{
  "id": 8329407,
  "title": "Texas softball gets pledge from Michaela Landers, the No. 1 prospect in nation for 2028",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/texas-softball-gets-pledge-from-michaela-landers-the-no-1-prospect-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T23:15:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/texas-softball-gets-pledge-michaela-231522323.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Texas softball has secured a commitment from Michaela Landers, recognized as the top prospect for the 2028 recruiting class according to Softball America. Landers, a five-tool infielder from Waxahachie, Texas, had an exceptional season in 2026, batting .639, scoring 73 runs, and hitting 25 home runs - breaking the Dallas-area record of 24 set in 2025 by Melissa Kennedy Bradley. Her performance also included 52 extra-base hits, 105 RBIs, and 105 RBIs, surpassing the previous state record of 92 held by Sydney Greeson in 2018. Landers' record-breaking season earned her the All-Area Softball Player of the Year award from The Dallas Morning News, leading her high school team to a 38-3 record and a semifinals appearance in the Class 6A Division I Region II tournament. The commitment, made on Friday, gives Texas head coach Mike White a significant recruiting victory, following Sophia Schlader's choice of Oklahoma over Texas earlier.",
  "summary": "Michaela Landers, a record-setting hitter at Waxahachie and the nation's top softball prospect for the 2028 recruiting class, picked the Texas Longhorns Friday.",
  "key_points": [
    "Michaela Landers commits to Texas softball, becoming No. 1 2028 prospect",
    "Five-tool infielder from Waxahachie, Texas, breaks Dallas-area record",
    "Record: .639 batting average, 25 home runs in 2026 season"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}