Upcoming Event: Softball versus UCSB on February 6, 2026 at 2 p.m.
2 p.m.
Softball
vs UCSB
The University of Utah Athletics
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
Photo by: Doribel Buenrostro/Utah Athletics
Utah’s Payton Crank Named to D100 Freshman Watch List
1/5/2026 9:00 AM | Softball
One of 2025’s top recruits earns early 2026 honor
SALT LAKE CITY – D1Softball's annual D100 Freshman Watch List was released on Monday and Utah's Payton Crank earned a spot on the list.
Crank arrived in Salt Lake City after a prep career that led to her being ranked as the No. 18 recruit in the nation and the No. 1 player in Arizona according to Rivals. The Phoenix native hit .404 in high school and blasted 25 home runs while collecting three defensive MVP awards. As a senior, she batted .440 and more than half of her hits went for extra bases. In club play, she helped the Bombers 18U win a Power 48 Championships and Crank also saw action for the USA Softball U-18 team at the 2024 WBSC U-18 World Cup Stage 1.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Softball |Instagram: @utahsoftball | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utessoftball).
Crank arrived in Salt Lake City after a prep career that led to her being ranked as the No. 18 recruit in the nation and the No. 1 player in Arizona according to Rivals. The Phoenix native hit .404 in high school and blasted 25 home runs while collecting three defensive MVP awards. As a senior, she batted .440 and more than half of her hits went for extra bases. In club play, she helped the Bombers 18U win a Power 48 Championships and Crank also saw action for the USA Softball U-18 team at the 2024 WBSC U-18 World Cup Stage 1.
This makes back-to-back years in which a Ute has landed on this list. Utah pitcher Hailey Maestretti was among those selected in 2025.
Crank and her teammates will begin spring practice on Jan. 14 as they prepare for a 2026 season that will commence on Feb. 6.Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Softball |Instagram: @utahsoftball | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utessoftball).
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