ARLINGTON – UT Arlington softball and head coach Peejay Brun have announced the 2022 recruiting class, consisting of five student-athletes who have signed their National Letters of Intent.
 
Kailee Bautista | C | 5-7 | Mesquite Horn and Rockwall-Heath High School | Rockwall, Texas
Bautista is a catcher from Rockwall-Heath High School. The four-time All-Academic honoree was named 6A II All-District Newcomer of the Year (2019), 6A II All-District Catcher of the Year (2021), Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year (2020, Mesquite Horn HS) and Defensive Player of the Year (2021, Mesquite Horn HS). She is also a four-time National Honor Society member where she went to the National History Day Regionals in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Bautista played club ball for Athletics Mercado NTX.
 
Coach Brun on Bautista…
"Kailee has a great arm behind the plate and strong power at the plate. I see her making an immediate impact in our battery."
 
Alaina Hampton | SS | 5-7 | Pearland High School | Pearland, Texas  
Alaina is a shortstop from Pearland, Texas where she played club ball for Impact Gold. Hampton is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and received a district honorable mention at Pearland High School.
 
Coach Brun on Hampton…
"Alaina has good athleticism and quickness. She'll battle for a spot at shortstop but she has the ability to help us at multiple positions."
 
Marley Neises | C/UTL | 5-3 | Leander High School | Cedar Park, Texas
The third baseman and catcher from Cedar Park, Texas is a three-time Academic All-District honoree at Leander High School (2019, 2020, 2021). Neises was named First-Team All-District (2021), District 25-5A Defensive Player of the Year (2021) and a Texas Girls Coaches Association 5A/6A All-Star Selection. She played travel ball for Texas Bombers Gold Fastpitch.
 
Coach Brun on Neises…
"I am excited to be adding Marley to the team. She packs a huge punch in a small frame and is built to hit gappers but surprises everyone with the long ball. She's quick on the corners and will add much needed depth behind the plate."
 
Nikki Donahue | C/1B | 5-7 | Kamehameha Schools Kapalama | Honolulu, Hawaii
Nikki is a catcher and first baseman from Honolulu, Hawaii. She played club ball for Athletics Nielsen and helped her team win the 2021 Arizona PGF Qualifier. Donahue attended Kamehameha Schools Kapalama where she earned multiple Quarterly Honor Roll tributes.
 
Coach Brun on Donahue…
"Nikki was a pleasant surprise that fell into our lap. She brings a strong bat into the line-up, has a high softball IQ and has the ability to catch and play the outfield."
 
Giselle Villarreal | SS/2B | 5-4 | B.F. Terry High School | Rosenberg, Texas
The middle infielder from Rosenberg, Texas was named MVP, Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-District at B.F. Terry High School. Villarreal played club ball for Prolific Fastpitch.
 
Coach Brun on Villarreal…
"Giselle is poised with a good arm and great glove at shortstop. She is very athletic and has another high softball IQ that will quickly make an impact offensively and defensively."