Softball Welcomes Four on 2025 National Signing Day

C | BRIDGEVILLE, PA. | CHARTIERS VALLEY

Penn State’s lone signee from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Lily Duffill, arrives in Happy Valley as a dynamic prospect at the catcher position. Hailing from Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, Duffill plays high school softball at Chartiers Valley High School and has helped power that program to a dominant string of results over the past few years. Duffill is a three-time First Team All-State selection as well as a three-time First Team All-Section honoree heading into her senior season. Duffill was crowned as the PIAA Class 5A Player of the Year in the 2025 season, winning one of the state’s highest honors as a junior. While competing at Chartiers Valley, Duffill also competed and earned varsity letters in girls tennis. She plays travel softball with Indiana Magic Gold under the direction of coach Drew Moore, beginning her stint with the team in 2024. While a part of that organization, Duffill was named a TC Nationals First Team All-Tournament selection. At Penn State, Duffill plans to study management and looks to turn her PSU degree into a career as a collegiate softball coach upon graduation.

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WHY LILY CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State because of the culture of the school and the softball program. The moment I stepped onto campus, the coaches and players made me feel welcomed and appreciated. I could tell right from then that this team would make me a better softball player and a better person. Getting the opportunity to join this program and the values they have set for each other is the opportunity of a lifetime. Overall, Penn State has exactly what I need to grow both academically and athletically. I can’t wait to be a part of Penn State softball.”

COACH CROWELL ON DUFFILL

“Lily is one of the best players in Pennsylvania, and we are very excited that she will be staying home and representing our university and the Keystone State. Lily plays for a top-notch organization, the Indiana Magic, and that experience will be beneficial to our team. She is a talented and hardworking player who will have a positive impact for us both offensively and defensively. As a hitter, Lily will add power to our lineup, and defensively she will be a great asset for us behind the plate. Lily has experienced a lot of success at the high school and travel ball levels, and I know she is going to be a great addition to our team.”

OF | CHATHAM, ILL. | GLENWOOD

A talented Nittany Lion signee hailing from the state of Illinois, Ryleigh Kiel arrives in Central Pennsylvania as the lone outfielder in the 2025 signing class. A native of Chatham, Illinois, Kiel plays high school softball at Chatham Glenwood High School. She has been honored on multiple occasions as one of the top players in the region, landing First Team All-State accolades in each of the last two seasons in addition to Second Team All-State accolades in her freshman campaign. Kiel has been an All-Conference honoree in all three of her high school seasons to date entering her senior year in 2026. She also helped propel Glenwood to the Class 3A Illinois State Championship in 2025. In the classroom, she has been an Academic All-Conference designee in each of the last three years. Kiel plays travel ball with the prestigious Beverly Bandits organization learning under the guidance of coaches David Trackwell and Steve Meredith. The talented rising senior was selected as the No. 5 outfielder in the class of 2026 according to Extra Inning Softball and was tabbed as the No. 24 player overall in the class by Line Drive Media.

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WHY RYLEIGH CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose to continue my softball career at Penn State because it feels like the perfect fit for me athletically and academically. The coaching staff is very supportive and passionate, and their values and vision for the program are incredible. Penn State’s strong commitment to winning and pushing athletes to reach their highest potential really stood out to me. The facilities are top-notch and create the perfect environment to train, compete and grow as an athlete. When I visited campus, I immediately felt a sense of belonging and knew it was a place where I could grow, be challenged, and reach my full potential. Beyond softball, I was also drawn to Penn State’s strong academic reputation and the school’s sense of pride and community. This is something very special, and I can truly see myself being a part of it. I can’t wait to finally call Happy Valley my home and get on the field with my future family.”

COACH CROWELL ON KIEL

“Ryleigh is coming off a stellar high school season as she helped lead her team to a State Championship, and this experience is going to have a positive impact on our team. In addition to playing for a great high school team, she plays for one of the premier organizations in the country, the Illinois Beverly Bandits. Ryleigh will help to provide depth in our outfield, and she will be a great addition to our offensive lineup as she is a left-handed hitter with elite bat-to-ball skills. Ryleigh is going to bring a strong work ethic, and we are excited for her to join our team next fall.”

INF | FRANKFORT, ILL. | LINCOLN WAY EAST

Hailing from Frankfort, Illinois, Maddie Henry brings her talents to Happy Valley as a talented middle infield prospect. Henry plays high school softball at Lincoln Way East High School in her hometown, where she was named an All-Conference selection in both 2023 and 2025. Henry landed Third Team All-State accolades in 2023 and picked up Second Team All-State laurels following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign. As a travel ball athlete with the prestigious Illinois Chill Gold organization, Henry was a seventh-place finisher at the 2024 PGF National Tournament and helped guide her team to a first-place result at the Team 1 Elite Invite in Kansas City, Missouri. She participated in the IDT Colorado All-Star Game in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons while with Illinois Chill Gold. Henry was ranked 16th in Line Drive Media’s Top-100 Softball Rankings and also picked up the No. 80 overall ranking according to Extra Inning Softball back in 2023.

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WHY MADDIE CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State because it perfectly embodies the blue-collar mentality that I value; hard work, grit, and earning everything you get. The coaches genuinely care about their players both on and off the field, pushing them to be their best while creating a strong sense of family. The team’s chemistry stood out immediately, showing how everyone is dedicated to something bigger than themselves. The campus atmosphere also stood out. There’s a sense of pride and tradition everywhere you go. The balance of top-tier athletics and strong academics makes me even more excited to call this place home.”

COACH CROWELL ON HENRY

“Maddie is a fierce and passionate competitor who has played at a high level for several years, as she is a part of one of the best organizations in the Midwest, the Illinois Chill. Defensively, Maddie is a versatile player who can play several different positions, and she will also be a great addition to our offensive lineup. Maddie is a high energy player who loves to work, and I know that she will have a positive impact on our program. I am excited to see her represent the Blue & White next fall.”

INF | SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. | DESERT MOUNTAIN

One of the most impressive middle infield prospects in the 2025 signing class, Avery Gehrke arrives in Happy Valley as a highly touted prospect hailing from Scottsdale, Arizona. As a star at Desert Mountain High School, Gehrke has already helped guide her team to a pair of state championships in 2024 and 2025, landing Class 5A First Team All-State honors a season ago. She was tabbed as the preseason No. 9 player in the state of Arizona last year by the Arizona Republic and secured First Team All-Region accolades following the 2024 campaign. Gehrke plays travel softball with Athletics Mercado under the direction of coaches Dave Mercado and Mark Smith in Murrieta, California. While working with that organization, she helped lead her team to a 2025 Triple Crown Colorado National Power Pool Championship. She also participated in the 2023 USA Softball High Performance Program National Selection Event as one of the most highly-regarded players in the nation. Gehrke is the eldest daughter of retired MLB player Jay Gehrke, who played for the Kansas City Royals from 1999 to 2002 after being drafted into the league as a first rounder following an All-American collegiate career at both Pepperdine and Arizona State.

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WHY AVERY CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose to continue my softball career at Penn State because as soon as I stepped foot on campus, it felt like home. When I experienced the commitment to excellence from the coaching staff and the entire university, as well as the family environment, I knew that Happy Valley was where I was meant to be. The culture of this team is something special, and I believe that this program will help me reach my full potential as an athlete and human being. I knew my goals of competing for championships aligned with the coaches’ and players’ mentality, and I can’t wait to get onto campus and get to work.”

COACH CROWELL ON GEHRKE

“Avery plays for one of the best high school programs in the country, and she has been a part of two State Championship teams. She also plays for one of the elite travel ball teams in the country, the Southern California Athletics working with coaches Mercado and Smith. Defensively, Avery is going to be a strong middle infielder, and offensively she is left-handed slapper who will help provide speed to our lineup. Avery has a lot of high-level experience, and she knows what it takes to win championships. She is a motivated and driven player, and we are excited for her to join our team.”

Penn State softball has continued to elevate its status on the national stage under the direction of sixth-year head coach Clarisa Crowell. The Nittany Lions made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in over a decade in the 2024 campaign and also picked up their first Big Ten Conference individual accolade that season in B1G Freshman of the Year Bridget Nemeth. Last season, PSU completed the most powerful offensive campaign at the plate in program annals, launching a single-season program record 74 home runs while also shattering school records in runs scored with 341, runs batted in with 306, and total bases with 770. The Blue & White extended its streak of consecutive double-digit winning seasons against Big Ten opponents to four-straight years following last season’s campaign, the longest such streak in school history. Penn State is inside 100 days from first pitch at the 2026 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic, with the Nittany Lions slated to take on the Missouri Tigers, Boston College Eagles, Eastern Kentucky Colonels, BYU Cougars and Auburn Tigers over the weekend of Friday through Sunday, February 6 through 8, at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida.