The Lady Longhorns graduate five (5) seniors this year from a roster of 22. As shown below, coach White is only bringing in two freshman for the 2024 class. QUESTION: Does this open up three portal slots for Texas if they continue to carry a roster of 22? If not, how might Texas handle any departures or potential holes to fill for the upcoming season. Thanks in advance.
AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas softball head coach Mike White and his coaching staff have announced on Wednesday afternoon the signing of Lien Brister and Cam Salmon to National Letters of Intent (NLI) for the 2024-25 academic school year.
"We have added two key student-athletes to our program, who will have an impact as we head to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2025," White said.
Brister and Salmon's addition to the program comes on the heels of signing the nation's number four recruiting class with six signees in 2023 and a five-member class in 2022 that was ranked as the 12th-best in the country. Five student-athletes from White's seventh-ranked signing class in 2021 will join members of his 2020 class, too, when the Longhorns take the diamond for their regular season opener in 2024.
The current 22-member Texas softball program is boosted by 11 underclass student-athletes, including a now-sophomore class that led the team in batting average (.382, Ashton Maloney), home runs (11, Reese Atwood), 52 runs batted in (52, Viviana Martinez), total bases (112, Leighann Goode), earned run average (2.00, Citlaly Gutierrez) and a berth in the NCAA Super Regionals.
Texas Softball Signing Class
Shylien (Lien) Brister
Position: IF/UTL
Hometown: Houston, Texas
High School: Clear Brook (TX) High School
Travel Ball: Impact Gold
A 5-foot-6, right-hander out of Houston, Texas, Brister was an All-District 24-6A First Team and Newcomer of the Year selection … was also selected as the Clear Brook (TX) High School Most Valuable Player as well as the team's overall offensive most valuable player … ranked as the second-best utility player in the class and ranked 34th in the class overall … also ranked 20th in the Class of 2024 Southwest Regional rankings, according to Extra Inning Softball … the Stage 2 Most Valuable Player of The Alliance Super Cup Series …
Coach White on Brister: "Lien Brister is a versatile athlete, who can play the middles or corner, out of Friendswood, Texas. Lien impressed us with her smooth style of play on the infield and overall confidence at the plate. She will add needed depth to our middles with the (forthcoming) departure of senior Alyssa Washington at the end of this (upcoming season)."
Cambria Salmon
Position: RHP
Hometown: Beaumont, Ca.
High School: Beaumont (Ca.) High School
Travel Ball: Athletics Mercado
A 5-foot-8, right-handed pitcher out of Beaumont, Calif., Salmon was ranked as the fourth-best high school student-athlete in the nation and the third-best pitcher, according to Extra Inning Softball … was named an Extra Inning Softball First Team All-American in 2022 … was also tied for third in the Class of 2023 West Regional Rankings, according to Extra Inning Softball … a two-time Cal-High All-State selection … three-time All-League CBL Most Valuable Player … the 2022 State Sophomore Player of the Year and the Inland Empire Player of the Year … was brought up to Athletics Mercado Smith 18U as a 14 year old … helped her team to the OKC Top Club 14U National Championship (2020), Alliance Fastpitch 18U National Championship (2021), Elite Club 18U Championship (2022) and a two-time TCS Fireworks Power Pool 18U Champion (2022-23) …
Coach White on Salmon: "We are excited with the signing of Cam Salmon, who is widely regarded as one of the top pitchers nationally in her class, from Beaumont, Calif. Cam played for one of the top teams in the nation — Athletics Mercado Smith 18U — and has faced top competition for several years. Although she will be a freshman in 2025, Cam has the experience and drive to be in the starting rotation immediately. Cam throws in the upper 60's with good control and has an effective change-up as well."
AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas softball head coach Mike White and his coaching staff have announced on Wednesday afternoon the signing of Lien Brister and Cam Salmon to National Letters of Intent (NLI) for the 2024-25 academic school year.
"We have added two key student-athletes to our program, who will have an impact as we head to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2025," White said.
Brister and Salmon's addition to the program comes on the heels of signing the nation's number four recruiting class with six signees in 2023 and a five-member class in 2022 that was ranked as the 12th-best in the country. Five student-athletes from White's seventh-ranked signing class in 2021 will join members of his 2020 class, too, when the Longhorns take the diamond for their regular season opener in 2024.
The current 22-member Texas softball program is boosted by 11 underclass student-athletes, including a now-sophomore class that led the team in batting average (.382, Ashton Maloney), home runs (11, Reese Atwood), 52 runs batted in (52, Viviana Martinez), total bases (112, Leighann Goode), earned run average (2.00, Citlaly Gutierrez) and a berth in the NCAA Super Regionals.
Texas Softball Signing Class
Shylien (Lien) Brister
Position: IF/UTL
Hometown: Houston, Texas
High School: Clear Brook (TX) High School
Travel Ball: Impact Gold
A 5-foot-6, right-hander out of Houston, Texas, Brister was an All-District 24-6A First Team and Newcomer of the Year selection … was also selected as the Clear Brook (TX) High School Most Valuable Player as well as the team's overall offensive most valuable player … ranked as the second-best utility player in the class and ranked 34th in the class overall … also ranked 20th in the Class of 2024 Southwest Regional rankings, according to Extra Inning Softball … the Stage 2 Most Valuable Player of The Alliance Super Cup Series …
Coach White on Brister: "Lien Brister is a versatile athlete, who can play the middles or corner, out of Friendswood, Texas. Lien impressed us with her smooth style of play on the infield and overall confidence at the plate. She will add needed depth to our middles with the (forthcoming) departure of senior Alyssa Washington at the end of this (upcoming season)."
Cambria Salmon
Position: RHP
Hometown: Beaumont, Ca.
High School: Beaumont (Ca.) High School
Travel Ball: Athletics Mercado
A 5-foot-8, right-handed pitcher out of Beaumont, Calif., Salmon was ranked as the fourth-best high school student-athlete in the nation and the third-best pitcher, according to Extra Inning Softball … was named an Extra Inning Softball First Team All-American in 2022 … was also tied for third in the Class of 2023 West Regional Rankings, according to Extra Inning Softball … a two-time Cal-High All-State selection … three-time All-League CBL Most Valuable Player … the 2022 State Sophomore Player of the Year and the Inland Empire Player of the Year … was brought up to Athletics Mercado Smith 18U as a 14 year old … helped her team to the OKC Top Club 14U National Championship (2020), Alliance Fastpitch 18U National Championship (2021), Elite Club 18U Championship (2022) and a two-time TCS Fireworks Power Pool 18U Champion (2022-23) …
Coach White on Salmon: "We are excited with the signing of Cam Salmon, who is widely regarded as one of the top pitchers nationally in her class, from Beaumont, Calif. Cam played for one of the top teams in the nation — Athletics Mercado Smith 18U — and has faced top competition for several years. Although she will be a freshman in 2025, Cam has the experience and drive to be in the starting rotation immediately. Cam throws in the upper 60's with good control and has an effective change-up as well."
