Softball Announces 2026-27 Recruiting Class

ORLANDO – In accompaniment with Wednesday’s National Signing Day, UCF softball head coach Cindy Ball-Malone has announced the program’s signing class for the upcoming 2026-27 academic school year.

Ranked No. 28 in the nation overall by D1Softball.com, UCF’s newest class consists of six players, including two currently ranked on Softball America/On3’s top 150 list. Four-star outfielders Kamryn Waters and Addison Poe headline the Knights’ recruiting class, and are joined by infielder Alexys Busch, utility Layla Bennett, right-handed pitcher McKenna Hawley, and utility Sammi Rychter.

Kamryn Waters | OF | Lee’s Summit, Mo. | Blue Springs South High School

The highest-ranked recruit in UCF’s incoming class according to Softball America/On3 at No. 90 in the nation, Waters represents the third top 100 prospect to commit to the Knights in the last two seasons alone, joining 2025-26 freshmen Hildie Dempsey (2025, No. 33—Prepsoftball.com) and Kendall Trimm (2025, No. 59—Softball America/On3).

“I chose UCF because of its strong culture and family atmosphere,” Waters said. “It’s a program where I can see myself grow as both a player and a person while contributing to something bigger than myself.”

A four-year varsity starter at Blue Springs South High School, Waters was a four-time All-District selection (2022-25), three-time All-Conference selection (2023-25), two-time All-Region and NFCA All-Region pick, and landed on the All-State squad in 2023.

She also garnered Mo-Kan Underclassman of the Year recognition in 2023, and was her program’s Jaguar Award winner in 2025, a team-selected honor for character and leadership.

In the classroom, Waters, a member of the National Honor Society, was recognized with four Academic All-State appointments and four NFCA/Easton Academic All-American appointments, while also landing on the honor roll.

Addison Poe | OF | Sanford, Fla. | Montverde Academy

Poe represents the second member of UCF’s incoming class to crack Softball America/On3’s national rankings, coming in at No. 150 in the nation.

“I chose UCF because it has always felt like home to me,” she said. “I love the family-oriented culture of the softball team and believe that the coaches will help me grow as a player both on and off the field. I also think the competitive environment will motivate me to become a better athlete.”

A staple of Montverde Academy’s offense, she set her school’s single-season double (11) and home run (9) records in 2025 and also ranks among all-time school record-holders in single-season RBI (33, T-2nd, 2025), single-season hits (45, T-7th, 2025), and single-season runs scored (34, T-10th, 2025).

For her efforts, she earned Seminole High School MVP honors and helped lead her team to Seminole High School 7A State Runners-Up status in 2024.

On the club side, Poe played for the Windermere Wildfire from 2021-25 and also spent time with the Lady Dukes in 2025. She and her teammates were back-to-back USA Softball Champions in 2021-22, as well as PGF FL Champions in three straight seasons from 2022-24.

McKenna Hawley | RHP | Maitland, Fla. | Trinity Preparatory School

An anchor on Trinity Prep’s pitching staff throughout her high school tenure, Hawley was bestowed her team’s MVP award in each of the four seasons she spent on the varsity squad, while earning Defensive Player of the Year honors following her sophomore and junior campaigns.

As a freshman, Hawley was tabbed to the Orlando Sentinel’s All-Area Softball First Team and made the Second Team as a sophomore, and throughout her junior season struck out 152 hitters in 69 innings of work, producing a .565 WHIP and a 0.81 ERA.

“With Coach Bear and the opportunities that being part of the Big 12 gives UCF, I think I will have the chance to be on the first UCF team to make it to the World Series,” Hawley said.

The right-hander was also a member of the travel squad Unity Meadows from 2022-26, helping power her team to the 2025 PGF Platinum 18U National Championship and the 2024 PGF Platinum 16U National Championship. Throughout the summer of 2025, Hawley threw 131 innings and boasted a 0.36 ERA and a 0.57 WHIP.

Hawley represents the latest in a handful of family members to attend UCF as well, as her father, two aunts, uncle and cousin are all UCF graduates, and she has been attending UCF softball camps since she was 10 years old.

Layla Bennett | UTL | Pearland, Texas | Pearland High School

Bennett was a decorated utility player throughout her high school tenure in Texas, having earned selections as 2025 TGCA 5A-6A All-Star, 2025 22-6A All-District, First Team Infield 2025 PHS Defensive Player of the Year, 2025 Vype Preseason Player of the Year, 2024 TGCA 6A All-State, and 2024 TGCA 6A All-District Co-Newcomer of the Year.

With the Oilers, she was a part of the 2023 Texas 6A State Championship-winning squad, and played with Impact Gold Jackson 18U in travel ball for two years as well.

“The reason why I chose UCF is because of the school’s academic programs, the softball program, and the environment that Orlando offers,” Bennett said. “With the academic programs provided and the help that they offer to each student, it gives me the reassurance that they provide programs for students to succeed academically. The softball program at UCF is very family-oriented and hardworking with a great coaching staff. I have had personal conversations with each coach and feel like it will be a home away from home for me. The coaches care for their players not just as athletes but as people as well.”

As a member of her travel ball team, Bennett was tabbed to the Fall 2024 Elite Showcase All Tournament team and earned selections as the No. 69 player on the Prep Softball Top 100 in 2026, No. 82 on the Extra Inning Elite 100 in 2026, and No. 16 Southwest Region and No. 44 Line Drive Media Hot 100 in 2026.

Alexys Busch | INF | Fresno, Calif. | Clovis West High School

Busch joins UCF on the heels of a standout senior season that saw the shortstop produce a team-leading .468 average (44-for-94) with 28 runs scored, 30 RBI and 20 extra-base hits (11 doubles, three triples, six home runs).

She was ranked within the top 25 players in the state of California prior to her junior year at Clovis West, and played for the Dirtdogs Vazquez 18U Premier for four years in travel ball as well.

“I chose UCF because it felt like home,” she said. “I love the coaching staff, the team first culture, and the competitive atmosphere they create for their athletes. UCF feels like I place where I can become not only a great athlete but a great student as well.”

Sammi Rychter | UTL | Port Saint Lucie, Fla. | John Carroll Catholic High School

Rychter produced a career .471 average (99-for-210) throughout her three years at John Carroll Catholic, adding 53 RBI, 86 runs scored and 29 extra-base hits (19 doubles, six triples, four home runs).

“I chose UCF because it felt like such a family atmosphere, the coaches are great, and it is not too far from my family,” Rychter said.

She was named her team’s varsity MVP as a freshman, hitting .500/.543/.678 with 12 extra-base hits, and was also bestowed the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State award for softball.

With her high school squad, Rychter also won district titles during her sophomore and junior seasons, while making it to the state tournament in 10th grade as well.

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