just electric,” Sheridan Coach Scott Hoffman said. “I want people to know how hard she works. Yes, she is a phenomenal athlete, but her typical day is going to class (which are all AP), then goes to track practice, softball after that, then speed training in Little Rock. She does all of it while maintaining a 4.0 [GPA].”
Hoffman has consistently raved about Sterritt’s overall athletic success, but specifically pointed out where he believes she fits among the country’s best athletes on the softball diamond.
“She is the best player in the state in her class and one of the top players in the nation,” he said. “I’m just so proud that she is good of a person and the great teammate she is, plus the way she carries herself.”
Speaking of track, Sterritt is the state’s best in all she does in that sport. A multi-time state champion, Sterritt made the most recent headlines when she broke Sheridan’s school record in the 100-meter after she posted a time of 11.96.
Whether or not Sterritt will run track for Arkansas’ heralded program is still up in the air, but she did meet women’s head coach Chris Johnson during her recent visit to Fayetteville and if certain things add up she could possibly run in indoor events during the fall.
Either way, she has the support of her future softball coach.
“Coach Deifel is open to that and she was the one who actually mentioned it to me,” Sterritt said of running during the softball offseason. “That was another thing about her, she saw the potential I had [to be a multi-sport athlete] and did not want me to miss out on it if I had the chance.”
Sterritt also excels in volleyball.
Two More Years To Build New Dynasty
While Sheridan may have not continued its streak of state championship hardware for the first few post-COVID softball seasons, the Lady ‘Jackets were still a top contender.
When Hoffman took the program over prior to the 2022 season, he started with a host of talented freshmen – now seniors – and has only graduated a total of seven starters in three years leading the squad.
The 2022 campaign ended in the 5A semifinal, then came Sterritt and the 2026 class. The Lady ‘Jackets gritted their way through an injury-plagued year to a quarterfinal finish in 2023 as Sterritt slashed .494/.526/.811 as a freshman to go with 6 home runs and 28 stolen bases, plus a .938 fielding percentage.
With six starters back for 2025 and some impressive newcomers, including Sterritt’s little sister, freshman Sadie Sterritt, Sheridan will be the early favorite to repeat.
However, playing with her younger sibling is all Sterritt has ever known.
“We have always been on the same team,” Skylar Sterritt said. “She is two years younger than me and always played up. Now that she is playing high school ball it is actually going to be pretty emotional whenever we have our last game because we have played together for so long.”
With the end of high school ball a ways down the road, Sterritt has her focus set on building another dynasty with the Lady ‘Jackets.
“It is another big opportunity to be a part of a winning culture,” Sterritt said. “We have definitely grown in the past two years so knowing that we have so much more that we can prove I am so excited for the big future for us.”
For Hoffman, who will likely face the ‘good problem’ of trying to manage a stacked roster at multiple positions in 2025, he is elated at the fact to have his star middle infielder for the next two springs.
“I am so proud of Skylar and the University of Arkansas, both won big,” Hoffman said. “I am just proud because she is talented, but she has earned it. She did the work and I am tickled to death she is on our side for two more years.”
(Cover photo via the University of Arkansas Athletics)
Kyle Sutherland is a journalist and podcast host (Arkansas Preps Weekly) for The Natural State Sports Network. His written work has been featured in outlets including the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Best of Arkansas Sports and Hooten’s Arkansas Football. He is also the color commentator for 103.7 The Buzz’s high school football Game of the Week. Email Kyle at kyle@naturalstatesports.com.