Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Softball Pulls in Top-10 Signing Class
November 11, 2020 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski announced today a six-person signing class that Extra Inning Softball ranks as the eighth-best group in the nation. The class includes three players who were ranked as top-25 players nationally and two others listed among the top 75 prospects nationally.
According to the national pundits, pitcher Tatum Clopton from Free State HS in Lawrence, Kan., is the highest-rated prospect in the class, coming in at No. 7 nationally by FloSoftball, No. 10 in Extra Inning Softball's Elite 100 and No. 11 by Softball America. Speedy infielder Brianna Evans from Red Oak HS in Red Oak, Texas, comes in at No. 11 on Extra Inning Softball's Elite 100 and in-state utility prospect Tatum Sparks from Shawnee HS is No. 25 nationally by Extra Inning Softball.
Versatile utility prospect Hailey Kastl from nearby Perkins, Okla. (No. 56 by Extra Inning Softball) and powerful catcher Maggie Herdejurgen from Crosby, Texas (No. 65 by Extra Inning Softball) are also nationally-ranked prospects in the class. Kathryn Ogg, who has enjoyed a high level of success, both in the classroom and competing in a variety of sports for Harvey School in Katonah, N.Y., rounds out the group.
"This class has shaped up to be a really solid class that we have been working on for years," Gajewski said. "It has been rated in the top 10 for two to three years now.
"We have added depth all over the field but most importantly we have added great students and great families that will only make our program better. These families are all in and have agreed to keep climbing, pitch to pitch, to achieve their goals."
A closer look at the Cowgirl signing class, sorted in alphabetical order:
Name Pos. Bats/Throws Height Hometown/HS
Tatum Clopton Pitcher L/R 5-10 Lawrence, Kan./Free State
Brianna Evans Utility L/R 5-3 Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak
Maggie Herdejurgen Catcher R/R 5-6 Crosby, Texas/Crosby
Hailey Kastl Utility L/R 5-5 Perkins, Okla./Perkins
Kathryn Ogg P/1B R/R 5-8 Katonah, N.Y./Harvey
Tatum Sparks Utility R/R 5-5 Shawnee, Okla./Shawnee
Tatum Clopton
Pitcher | L/R | 5-10
Lawrence, Kan. | Free State
High School: A high-level recruit who was ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect in the nation by FloSoftball, No. 10 in the Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 and No. 11 by Softball America … Two-time Gatorade player of the year in Kansas (2019 and 2020) … Earned first-team all-state honors in both 2018 and 2019 and led Free State to class 6A state titles in both of those seasons … Plays travel softball for the DeMarini Aces … Also played volleyball as a freshman … Mother, Sarah Clopton, pitched at the University of Kansas and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team in 1999.
Personal: Tatum Clopton was born May 21, 2003 … The daughter of Aaron Clopton Sr. and Sarah Clopton … Undecided on a major.
Brianna Evans
Utility | L/R | 5-3
Red Oak, Texas | Red Oak
Pronounced: bree-AWN-uh
High School: A multi-talented performer who ranks among the top prospects in the nation thanks in part to her outstanding speed and athleticism … Ranked No. 11 in the Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 … Batted .663 and scored 55 runs during her 2020 summer softball season … District MVP and team MVP in 2019 … 2019 Ellis County player of the year … District newcomer of the year and team offensive player of the year in 2018 … Also competed in powerlifting, basketball and track and field.
Personal: Brianna Evans was born May 8, 2003 … The daughter of Leroy and Minerva Evans … Plans to major in applied exercise science.
Maggie Herdejurgen
Catcher | R/R | 5-6
Crosby, Texas | Crosby
Pronounced: her-dee-A-gun
High School: Power-hitting prospect who slots in at No. 65 in the Extra Inning Softball class of 2021 national rankings … First-team all-state selection as a sophomore who missed her junior season to injury … According to MaxPreps, she batted .468 with 13 home runs, 44 runs batted in and a 1.700 OPS as a freshman, then .453 with 13 home runs, 54 RBI and a 1.585 OPS as a sophomore … Two-time first-team all-district selection … Three-time member of the academic all-district team … District 21-5A newcomer of the year as a freshman … Hit a home run in her first high school at-bat … Also played volleyball.
Personal: Maggie Herdejurgen was born March 18, 2003 … The daughter of Josh and Ree Herdejurgen … Began playing softball at age five and has been catching since age seven … Undecided on a major.
Hailey Kastl
Utility | L/R | 5-5
Perkins, Okla. | Perkins
Pronounced like castle
High School: Decorated local talent who attended high school about 15 minutes away from Oklahoma State's campus … A national-level prospect ranked No. 56 in Extra Inning Softball's Elite 100 … All-state selection as a senior in 2020 … Tulsa 7 Conference offensive player of the year as a junior and again as a senior who was also the district 4A-1 offensive player of the year those same two seasons … Class 3-4A middle infielder all-region first team … Earned first-team all-area as a junior … As a sophomore in 2018, was named first-team all-district at third base to go with first-team all-conference and first-team all-area recognition … First-team all-conference and first-team all-district as a third baseman during her freshman year … Class 4A state semifinalist in 2017 … Also played basketball and ran track and field … Also plays slow pitch softball and is a cheerleader.
Personal: Hailey Kastl was born June 12, 2003 … The daughter of Jared Szlichta and Lori Kastl … Plans to major in athletic training.
Kathryn Ogg
Pitcher/First Base | R/R | 5-8
Katonah, N.Y. | Harvey
High School: A high achiever both on the field and in the classroom who brings outstanding intangibles and leadership qualities as well … Has a .649 high school batting average … Three-year varsity softball captain … Received a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award … 2019 all-league selection … Played travel ball for the regionally ranked NY Nighthawks Elite and the nationally ranked RI Thunder Gold … Played for the 16u Hungarian national team, where she competed in the 2019 16u European Championships and recorded the most strikeouts in the tournament (34 strikeouts in 22 innings) … A two-year captain on the varsity basketball team who led the squad in rebounds and minutes played … Also played volleyball … Selected as the Harvey HS female athlete of the winter term in 2020 … Has 11 varsity letters … Brother currently plays baseball at Arizona State … Father is a hall of fame athlete at the United States Coast Guard Academy, where he played football and baseball.
Personal: Kathryn Ogg was born February 13, 2003 … The daughter of Alexander and Maria Ogg … Plans to major in either education or business.
Tatum Sparks
Utility | R/R | 5-5
Shawnee, Okla. | Shawnee
High School: A national-level prospect who attended high school about an hour south of Stillwater … Extra Inning Softball ranked her as the nation's No. 25 prospect … Hit .538 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI in the 2020 Class 6A season … Had a 1.220 slugging percentage during the 2020 season … 2020 large east all-state selection … District 6A-3 offensive player of the year and was a first-team all-region honoree in 2020 … District 6A-3 first-team shortstop her junior year … District 5A-3 offensive player of the year in her sophomore year … District 5A-3 first-team utility player as a freshman … Also played basketball … Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Tatum Sparks was born August 12, 2002 … The daughter of Jay and Holly Sparks … Undecided on a major.
According to the national pundits, pitcher Tatum Clopton from Free State HS in Lawrence, Kan., is the highest-rated prospect in the class, coming in at No. 7 nationally by FloSoftball, No. 10 in Extra Inning Softball's Elite 100 and No. 11 by Softball America. Speedy infielder Brianna Evans from Red Oak HS in Red Oak, Texas, comes in at No. 11 on Extra Inning Softball's Elite 100 and in-state utility prospect Tatum Sparks from Shawnee HS is No. 25 nationally by Extra Inning Softball.
Versatile utility prospect Hailey Kastl from nearby Perkins, Okla. (No. 56 by Extra Inning Softball) and powerful catcher Maggie Herdejurgen from Crosby, Texas (No. 65 by Extra Inning Softball) are also nationally-ranked prospects in the class. Kathryn Ogg, who has enjoyed a high level of success, both in the classroom and competing in a variety of sports for Harvey School in Katonah, N.Y., rounds out the group.
"This class has shaped up to be a really solid class that we have been working on for years," Gajewski said. "It has been rated in the top 10 for two to three years now.
"We have added depth all over the field but most importantly we have added great students and great families that will only make our program better. These families are all in and have agreed to keep climbing, pitch to pitch, to achieve their goals."
A closer look at the Cowgirl signing class, sorted in alphabetical order:
Name Pos. Bats/Throws Height Hometown/HS
Tatum Clopton Pitcher L/R 5-10 Lawrence, Kan./Free State
Brianna Evans Utility L/R 5-3 Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak
Maggie Herdejurgen Catcher R/R 5-6 Crosby, Texas/Crosby
Hailey Kastl Utility L/R 5-5 Perkins, Okla./Perkins
Kathryn Ogg P/1B R/R 5-8 Katonah, N.Y./Harvey
Tatum Sparks Utility R/R 5-5 Shawnee, Okla./Shawnee
Tatum Clopton
Pitcher | L/R | 5-10
Lawrence, Kan. | Free State
High School: A high-level recruit who was ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect in the nation by FloSoftball, No. 10 in the Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 and No. 11 by Softball America … Two-time Gatorade player of the year in Kansas (2019 and 2020) … Earned first-team all-state honors in both 2018 and 2019 and led Free State to class 6A state titles in both of those seasons … Plays travel softball for the DeMarini Aces … Also played volleyball as a freshman … Mother, Sarah Clopton, pitched at the University of Kansas and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team in 1999.
Personal: Tatum Clopton was born May 21, 2003 … The daughter of Aaron Clopton Sr. and Sarah Clopton … Undecided on a major.
Brianna Evans
Utility | L/R | 5-3
Red Oak, Texas | Red Oak
Pronounced: bree-AWN-uh
High School: A multi-talented performer who ranks among the top prospects in the nation thanks in part to her outstanding speed and athleticism … Ranked No. 11 in the Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 … Batted .663 and scored 55 runs during her 2020 summer softball season … District MVP and team MVP in 2019 … 2019 Ellis County player of the year … District newcomer of the year and team offensive player of the year in 2018 … Also competed in powerlifting, basketball and track and field.
Personal: Brianna Evans was born May 8, 2003 … The daughter of Leroy and Minerva Evans … Plans to major in applied exercise science.
Maggie Herdejurgen
Catcher | R/R | 5-6
Crosby, Texas | Crosby
Pronounced: her-dee-A-gun
High School: Power-hitting prospect who slots in at No. 65 in the Extra Inning Softball class of 2021 national rankings … First-team all-state selection as a sophomore who missed her junior season to injury … According to MaxPreps, she batted .468 with 13 home runs, 44 runs batted in and a 1.700 OPS as a freshman, then .453 with 13 home runs, 54 RBI and a 1.585 OPS as a sophomore … Two-time first-team all-district selection … Three-time member of the academic all-district team … District 21-5A newcomer of the year as a freshman … Hit a home run in her first high school at-bat … Also played volleyball.
Personal: Maggie Herdejurgen was born March 18, 2003 … The daughter of Josh and Ree Herdejurgen … Began playing softball at age five and has been catching since age seven … Undecided on a major.
Hailey Kastl
Utility | L/R | 5-5
Perkins, Okla. | Perkins
Pronounced like castle
High School: Decorated local talent who attended high school about 15 minutes away from Oklahoma State's campus … A national-level prospect ranked No. 56 in Extra Inning Softball's Elite 100 … All-state selection as a senior in 2020 … Tulsa 7 Conference offensive player of the year as a junior and again as a senior who was also the district 4A-1 offensive player of the year those same two seasons … Class 3-4A middle infielder all-region first team … Earned first-team all-area as a junior … As a sophomore in 2018, was named first-team all-district at third base to go with first-team all-conference and first-team all-area recognition … First-team all-conference and first-team all-district as a third baseman during her freshman year … Class 4A state semifinalist in 2017 … Also played basketball and ran track and field … Also plays slow pitch softball and is a cheerleader.
Personal: Hailey Kastl was born June 12, 2003 … The daughter of Jared Szlichta and Lori Kastl … Plans to major in athletic training.
Kathryn Ogg
Pitcher/First Base | R/R | 5-8
Katonah, N.Y. | Harvey
High School: A high achiever both on the field and in the classroom who brings outstanding intangibles and leadership qualities as well … Has a .649 high school batting average … Three-year varsity softball captain … Received a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award … 2019 all-league selection … Played travel ball for the regionally ranked NY Nighthawks Elite and the nationally ranked RI Thunder Gold … Played for the 16u Hungarian national team, where she competed in the 2019 16u European Championships and recorded the most strikeouts in the tournament (34 strikeouts in 22 innings) … A two-year captain on the varsity basketball team who led the squad in rebounds and minutes played … Also played volleyball … Selected as the Harvey HS female athlete of the winter term in 2020 … Has 11 varsity letters … Brother currently plays baseball at Arizona State … Father is a hall of fame athlete at the United States Coast Guard Academy, where he played football and baseball.
Personal: Kathryn Ogg was born February 13, 2003 … The daughter of Alexander and Maria Ogg … Plans to major in either education or business.
Tatum Sparks
Utility | R/R | 5-5
Shawnee, Okla. | Shawnee
High School: A national-level prospect who attended high school about an hour south of Stillwater … Extra Inning Softball ranked her as the nation's No. 25 prospect … Hit .538 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI in the 2020 Class 6A season … Had a 1.220 slugging percentage during the 2020 season … 2020 large east all-state selection … District 6A-3 offensive player of the year and was a first-team all-region honoree in 2020 … District 6A-3 first-team shortstop her junior year … District 5A-3 offensive player of the year in her sophomore year … District 5A-3 first-team utility player as a freshman … Also played basketball … Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Tatum Sparks was born August 12, 2002 … The daughter of Jay and Holly Sparks … Undecided on a major.
Taking on the NCAA Baseball Tuscaloosa Regional - Inside OSU Athletics with Josh Holliday
Friday, May 29
Oklahoma State's #1 Ranked Women's Basketball Portal Class - Inside OSU Athletics with Jacie Hoyt
Wednesday, May 27
Oklahoma State Postgame Sound (5-17-2026) - NCAA Softball Stillwater Regional Final
Monday, May 18
Stanford Postgame Sound (5-17-2026) - NCAA Softball Stillwater Regional Final
Monday, May 18
