ORLANDO – UCF softball head coach Cindy Ball-Malone has announced the program’s signing class for the upcoming 2024-25 academic school year, a group that was ranked the No. 24 recruiting class in the nation according to Extra Inning Softball.
The class represents the second straight for UCF that was ranked within the top 25 in the nation by Extra Inning Softball, after the Knights’ 2023-24 group was ranked No. 16 a year ago, representing the highest such ranking in program history.
UCF’s 2024-25 class consists of six players, including three who were individually ranked among Extra Inning Softball’s Extra Elite 100 rankings. Catcher and first baseman Beth Damon leads the charge as the 24th-ranked player by Extra Inning Softball, followed by right-handed pitcher Lydia Coulson at No. 31 and fellow right-hander Yessenia Lopez at No. 35. Rounding out the Knights’ newest class are corner infielder Kendall Yarnell, middle infielder Coco Jaimes and third baseman Izzy Mertes.
Beth Damon | C/1B | B/T: R/R | 5’8” | Edmond, Okla. | Edmond Memorial High School
Damon represents the highest-ranked recruit in UCF’s newest class at No. 24 in the nation according to Extra Inning Softball and comes to the Knights from Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, Oklahoma.
“I chose UCF because of the exemplary culture of the program,” Damon said. “The coaching staff is incredible, and UCF felt like home from the moment I stepped on campus.”
In 137 career games throughout her high school career, Damon boasts a .526 batting average with 181 hits, including 54 doubles, 80 walks and 164 RBI. The Oklahoma native has garnered two All-Conference Offensive Player of the Year selections, three All-District Player of the Year selections, one All-Region selection and one All-State Selection. With Edmond Memorial, she and her team won a state championship in 2022 as well, and finished as a quarterfinalist in 2021 and semifinalist in 2020 and 2023.
“Beth is a wizard behind the plate, skillfully directing the flow of the game and forming strong connections with her pitchers,” Ball-Malone said. “Her calm composure is precisely what our team needs in high-pressure situations, and with her ability to deliver powerful hits in any count she is poised to be a valuable addition to our lineup. We’re thrilled to welcome the Allstate Player of the Year on board, as we look forward to continuing our winning tradition for the next four years with Beth’s exceptional talent and leadership.”
Lydia Coulson | RHP | B/T: R/R | 5’8” | Jefferson City, Mo. | Capital City High School
Coulson, ranked the No. 31 player in the nation’s 2024-25 recruiting class according to Extra Inning Softball, joins the Knights on the heels of First Team All-District Pitcher selections in all four years of her high school career, accompanied by two First Team All-Conference selections, two second team All-Conference selections, three First Team All-Region selections, one Second Team All-Region selection, and two Second Team All-State selections.
“I chose UCF because of the amazing campus, and the program,” Coulson said. “UCF's program has built so much over the past couple of years, especially since Coach Bear has started coaching there, and it has just felt like a place that I could call home.”
Coulson in her senior season racked up 129 strikeouts and recorded a 1.11 ERA in 82 innings of work while limiting her opposition to a .169 batting average-against in the circle, and at the plate added a .393 average, a .413 on-base percentage, a 1.065 OPS, 15 extra-base hits and 22 RBI.
“Lydia is a clever pitcher with a history of winning in high school and summer leagues,” Ball-Malone said. “Her ability to throw offspeed pitches and stay composed under pressure will benefit our pitching staff, and she works well in tandem with Beth Damon behind the plate. Her friendly and enthusiastic personality, along with her love for the game and her close relationships with family and friends, will all bring positive energy to the team.”
Yessenia Lopez | RHP | B/T: R/R | 5’10” | New York, N.Y. | Doral Academy High School
Lopez is the third and final member of the Knights’ 2024-25 recruiting class ranked within Extra Inning Softball’s Extra Elite 100 rankings, coming in at No. 35 in the nation. The right-hander played nine years in travel and club softball with Florida Gold Lopez/Santana, and most recently aided Team Puerto Rico in earning the silver medal during this month’s Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile.
“Yessenia is a power pitcher known for commanding her presence and an infectious smile that lights up the field,” said Ball-Malone. “She’s not only a fierce competitor, but also an exceptional teammate. Yessenia has solidified her position as the ace pitcher for both her high school and club teams, and she proudly represented Team Puerto Rico in the 2023 Pan-American Games. With Lopez’s addition, we anticipate maintaining our storied tradition of outstanding pitching.”
Coco Jaimes | 2B/3B/SS | B/T: L/R | 5’7” | Riverside, Calif. | Riverside Poly High School
Jaimes was a four-year varsity captain at Riverside Poly High School, where she earned First Team All-League selections in three straight seasons from 2021-23 and two Golden Glove awards in 2021 and 2023.
“I chose UCF because I fell in love with the school when I visited,” Jaimes said. “From meeting the amazing coaching staff to the team, I loved the culture immediately and knew that it was something that I wanted to be a part of. I love the campus and the city of Orlando because it’s so much like California, so I thought that it would be the perfect home away from home for me.”
With the Coronal Angels, Jaimes and her team earned a top-eight finish at the Alliance National Championship in 2023, and also earned three consecutive Ivy League Championships from 2021-23 with Riverside Poly.
“Coco is a true leader both on and off the field,” Ball-Malone said. “She’s known for her exceptional work ethic and a straightforward approach to getting things done. She has embodied our team’s core values from the moment she committed, demonstrating a strong belief in herself and her teammates, and her competitive spirit shines through in every play or practice session she’s involved in.”
Izzy Mertes | 3B | B/T: R/R | 5’9” | Chatsworth, Calif. | Notre Dame High School
Mertes won a pair of championships with her high school team, including the 2021 Foothill League title and the 2022 Gold Coast League title. With the OC Batbusters in travel ball, she also helped lead her squad to two Alliance National Championships in 2022 and 2023, as well as an Alliance Super Cup Championship in 2023.
“I have been playing softball my whole life, and my dream has been to play college softball,” Mertes said. “UCF has allowed me to achieve this dream. I chose UCF because I love Florida and the beach, since I am from California. I also loved the environment of the team and the coaching staff. Beyond softball, I believe UCF has the academic rigor and competitiveness I am looking for which helps make it a perfect fit.”
The third baseman recorded a .566 batting average during her junior season, marking her third straight season with an average north of .470, and in three years in high school slugged a total of 30 home runs as well.
“I have watch Izzy play since she was in eighth grade,” said Ball-Malone. “I believe the Knights are getting one of the best hitters in the 2024-25 class. Her second-loudest home run may have been the grand slam she hit in the championship game at Alliance nationals. A two-time national champion, Izzy brings maturity and discipline to execute under high-pressure situations. The future is bright for Izzy.”
Kendall Yarnell | 1B/3B | B/T: R/R | 5’9” | Olathe, Kan. | Olathe Northwest High School
Yarnell joins UCF after earning selections to the Sunflower League’s First and Second Team, as well as a league Player of the Year award during her sophomore season. Also a member of the track and field team, Yarnell was a Sunflower League First Team selection and an All-State selection her junior year, and Yarnell participated with the wrestling team as well.
“I chose UCF because I loved the culture on the softball team and the campus is beautiful,” she said. “I also wanted to play division one softball in the south, and UCF fit that desire.”
Along with her team at Olathe Northwest High School, Yarnell also won a regional championship.
“Kendall is a versatile athlete who fearlessly takes on any challenge,” said Ball-Malone. “Whether it’s on the softball diamond or the wrestling mat, Kendall gives her all in every competition. Last summer, she showcased her exceptional skills by leading her team to the championship game in PGF, thanks to her potent batting and strong leadership. As an infielder with impressive catching abilities, Kendall is set to make a significant impact on our program throughout her career.”
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