ASU Softball: Sun Devils bring in a small, but notable 2021 recruiting class

(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)

ASU Softball announced their 2021 recruiting class signings last week, as they prepare for their season in the spring. These athletes will join the program in 2022.

The class isn’t big, with just three players, but each carry some notable statistics and honors to Tempe.

“This class is small but will have a huge impact in the growth of our program,” head coach Trisha Ford said in a recent press release. “Mac, Cydney and Liliana are all highly ranked athletes that will come in and immediately compete for playing time. Mac is a hard throwing pitcher that will complement our current staff nicely. Cyd is someone that is going to do a lot of damage in the box, she is going to be special. Rounding out the class is Liliana who is a versatile player that will see time both behind the plate and compete in the infield. We are extremely excited to add these three players and their families to our Sun Devil softball program.”

The first signee is Mac Morgan from Sherwood High School in Creighton, Missouri. Extra Innings Softball named her the fourth ranked recruit in the nation. The 2019 Missouri Gatorade Softball Player of the Year won the Class 2 State Championship after going 26-3 with a 0.12 ERA, allowing just 29 hits, and striking out 366 in 175.1 innings pitched. In the batters box, she clubbed 14 home runs with 57 RBI while hitting an impressive .590. She’s played travel ball with the Aces club, and this past summer, led her team to the Boulder IDT championships. According to her recruiting profile, her fastball has topped out at 63 mph, while her changeup comes in at 43 mph. Some of her accomplishments include

Second Team All-State Missouri Class 2A Pitcher – 2018
First Team All-State Missouri Class 2A Pitcher – 2019
Class 2A Missouri State Champion – 2019
Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year – 2019

ASU’s second signee, Cydney Sanders, hails from the state that the majority of the Sun Devil roster calls home, California. In that same Extra Inning Softball ranking, Sanders came in at ninth in the country. A product of San Marcos High School, she was named the 2018 California Freshman of the Year while leading her team to a state championship. As a sophomore, she grabbed All State team honors. After just six games in a shortened junior season, she hit .556 with four home runs and seven runs scored. In 64 career high school games, she’s good for a .510 batting average, .564 on base percentage, 31 home runs, and 98 hits.

The third and final signee is Liliana Thomas from Maryknoll High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. She’s played most of her competitive softball for the Firecrackers club out of California, which she has been doing for five years now. She is a two time Second Team All-State selection, and is the number 31 ranked recruit according to Extra Inning Softball. The 2020 Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year hit 19 home runs and had 63 RBI as a sophomore for the Firecrackers. Last summer, Thomas hit six home runs while driving in 22 more in the 12 games at the Colorado Fireworks Power Pool tournament.

Following this season, the Sun Devils will lose nine players from the current roster, stressing the importance of the trio’s development across their future years in maroon and gold. Their success is imperative for the team to keep up their strong level of play over the last few seasons.