Benton (Arkansas) softball star Alyssa Houston commits to Stanford
By Kyle Sutherland
BENTON, Ark. - Benton pitcher/third baseman Alyssa Houston, the 2022 SBLive Arkansas softball Player of the Year, announced Tuesday evening that she will head to the West Coast for her college career as she committed to Stanford University. Houston, ranked the No. 36 overall player for the 2023 class by Extra Innings Softball, is the reigning Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year.
Houston caught the eye of the Cardinal coaching staff while playing during a tournament in Oklahoma with her travel team, Iowa Premier 18U National, earlier last summer and the interest was mutual from the first interaction. Stanford has made vast improvements under current head coach Jessica Allister, who took over prior to the 2018 season. Allister's squad is coming off of a 39-win season and finished in the Super Regionals for the first time since 2011.
The upward trend, along with an exceptional academic reputation of the institution were two primary factors in her decision.
“You just cannot really beat that education,” Houston said. “They are just growing, and I also like the coaching style because it fits my style, too, so it was just really nice to kind of have somewhere I felt comfortable and was a good fit. It was good to know that I fit in.”
Heading into Houston’s final year of prep softball, Benton is in the midst of the best run in state history currently on a 64-game win streak dating back to when COVID-19 cut the 2020 season short. The Lady Panthers won their second state championship in a row last season finishing 32-0 and ended the year ranked No. 3 in the country per the USA Today poll.
Houston praised the leadership of head coach Heidi Cox and the Benton coaching staff for not only keeping the team motivated while facing the pressure of having a target on their backs, but pushing the correct buttons at the right times to keep the success going.
“I am very biased, but I honestly, wholeheartedly believe that they are the best high school coaches,” Houston said. “Not only do they just care about you and care about your wellbeing, but they also push you and keep you at a high level. You want to perform well for them because of how much they care and how much they put in.”
Cox, who was named the 2022 SBLive Arkansas softball Coach of the Year, knows the impact Houston’s talents have had on the Lady Panthers’ success, but also the example she has set.
“Alyssa is a competitor,” Cox said. “She brings so much to our program with her leadership, high skill level and confidence she brings on the mound and at the plate. The kids respond to her leadership and will fight behind and for her.”
Houston was dominant essentially every time she touched the field last season, with possibly her best performance coming during a relief appearance in what was a wild turn of events during last May’s state championship. She was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
At the plate, Houston batted .407 with an .804 slugging percentage, 34 runs batted in, 26 runs scored, and 11 home runs. She was almost unhittable when in the circle, posting a perfect 14-0 record with an incredible 0.49 earned run average while striking out 175 batters holding them to a .079 batting average against in 85.1 innings pitched.
